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Lurie Stands By San Francisco Layoffs as Workers Protest $643 Million Gap

Unions urge a tax on high‑paid executives to prevent cuts they say would erode front‑line care.

Overview

  • Workers and unions rallied Wednesday at San Francisco General Hospital and City Hall after the mayor issued 127 layoff notices and told departments to plan for roughly 500 cuts.
  • Mayor Daniel Lurie told supervisors the reductions are “incredibly painful” yet necessary to address a two‑year shortfall now estimated at about $643 million.
  • Advocates warned at a hearing called by Supervisor Danny Sauter that a possible $3 million reduction to the Department of Disability and Aging Services would harm seniors and people with disabilities.
  • Health and community workers described real‑world impacts, including Laguna Honda nurses who received notices and clinic staff who fear closures that could leave patients without care.
  • City budget analysts point to weak office leasing and recent federal funding cuts as key drivers of the gap, with Lurie’s formal budget due June 1 for Board review in June.