There was no shortage of sun and color in the rally to fight against budget cuts in front of City Hall yesterday at noon. In a festive mood, many with colorful Union t-shirts, others with loud yellow and white hand clappers, and quite a few with signs loudly proclaiming "Stop balancing the budget with safety net cuts," "Care not Crash", "Don't wreck the system of care,"(one sign even had a Wanted sign with Bush's face); all together to protest the possible budget cuts to social and health programs that aid the city's most vulnerable populations. Many tirelessly chanted different slogans:"No more budget cuts!,""We're fighters!","Save our homeless!", breaking periodically into applause; occasional cars also joined in honking their support. A celebratory, upbeat, happy atmosphere prevailed.

But talk to the rally participants and they'll tell you sad stories of neglect and illness that will only get worse if the proposed cuts are enacted. Not anything to be too happy about. Many described the nearly catastrophic consequences if the cuts were enacted: a gloomy and dark scenario amid the bright California sun. The consequences of budget cuts would fall hardest on the poor and downtrodden of this Bay Area city.

David Napier, a social rehab specialist at Baker Place, said that many of the people he serves would be hurt by the proposed budget cuts. He helps provide transitional diagnosis for those wanting to leave the life of the streets. Some of the twelve people at a time that the non-profit he works at helps would no longer be able to receive needed care for their transition from a crisis.

"We have been serving the community for 35 years," Napier said, "they are essential for establishing the community's mental health."

Much of San Francisco, on the other hand, is oblivious to the public health consequences of the cuts Napier is fighting against. Many are well off enough to live in this city of soaring real estate prices, unaffected by the sub-prime mortgage crisis hitting the rest of the state and country. Good times are certainly rolling for many of those who drove by the rally in their expensive cars.

But for the people who are served by the numerous social and health services proposed to be cut, the cuts would wreak havoc on already weak services. The many different organizations: SEIU 1021, UAW, ECS, San Francisco Human Service Network, OPEIU and other protesters gathered here in front of City Hall with a sense of urgency. One of them warned of rising social tensions and crime in a city that already has an inadequate social safety net.

Larry Nelson, a social worker at Walden House, said that 22% of the budget at his organization comes from the city of San Francisco. His was a voice of common sense and statistical evidence, amid the shouting and emotional outcry of many of the rally participants. "Look, all the studies have shown that you save $7 to $12 dollars in law enforcement for every $1 dollar you spend in social services. These budget cuts are shortsighted."

Approximately 300 people rallied along with him to protest what might end up costing much more in the long run if the cuts are enacted. Many were venting their anger and frustration over they what they saw was the targeting of the most vulnerable.

They represented a broad cross section of organizations that has taken a decade to unite into a coalition, as Ed Kinchley of SEIU pointed out. Despite coming from different sectors be it non-profit, religious or the public sector, they had come together around the goal of preserving essential services for the public health of San Francisco.

"The safety net is a patchwork quilt made up of different organizations. The cuts will make holes that will make some fall through the patchwork," said Kinchley.

In a brief speech, San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano shared in the protesters' anger and vowed to fight against the budget cuts. His righteous anger was tempered with good humor. He vociferously told the crowd how much smarter they were than those who proposed social service cuts like Governor Schwarzenehger. "I know he's not smarter than you. I know it. I've met him!!"

Whether this rally preventd cuts in social and health spending remains to be seen. But it is clear that activists are mobilizing to ensure that those already battered by destitution and illness will not endure new cuts from an already inadequately funded social safety net.