Jews join in supporting children through Proposition D

Friday, September 22, 2000 | by

ALEXANDRA J. WALL

Jewish social service organizations are joining an interfaith effort to back Proposition D, an extension of the 1991 Proposition J, a San Francisco measure that came to be known as the "Children's Amendment."

"This is a concern for anybody who cares about the community and people who care about children and that they grow up to be healthy citizens," said Rita Semel, executive vice chair of the San Francisco Interfaith Council and a longtime Jewish community activist.

When Prop. J was passed, it guaranteed that a portion of San Francisco city funding raised from property taxes be allocated specifically for children's programs for a duration of 10 years. The measure, which would expire in 2001, is up for renewal in November, this time for 15 years.

Jewish Vocational Service has been a recipient of Prop. J funds for the last eight years.

"JVS sends specialists into the classroom to prepare youth with disabilities for work," said Abby Snay, JVS executive director. "It's the cornerstone of our youth program," serving about 400 children a year.

Jewish Family and Children's Services in San Francisco is another recipient. JFCS provides a mental health consultant to child-care sites one day a week, said Amy Rassen, associate executive director of JFCS.

The consultant works with staff, parents and children in 45 to 50 centers, Rassen said.

Margaret Brodkin, executive director of Coleman Advocates, a children's advocacy group that has been the driving force behind both Props. J and D called the Children's Amendment "one of San Francisco's success stories."

"A relatively small portion of the budget has gone a long way in helping kids by funding programs that serve 80,000 kids every year," she said. "There are very few programs that serve kids that are not affected by it in one way or another."

While most San Francisco Jewish agencies are funded primarily by the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation or by Jewish foundations, under Prop. J, some Jewish agencies that would not otherwise have qualified were able to receive money from the city, Brodkin said.

Additionally, she said, many of the programs that benefit are nondenominational, serving children of all faiths.

A press conference in support of the measure will take place Monday.

One of the participants, Rabbi Stephen Pearce, senior spiritual leader of Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco, and president of the Northern California Board of Rabbis, said: "The funds [from Prop. J] allocated for children's programs benefit elements of the Jewish community. It's a very important issue, and it's important that these funds be maintained."