San Francisco vows to remain 'sanctuary city'
Mayor Ed Lee says SF has always been a shelter for people
A large crowd cheered Monday as San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee vowed that the city will remain a sanctuary for immigrants, gays and lesbians and religious minorities despite the election of a president who strikes fear into many of those communities.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to cancel federal funding for sanctuary cities such as San Francisco that decline to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. He also said he plans to deport millions of criminals who are living in the country illegally.
"We will always be San Francisco," said Lee from the Rotunda of City Hall as dozens of people roared with approval at an event that featured the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and a host of public elected officials.
"I know that there are a lot of people who are angry and frustrated and fearful, but our city's never been about that. We have been and always have been a city of refuge, a city of sanctuary, a city of love."
San Francisco receives roughly $480 million directly from the federal government and more than $900 million from the state, much of it pass-through federal money, city Controller Ben Rosenfield said. The largest share goes toward health care, but federal dollars also fund public assistance and infrastructure, he said. The city's budget is $9.6 billion.
It's uncertain how the city would recoup that money should Trump make good on his promise to cut off sanctuary cities.
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