First Stop, the Disability and Aging Commission Meeting June 3, 2026
Good Afternoon DAS Commissioners, Staff and Colleagues.
Marie Jobling, Co-Executive Director of the Community Living Campaign.
I appreciate the discussion earlier about the Dignity Fund and this is a continuation on that theme.
As many of you know, my husband, Tony Fazio, recently passed away. As I sorted through his papers, I was reminded of the years of work he—and so many others in this community—devoted to creating and passing the Dignity Fund.
The Dignity Fund was never just about the money. It was about creating a reliable way to ensure that funding for services to keep pace with the growing number of older adults and people with disabilities in San Francisco. It recognized a simple reality: our population is aging, needs are increasing, and too many people are struggling to have ends meet.
For years, the Dignity Fund provided a thoughtful model—combining dedicated funding, community oversight, and regular needs assessments to guide investments. Yet too often, the promised annual $3 million increase failed to materialize and stymied service expansions. This year, however, that $3 million was finally allocated to the Department of Disability and Aging Services.
At the same time, DAS is proposing approximately $2.9 million in service cuts, at the Mayor’s request. As we understand it, very little of the newly added Dignity Fund dollars will be used to prevent or restore those cuts, nor allow new/expanded services to meet the level of needs.
This raises important questions about whether the Dignity Fund is fulfilling its intended voter-approved purpose and what its future should be. How can we celebrate receiving $3 million to the Dignity Fund while DAS is simultaneously cutting $2.9 million in the very services the Fund was created to protect?”
In light of these circumstances, I respectfully request a hearing on the Dignity Fund, its current and future implementation, and how it can best serve the growing needs of San Francisco’s older adults and people with disabilities.
Thank you very much.