San Francisco voters could decide to approve a $628.5 million earthquake bond to strengthen critical public safety infrastructure before a large earthquake that's predicted to strike the Bay Area sometime in the near future, Mayor London Breed announced Wednesday.
Breed will introduce the Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond at the board of supervisors meeting and, if approved, the bond would be placed on the ballot in March 2020.
"We know that we must always be prepared for when the next major earthquake strikes, which means making sure that our fire stations, police stations and critical infrastructure will not only withstand the impact, but also be ready to serve our first responders," Breed said in a statement.
"I look forward to working with elected officials and city leaders to build a broad coalition to support this critical investment in our public safety," she said.
The ESER Bond would pay for seismic retrofitting and resiliency for the city's fire stations, police stations and other crucial public safety infrastructure.
From the bond, $275 million would go to fund retrofitting and resiliency projects for fire stations and firefighter training facilities, $153.5 million would go toward the Emergency Firefighting Water System and $121 million would go toward retrofitting and resiliency projects at the city's Police Department.
Also, $70 million would fund disaster response facilities and $9 million would fund the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management's 911 Call Center, Breed's office said.
Local
San Francisco voters previously approved a $412 million ESER Bond in 2010 by more than 70 percent as well as a $400 million ESER Bond in 2014 by more than 79 percent.
Outgoing Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White said, "San Francisco residents and voters recognize the critical need to invest in public safety infrastructure and first responder facilities. We count on their support of this important bond just as it was received in 2010 and 2014."
Breed will introduce the bond on Tuesday. Supervisors Sandra Lee Fewer and Catherine Stefani are co-sponsoring the funding effort.
