On Tuesday, Nov. 10, District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong stood on the steps of City Hall to announce two new measures to support San Francisco’s military members and their families. Wong is the only current member of the Board of Supervisors with direct military experience, having served more than 17 years in the California Army National Guard. He holds the rank of captain.
Supervisors Matt Dorsey, whose father served in the military, and Myrna Melgar, whose sister served in the Air Force, were also present.
Wong announced two measures to recognize and support the city’s veteran community. The first, an ordinance (File No. 261209), would restore the Veterans’ Affairs Commission name and remove a sunset provision that would dissolve the body on July 1, 2029, unless the Board of Supervisors extends it.
The commission advises the mayor and Board of Supervisors on veterans’ needs, holds public hearings, and recommends economic development, health care, and social services.
“This body gives veterans a direct way to bring their concerns to the mayor and Board of Supervisors,” Wong said. “Its members hold hearings and make recommendations and help city leaders understand where our policies and services better meet veterans’ needs.”
The second measure is a resolution (File No. 261233) recognizing November 2026 as National Veterans and Military Families Month. It would honor not only veterans and active-duty service members but also their spouses, children, caregivers, and surviving loved ones.
“When a service member leaves for training or deployment, someone at home takes on more,” Wong said. “A spouse adjusts a work schedule, a parent steps in to help, children spend time away from someone who they love.” In addition to honoring those who serve, who have served, and their families, the measures aim to ensure that veterans and their families can access the benefits, employment opportunities, housing, and counseling they need. According to Wong, a stable home is essential to building a life after military service.
Melgar, who is cosponsoring the legislation, said she understands the worry that comes with having someone you love deployed. After returning from duty, her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and faced significant challenges obtaining the medical benefits she needed. “My sister should not have had to go through that,” Melgar said. “We’re just not doing enough. We owe them.”
Dorsey’s father served in the Air Force. Organizations in the district that serve the veteran community include Swords to Plowshares and the Filipino Bayanihan Center. “I do a lot of work on drug policy, and I will say the Veterans Administration does some of the best and most consequential and groundbreaking work to help people who are struggling with substance use disorders,” Dorsey said. He noted that he was not a cosponsor but would like to be added.
William “Bill” Barnickel, president of the San Francisco Veterans’ Affairs Council, served 30 years in the military, and said his next priority is housing. He helped secure 23 housing units in San Francisco for veterans. He thanked Supervisor Connie Chan for her assistance, while acknowledging that the project could take a long time to come to fruition.
Barnickel then read the poem “Old Glory,” an ode to patriotism rarely seen in San Francisco.
“People have forgotten how valuable our freedom is,” said Dr. Simone Lundquist, founder and executive director of Open Doors to Future Possibilities. “Our men and women in service have sacrificed whatever they can to fight for us. I believe there is not enough education to look at our veterans and service men and women as people with emotions and feelings. ‘Thank you for your service’ is not enough.”
