Vallie Brown facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vallie Brown
Brown speaking in September 2019
Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from the 5th district
In office July 16, 2018 – December 16, 2019
Mayor	London Breed
Preceded by	London Breed
Succeeded by	Dean Preston
Personal details
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Residences	San Francisco, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Utah
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Activist and politician

Vallie Brown is an American politician. She used to be a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This group helps run the city of San Francisco. She represented District 5, which is a part of the city.

Before joining the Board of Supervisors, Vallie Brown worked for the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development. She also helped other supervisors, like Ross Mirkarimi and London Breed, with their work. After leaving the Board, she ran for other political roles, but she did not win.

Early Life and Education

Vallie Brown grew up in Utah. Her father passed away when she was very young. She was raised by her grandmother and mother. As a child, her family sometimes struggled to find a stable home. They even had to sleep in their car at times.

When she was 12, her grandmother passed away. Soon after, her mother also died because she did not have enough healthcare. After this, Vallie was cared for by kind neighbors and the families of her friends.

Vallie Brown studied art at the University of Utah. She moved to San Francisco in 1985 to start a new chapter.

Helping Her Community

Becoming an Activist

In San Francisco, Vallie Brown started an art program. This program was at the Hunter's Point Boys and Girls Club. She noticed that many people in the area were getting sick. This made her want to help.

She began to learn about harmful chemicals in the environment. She became an environmental activist. She worked to make people aware of these dangers. In 2004, she created the Lower Haight Neighborhood Association. This group helps people in her local community.

Working for San Francisco

Vallie Brown worked for the city government for many years. From 2006 to 2013, she was an assistant to Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. Then, from 2013 to 2016, she helped Supervisor London Breed.

After that, she worked as a project manager. This job was at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. She helped with projects that created jobs and supported businesses.

On the San Francisco Board of Supervisors

In July 2018, London Breed became the mayor of San Francisco. Mayor Breed then chose Vallie Brown to take her place on the Board of Supervisors. This was a big step in Vallie Brown's career.

Supporting Local Businesses

Vallie Brown worked to help small businesses in San Francisco. She suggested creating a $9 million fund. This money would offer low-interest loans to businesses. It would also help them improve their shops and pay for fees.

In April 2019, she proposed a new rule. This rule said that stores must accept cash payments. The Board of Supervisors agreed with her, and the rule passed.

Protecting the Environment

Vallie Brown cared a lot about the environment. She helped create a law that said large commercial buildings must use 100% renewable energy by 2030. She also wanted large homes to report how much energy they use.

She worked on a plan to increase the tax on plastic bags. It went from 10 cents to 25 cents. She also wanted to stop stores from using plastic bags for fruits and vegetables.

Improving Public Transportation

In 2018, San Francisco's public transportation system, called "Muni," had problems. Vallie Brown called a meeting to find out why. She learned that Muni needed more bus and train drivers. This was because the city was not paying them enough.

Helping with Housing and Homelessness

Vallie Brown worked hard to help people find homes. She led a $40 million plan to buy buildings. This helped stop landlords from forcing tenants out to sell their homes. The buildings were then turned into affordable housing.

She also helped get funding for "Prop F." San Francisco voters approved this in 2018. It gives free legal help to renters who might be evicted. She also helped set aside money for affordable housing from a state program.

Vallie Brown also suggested creating a special center for people living in their cars. Many people in San Francisco sleep in vehicles. She also started a program where churches open their doors during the day. This gives homeless people a safe place to rest and get help from social workers.

Elections for Supervisor

In November 2019, Vallie Brown ran for re-election. She lost to Dean Preston. On May 29, 2020, she announced she would run again in the November 2020 election. However, she lost to Dean Preston again.

Personal Life

Vallie Brown is from the Paiute and Shoshone tribes.

For many years, she lived in artist's warehouses. She often found it hard to pay rent when she lived in apartments or houses. She faced eviction several times.

In 1994, Vallie Brown and three friends bought a Victorian home. This was in San Francisco's Lower Haight neighborhood. This purchase caused some low-income African American tenants to move out. Vallie Brown later apologized for saying they had not paid their rent. Court documents showed this was not true.