SF DPH 3-Clinic Closure Fight Moves to Meet-and-Confer, Advocates Learn Closures Were Never Budget Add-Backs

July 3 update to previously tracked SF DPH cuts: after months of protests, patients, clinicians, and SEIU 1021 members learned the three clinic consolidations were being treated as a Department of Public Health operational decision rather than budget add-backs. The closures still target South East Mission Geriatrics Clinic (the only free SF facility serving low-income seniors 60+), Cole Street Youth Clinic, and Larkin Street Youth Clinic.

Negotiations are continuing, with meet-and-confer set to begin July 15 and advocates still pushing to keep the clinics open and resourced. Strategic read for SF FQHCs: even when elected officials restore headline budget dollars, operational consolidations can keep moving unless they are named in labor, budget, and implementation language.