San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has vowed the city will remain a safe haven no matter who’s president.
At a rally at City Hall on Monday, the mayor said protecting immigrants, minorities and LGBT citizens is more important than federal funding.
Lee called it a unity rally.
"We will always be San Francisco," the mayor said to boisterous applause during the morning rally. Lee went on to pledge protection for "undocumented immigrants, Muslims and LGBT brothers and sisters," no matter what President-elect Donald Trump does when he takes office.
"No walls in our city," the mayor said.
Lee admitted that bucking the future president could cost San Francisco dearly.
"It could have a direct effect of $500 million to $1 billion, and you know, as I said, we’ll have to find new friends if we don’t have a friend in the White House."
U.S. & World
In the city's Mission district, 62-year-old Guadalupe Siordia worries about losing federal assistance for her families three-bedroom apartment.
"The rent is going to go up, and I’m going to have to pay more, and i’m not going to be able to pay my rent," Siordia said.
She and her husband spent 60 percent of their income on a $1,700-a-month apartment. And her 18-year-old grandson gave up college to work at Safeway to help put food on the table. If something happens to cause the rents to rise, Siordia's family will be forced out.
"That’s scary," she said. "I’ve been here 30 years."
Lee seems convinced that if federal funds are cut, other money will be found to fill the gaps. Last week, Gov. Jerry Brown said he too will buck the president, if necessary, over civil rights and climate change policies.
