MOHCD affirms immigrant legal grants; OEWD outlines workforce reductions as public commenters demand restorations

San Francisco — At the May 8 Appropriations Committee hearing, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development summarized how the mayor’s proposed budget would treat immigrant legal services and programs that support workforce development.

Sheila Nicholas of MOHCD said two long‑running, city‑funded collaborations — the San Francisco Immigrant Legal and Education Network and the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative — are funded this year at approximately $1.9 million and $6.6 million respectively (a combined total of $8.5 million). MOHCD’s preliminary budget recommendation, Nicholas said, does not propose general‑fund decreases for community‑based organizations with ongoing service grants, though she stressed the mayor’s budget office will make the final determinations.

Cruz Iitano of OEWD outlined proposed general‑fund reductions that total $4.4 million across business development, community economic development, film, small business and workforce programs. He said the workforce portfolio’s cuts are proportionate to its larger budget and that OEWD estimates about 102 fewer clients will be served by the programs affected by the proposed reductions. OEWD staff pledged to provide supervisors with a deeper briefing on workforce program impacts.

Immigrant legal services providers and attorneys said continued funding is critical to public safety and to ensuring due process for detained and non‑detained residents in removal proceedings. Bill Hing, a law professor who said he helped draft the original San Francisco sanctuary ordinance, and representatives of KIND and the Justice & Diversity Center described how legal representation leads to better legal outcomes and safer communities. "Legal representation for immigrants leads to work authorization and later lawful status, which makes our community safer," one speaker said.

The committee pressed departments for details on appeals to DCYF’s grant RFP and on the equity impacts of proposed OEWD workforce cuts. DCYF told the panel it had received 130 appeals, many technical, and was reviewing them with the City Attorney, with completion expected before the mayor’s deadline. The hearing concluded after a motion to file the proceeding passed by roll call vote.