On top of the fight towards covering everyone with health insurance (they're moving towards it already, have already insured thousands of uninsured in Chinatown), there are now four other fields SF is forging ahead with.
The second is a bit silly and really has not so much to do with the city, but it cannot be separated. At 9th & Brannan, right off the freeway, you can see the world's first solar billboard outside of South Africa (strange, huh?). PG&E has powered a billboard and more that advertizes for PG&E by saying simply, "This is not a billboard. It's a power plant." I hope PG&E does something real soon. At least they're trying something.
The third is of course mandatory paid sick-leave for all SF employees, even if you work part-time. This allows people to go to the doctor, care for a loved one or even avoid work for up to 2 days without a doctor's note. (This time is accrued and therefore can never really be abused, but it can be very useful).
The fourth is something called Bank on San Francisco. It has been in effect since 2006. It allows those who do not qualify for a bank account at a major bank because they are too poor to get a bank account with the city. This allows them to avoid the fees to cash Social Security checks and not worry about being mugged when they carry their money out the door. New York, Boston, Chicago and Atlanta have contacted San Francisco officials about the effort. Los Angeles and Seattle are starting their own programs as we speak.
The final is to create city identification cards for all residents regardless of legality.
Socialism here we come!
Current music: Paprika Korps - Riddim
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