Dear San Francisco Mayor and San Francisco Board of Supervisors:

We write to express our strong opposition to the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury’s recommendation to abolish the Food Security Task Force (FSTF). [1] The Jury’s finding that the FSTF is “redundant” is wrong because currently there is no other city department or public body dedicated to addressing food security in San Francisco.

FSTF advisory members represent community-based organizations as well as San Francisco County departments that know first-hand how food insecurity impacts our residents and the programs that are most successful in addressing food insecurity. The FSTF tracks vital data regarding hunger and food insecurity including the utilization and demand for federal food programs, community-based organizations, meal programs, and programs targeting certain populations including working families, children, seniors, people with disabilities, and individuals who are homeless. [2] Its recommendations are vital to creating a coordinated, city-wide plan for addressing food insecurity. [3]

Abolishing the FSTF would mean eliminating an advisory body that - over the past 20 years - has successfully secured millions of dollars in new funding for expanding programs to end hunger, educates the public about the role of food insecurity in public health and community development, and advocates for policies and programs that improve food security. We need the FSTF to ensure that public funds support food for the greatest number of residents with the highest quality of service. 

We cannot achieve our shared vision of a just and prosperous city without a food secure population. Please do not abolish the Food Security Task Force.

Sources: 

[1] City and County of San Francisco, 2023-2024 Civil Grand Jury, "Commission Impossible? Getting the Most from San Francisco's Commissions." Jun. 20, 2024. https://www.sf.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/Commissions%20Impossible%20Report.pdf

[2] City and County of San Francisco, “The Food Security Task Force.” https://www.sf.gov/departments/food-security-task-force

[3] San Francisco Food Security Task Force, “2024 Report.” https://www.sf.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/FSTF%202024%20FSTF%20Recommendations_FINAL%206.4.24-compressed.pdf