Investing in Public Services Makes San Francisco Stronger - Yes on D
Infographic from Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco titled “4 Practical Use Cases for Supporting Proposition D.” The graphic features PPS-SF logos in English, Spanish, Chinese, and a grandparents version on a blue background with yellow, red, and teal accents. A highlighted section labeled “Bridges Communities for Collective Investment” states that PPS-SF is dedicated to bridging communities and that supporting Proposition D brings parents, neighborhood leaders, and local families together to advocate for a fairer, more responsive fiscal landscape that puts children first.
What kind of city do we want San Francisco to be?
A city that measures success only by stock prices, soaring real estate values, record corporate profits, and extreme concentrations of wealth? Or a city that measures success by the health, well-being, opportunity, and dignity of its people?
As one of the wealthiest cities in the world, San Francisco has the opportunity to lead not only in innovation and economic growth, but in quality of life, social innovation, shared prosperity and thriving communities.
When our most vulnerable residents thrive, our entire city thrives.
As the daughter of refugees, I saw firsthand what happens when families struggle without stable housing, language access, healthcare, or support. My parents arrived in the United States with very little. They worked hard, but navigating systems designed without immigrant families in mind was often overwhelming. The opportunities I received through public education and community support changed the trajectory of my life. Not every child receives those same opportunities.
That is why I have spent my career working to build systems that help families thrive.
At Wu Yee Children's Services, we expanded access to early education, family support, and workforce development because we know the first five years of life establish the foundation for lifelong learning, health, and success. Today, at Open Door Legal, we work to ensure families can access legal support regardless of income because a legal problem should not be the reason a family loses housing, employment, safety, or stability.
The evidence is clear.
Every dollar invested in early education, prevention, public health, housing stability, legal services, and family support yields returns many times over. These investments reduce homelessness, emergency healthcare costs, incarceration, and expensive crisis interventions later in life.
When children receive quality early education, they are more likely to graduate, earn higher wages, and contribute to our economy. When families have access to healthcare and mental health support before a crisis occurs, they are healthier and more productive. When tenants and workers have access to legal services, they are more likely to remain housed, employed, and stable. When parents have safety, security, and housing, their children have the stability needed to learn and grow.
These investments strengthen not only individual lives but our workforce, economy, and civic life.
Healthy, educated residents are not merely beneficiaries of public investment—they are the drivers of innovation, economic growth, and community prosperity.
Every successful economy depends on a healthy, educated, and productive workforce.
When families have access to childcare, healthcare, legal services, quality schools, and stable housing, they are better able to participate in the workforce, start businesses, pursue higher education, and contribute to their communities. They have greater spending power, which supports local businesses and strengthens the broader economy.
Conversely, cutting public services creates ripple effects throughout the economy. When families lose childcare, healthcare, housing stability, legal support, or educational opportunities, they spend more time managing crises. Parents reduce work hours, leave the workforce, or face financial instability. Local businesses lose customers. Communities become less stable. Economic growth slows.
Public services are not simply social programs—they are economic infrastructure.
Just as roads, bridges, and transit systems support commerce, investments in education, healthcare, housing stability, and legal services support human potential.
This is also why community schools matter.
Community schools are one of the most promising and proven models for improving student outcomes because they recognize a simple truth: children do not learn in isolation. Learning is shaped by housing stability, health, nutrition, mental health, family well-being, and community support.
When schools partner with healthcare providers, social service agencies, legal aid organizations, after-school programs, and community-based organizations, students are more likely to attend school regularly, graduate, and thrive.
When we cut public services, that fragile ecosystem that supports learning begins to collapse.
Teachers become crisis responders instead of educators. Counselors become overwhelmed. Schools spend more time managing emergencies and less time helping students reach their full potential.
We should be expanding community schools, not weakening the network of services that make them successful.
Public services and community-based organizations provide culturally competent care, language access, trusted relationships, and individualized support that many families rely upon. They meet people where they are and help them navigate systems that can otherwise feel inaccessible.
This is especially important for immigrants, low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, Black, Latino, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and other historically marginalized communities.
Unlike private markets, public institutions exist to serve everyone.
Corporations and private entities can choose where to invest, whom to hire, and which communities to prioritize. Public services and community organizations ensure that children who are struggling, families facing hardship, seniors living alone, and residents navigating crisis are not left behind.
They provide opportunities for people who might otherwise fall through the cracks.
That is not only a moral imperative—it is an economic one.
The next generation of entrepreneurs, teachers, healthcare workers, scientists, artists, public servants, and community leaders may come from families currently struggling to make ends meet. When we invest in people early and consistently, we expand opportunity, strengthen our workforce, and build a more resilient economy.
A city cannot cut its way to prosperity.
If we want safer neighborhoods, stronger schools, lower rates of homelessness, a healthier population, and a thriving economy, we must invest in the systems that help people succeed before they reach a crisis.
That is why I support Prop D.
Prop D recognizes that investing in people is one of the smartest decisions we can make. It helps preserve the services that keep families housed, healthy, educated, connected, and economically secure. It strengthens the community-based organizations and public institutions that form the backbone of our city's social infrastructure.
Most importantly, it helps preserve communities.
San Francisco has always been a place where people come to dream big.
So let us dare to dream bigger.
Do we dare imagine a San Francisco with the healthiest children in America?
The most educated workforce?
The happiest and most connected seniors?
A city where every child has a pathway to success and every family has the support they need to thrive?
A city known not only for innovation and wealth, but for compassion, well-being, belonging, and shared prosperity?
I believe we can build that city.
If we want a stronger future, a skilled workforce, healthier communities, stronger public schools, and a safer, more connected society, we must invest in the people who make San Francisco great.
Vote Yes on Prop D.
Because a world-class city should not be measured by how wealthy its wealthiest residents become. It should be measured by how well it cares for its children, families, workers, seniors, and most vulnerable residents—and whether every person has the opportunity to thrive.
Virginia Cheung
Public School Mom
Chief Advancement Officer, Open Door Legal