Last Thursday night a meeting was held to discuss the proposal to charge a $7 admission fee for the SF Botanical Gardens / Arboretum to non-residents. About 250 residents attended to reject the imposition of any fee on the gardens. While their voices were heard at the meeting, the Keep Arboretum Free group is continuing to meet about this issue. Their next planning meeting is this Thursday; feel free to attend if you’d like to support their efforts:
Keep the Arboretum Free Planning Meeting
Thursday, June 4th, 7-9 p.m.
St. John of God Church Hall
1290 5th Ave. at Irving
As a result of the public rallying against the proposed fees, the Rec & Park Commission President announced his intentions of exploring other ideas for generating revenue for the gardens. Those additional ideas will be presented on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the Rec & Park Commission meeting at City Hall (4pm, Room 416 but check this site closer to the date for final confirmation).
Even if you can’t attend meetings, you can lend your support for keeping the Arboretum free to all visitors. Sign the online petition and pass it onto your friends, or take a moment to call, email and/or write the five supervisors on the Budget and Finance Committee and urge them to oppose any imposition of fees. Their contact information is at the end of this post. Or write to our own supervisor for the Richmond District, Eric Mar and let him know your thoughts.
Sarah B.
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SUPERVISOR CONTACT INFORMATION (BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE)
John Avalos
Chair of Budget and Finance Committee
(415) 554-6975 – Voice
(415) 554-6979 – Fax
John.Avalos@sfgov.org
David Campos
(415) 554-5144 – voice
(415) 554-6255 – fax
David.Campos@sfgov.org
Carmen Chu
(415) 554-7460 – Voice
(415) 554-7432 – Fax
Carmen.Chu@sfgov.org
Bevan Dufty
(415) 554-6968 – Voice
(415) 554-6909 – Fax
Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org
Ross Mirkarimi
(415) 554-7630 – Voice
(415) 554-7634 – Fax
Ross.Mirkarimi@sfgov.org