On June 28th after 2 ½ years of meetings, hearings, support card collection, petitions, pickets, e-mails and phone calls, the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee voted unanimously to recommend to the full board $500,000 for a new Bernal Preschool. The full Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on the budget committee’s recommendation. Although no plans or site has been finalized at this time, a feasibility study of three sites within Bernal’s Community Hub estimated the cost to build and fund the first year of operations at $2 million for the committee’s preferred site. A special thanks to District 9 Supervisor Ammiano for his leadership and determination to secure the initial seed funding for the Preschool which now can be leveraged with additional public and private support. As preschool committee co-chair and long term Bernal resident Bill Sorro states, “We have come a long way and there is still a ways to go and together we can achieve our goal of a new Preschool home ‘in the hood.’ The potential of this People’s victory, in particular, immigrant families fighting back and resisting for our children is really far reaching. Sustenance for the Heart and Soul.” In the coming months the committee will continue to follow up on the study and work on additional fundraising efforts. However, the committee is excited about the level of funding received and is set to celebrate at their July 29th Preschool Summer Tardeada at the Bernal Playground (see below for details). The committee continues to collect support cards for the Preschool & Learning Center. If you would like to help make the new Preschool a reality, please let the committee know by calling or e-mailing Parent Voices at the number below.

PROJECT VETTING TAKES PLACE
On June 1st the Preschool Committee met with the Departments of Children & Youth, Community Development, Human Services, Library, and Rec. & Park, as well as City College, Head Start SF, Low Income Investment Fund, State Licensing and the Child Care Planning & Advisory Council. Supervisor Ammiano joined the meeting to state his strong support for the Preschool to return to our Community Hub and pledged to secure the necessary funding for a new Preschool/Learning Center as part of this year’s budget process. The meeting was positive and the committee is now addressing the legitimate concerns through additional research and meetings with the appropriate parties.

PRESCHOOL PUSHED OUT OF LIBRARY
After 30 years of being in the Bernal Public Library, the Preschool was pushed out of the Library on June 7, 2008. The Library pushed the Preschool out of the library into Paul Revere even though the temporary site was not ready. The Paul Revere site has no private office, less storage and outdoor play space then the space in the library and adjacent playground. Our kids are getting short changed again, this after the City Librarian Luis Herrera stated we would not have to move until the new site was ready. The Library does not expect construction to begin until September 2007. The committee believes the City Librarian pushed harder after learning at the June 1st meeting that a return to the library is still an option of the Preschool Committee campaign.

PRESCHOOL SUMMER TARDEADA
The Preschool is now planning our Preschool Summer Tardeada at the Bernal Playground from noon – 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 29th. Plans include live Latino music, food, and children’s activities as well as the opportunity to see a Preschool/Learning Center feasibility study display. Community information tables will also be available. We need financial sponsorship for the event. Come have some fun in the sun with Bernal’s Latino community.

To get involved call Parent Voices at (415) 343-3383 or e-mail parentvoices@childrenscouncil.org or Project Manager Armando Vasquez at (415) 425-1771.

BERNAL CONGRESS WINS MAYOR'S, SUPERVISORS' SUPORT
As part of the Mayor’s June 1 release of his budget, the Mayor included $160,000 for an Alemany & Holly Court public housing developments outreach worker and for social services to be provided at the Bernal Playground. The Board of Supervisors budget committee added an additional $605,000 for the development of a Mission District community center, Bernal community organizing, and violence prevention activities. Congratulations to the community, Neighborhood Center staff, Supervisor Ammiano and his staff and the Mayor’s Office for coming together to support building a healthier and safer Bernal for all, especially our at-risk families and individuals. The full board of supervisors is scheduled to vote on July 17. For more information contact jsmooke@bhnc.org.

MORE CONDOS FOR KELLY MOORE'S SITE?
Seven Hills Properties is proposing a 60 unit condo development with 9 units set aside as below market rate units as required by the City’s Inclusionary Zoning. Unfortunately, the 9 units are relatively unaffordable for long term Mission/Bernal families who want to remain in the City. The proposal only includes 3, 3 bedrooms out of 60. This is not family housing which is needed in Bernal and the Mission. The units will range from $500,000 - $700,000. The Mission Anti-displacement Coalition (MAC) has filed an appeal with the Board of Supervisors which will be heard on Tuesday, July 17 at 3 p.m. at City Hall. MAC along with the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center has proposed an alternative proposal with 100 percent affordable rental units and community space on the ground floor. MAC & the BHNC are sponsoring pre-hearing activities at the Chavez and Mission site from 7/9 – 7/16. For more information contact Jane Martin at jmartin@bhnc.org or call 206-2140 ext. 155.

OUTDOOR CINEMA ACCEPTING ENTRIES UNTIL JULY 15
The Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema, now in its fourth year, is accepting entries through 7/15. The showings will take place September 27 – 29 at Bernal Heights parks & playgrounds to be determined in the near future. To submit an entry contact the cinema at http://www.bhoutdoorcine.org/events.html or call 285-1362.

E-mail: mauricioevela@aol.com

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