In a rare demonstration of unity, the San Francisco District Attorney and Public Defender jointly advocated for the preservation of city funding for general civil legal services, urging Mayor Daniel Lurie not to cut approximately $4.2 million from the budget.
Both officials, typically at odds with one another in the courtroom and City Hall, expressed gratitude for the work done by nonprofits providing free legal assistance.
Mano Raju, the Public Defender, emphasized the importance of these services, stating that they contribute to making San Francisco safer by addressing issues like unlawful evictions which help maintain stability for residents.
Similarly, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins underscored her appreciation for Open Door Legal, one of the city’s main providers of such assistance.
Jenkins noted that the partnership between her office and the nonprofit is instrumental in furthering public safety initiatives in the city.
Despite their temporary alignment on this issue, tensions between Raju and Jenkins have recently resurfaced.
Last month, Raju’s office accused the District Attorney of withholding evidence during criminal trials, prompting a sharp retort from Jenkins who accused the Public Defender’s office of trying to sway public opinion rather than focusing on legal proceedings.
At a budget hearing earlier in May, Jenkins sought additional funding against the backdrop of proposed cuts, while Raju highlighted the growing workload his office faces as more individuals are prosecuted.
In a pointed exchange, Jenkins questioned whether Raju could hold his own hearing regarding budget needs.
Currently, Mayor Lurie is advocating for the elimination of funding for civil legal aid, including the $4.2 million currently allocated to seven nonprofit legal aid providers, among them Open Door Legal, which has garnered specific support from Jenkins recently.
The funding cessation would not affect assistance in immigration, domestic violence, or eviction cases.
However, about 60 percent of Open Door Legal’s caseload pertains to civil legal matters such as wage theft and illegal evictions, situations where tenants may be forced out of their homes without formal evictions being filed.
Director of Open Door Legal, Adrian Tirtanadi, argues that civil legal services are financially beneficial as they prevent individuals from falling deeper into poverty or facing homelessness.
Taking a strong stance on the funding cuts, Tirtanadi has initiated a hunger strike that has lasted over a week, demanding attention from Mayor Lurie regarding the proposed budget reductions.
In a show of community support, several local churches have joined Tirtanadi in fasting, advocating for the continuation of critical legal services.
Additionally, a majority of the Board of Supervisors has expressed their backing for civil legal aid, with representatives from seven offices rallying behind Tirtanadi at City Hall last week.
The final decision concerning the budget will be decided by the Board of Supervisors and Mayor Lurie when the Budget and Appropriations Committee meets next Wednesday.
Eight out of the eleven supervisors have voiced their support for maintaining funding for civil legal aid.
As conversations progress in this tight budget season, characterized by the mayor’s efforts to address an over $800 million deficit, the outcome remains uncertain.
The community is keenly watching to see if the supervisors will reject Lurie’s proposed cuts to protect essential civil legal services.
image source from：missionlocal
