URGENT ACTION ALERT –
BUDGET CUTS THREATEN ACCESS TO PUBLIC DEFENSE!
SUPPORT THE SF PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE
Public defenders provide legal representation to those who can’t afford a lawyer. They protect
our constitutional rights, ensure that all Americans receive a fair trial, and expose government
misconduct. Due to the economic downturn, more people than ever cannot afford a lawyer and
must rely on public defenders for help.
In San Francisco, a 25 percent budget cut, proposed by Mayor Gavin Newsom, threatens to
undermine the fundamental right to a lawyer. Such a drastic cut would force significant
unacceptable layoffs of the public defender’s staff. The Public Defender's Office, through its
innovative reentry and Clean Slate programs, has helped thousands of people turn their lives
around, which in turn saves many more tax dollars than the proposed cut.
The Public Defender’s Office and the 24,000 people it represents need your support. Please
contact the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors by email, phone or fax to express your support
for public defense and the Constitutional right to a lawyer. Below is a sample letter and contact
information for public officials listed below.
Mailing Address:
Mayor Gavin Newsom/ San Francisco Board of Supervisors
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
By Phone, Fax or Email:
Mayor Gavin Newsom
(415) 554-6141
(415) 554-6160 - fax
Gavin.Newsom@sfgov.org
Supervisor Eric Mar (Dist. 1)
(415) 554-7410 - voice
(415) 554-7415 - fax
Eric.L.Mar@sfgov.org
Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier (Dist. 2)
415) 554-7752 - voice
(415) 554-7843 - fax
Michela.Alioto-Pier@sfgov.org
Supervisor David Chiu, President (Dist. 3)
(415) 554-7450 - voice
(415) 554-7454 - fax
David.Chiu@sfgov.org
Supervisor Carmen Chu (Dist. 4)
(415) 554-7460 - voice
(415) 554-7432 - fax
Carmen.Chu@sfgov.org
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi (Dist. 5)
(415) 554-7630 - voice
(415) 554-7634 - fax
Ross.Mirkarimi@sfgov.org
Supervisor Chris Daly (Dist. 6)
(415) 554-7970 - voice
(415) 554-7974 - fax
chris.daly@sfgov.org
Supervisor Sean Elsbernd (Dist. 7)
(415) 554-6516 - voice
(415) 554-6546 - fax
Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org
Supervisor Bevan Dufty (Dist. 8)
(415) 554-6968 - voice
(415) 554-6909 - fax
Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org
Supervisor David Campos (Dist. 9)
(415) 554-5144 - voice
(415) 554-6255 - fax
David.Campos@sfgov.org
Supervisor Sophie Maxwell (Dist. 10)
415) 554-7670 - voice
(415) 554-7674 - fax
Sophie.Maxwell@sfgov.org
Supervisor John Avalos (Dist. 11)
(415) 554-6975 - voice
(415) 554-6979 - fax
John.Avalos@sfgov.org
See sample letter on next page . . .
SAMPLE SUPPORT LETTER
[INSERT DATE]
Mayor Gavin Newsom
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
FAX: (415) 554-6160
Email: gavin.newsom@sfgov.org
RE: Budget Cuts to Public Defender’s Office - OPPOSE
Dear Mayor Newsom:
As a concerned San Francisco resident, I strongly urge you to preserve the right to indigent
defense by fully funding the Public Defender’s Office in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
The proposed 25 percent budget cut to the Public Defender’s Office would force the lay-off of
numerous Deputy Public Defenders. Because the Public Defender’s Office staff already works
beyond its capacity, budget cuts would make it impossible for the office to provide competent
representation to the public. As a result, the Public Defender’s Office will be forced to outsource
numerous cases.
Funding the Public Defender’s Office is the most cost-efficient way to provide constitutionally
mandated legal representation to 24,000 people each year. Public defenders earn less than
private attorneys and are not paid by the hour. Most public defenders work between 50 and 70
hours per week and, unlike police or firefighters, do not receive overtime.
Properly funding the public defender office also saves taxpayer money by avoiding costly
court delays and increased incarceration that occur when public defenders are
overworked are avoided. Furthermore, the Public Defender's Office – through its
innovative reentry and Clean Slate programs – has helped thousands of people turn their
lives around, which in turn saves many more dollars than the proposed cut.
According to a report recently released by the bipartisan Constitution Project, the need
support indigent defense has never been more urgent:
“Throughout the United States, indigent defense systems are struggling. Due to
funding shortfalls, excessive caseloads, and a host of other problems, many are
truly failing. Not only does this failure deny justice to the poor, it adds costs to the
entire justice system. State and local governments are faced with increased jail
expenses, retrials of cases, lawsuits, and a lack of public confidence in our justice
systems. In the country’s current fiscal crisis, indigent defense funding may be
further curtailed, and the risk of convicting innocent persons will be greater than
ever.”
As a taxpayer, who is concerned about justice and public safety in San Francisco, I ask
that you:


Properly fund the Public Defender's Office so that the office can properly
represent its clients;
Maintain programs that help people remain arrest free – such as the Public
Defender's Office expungement and prisoner reentry programs --- and help save
taxpayer dollars.
Even in these difficult economic times, San Francisco cannot afford to place equal access
to justice on the financial chopping block. Public defenders can’t take short cuts in
representing their clients. I ask that you show your commitment to upholding our
constitutional right to counsel by resisting any cuts to the Public Defender’s Office
budget.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
[INSERT YOUR NAME HERE]