Shape Up SF’s Policy, Systems, Environments Action Team (PSEAT) hosted this virtual training for Matthias Mormino from the Budget Justice Coalition to explain the City’s budget process and how to be more influential, effective, advocates for your organization and community. View slides.
Key takeaways:
- The budget is a document and process that happens year-round.
- San Francisco has a $14B budget. In your advocacy efforts, do not be discouraged by statements like “we don’t have the funds.”
- While $14B is a large number, the discretionary portion is $5B – still a lot!
- The budget process is a dance between the executive branch, legislative branch, and the public. Each has an important role to play.
Matthias Mormino – As Chief of Staff for Chinatown CDC, Matthias is tasked with creating better internal alignment, streamlining, and reducing barriers to decision making while being focused on follow through and moving issues to completion. Matthias grew up in Europe and worked on the issue of globalization and how communities across the world can unite to stand up to unfair and oppressive economic policies. Matthias started his career at Chinatown CDC working with SRO Families across the city to demand access to city services and more housing opportunities. Ever since starting his nonprofit career in San Francisco, Matthias has been involved in the City Budget, from an advocacy standpoint to working at City Hall on the Budget to being a trainer and a former co-chair for the Budget Justice coalition. Matthias holds a B.A. in Russian literature and culture from the University of Perugia and a M.A. in Ethical Finance from the University of Ferrara.
