San Francisco's Legacy Business Program is celebrating its 10th anniversary tonight with the opening of an exhibit at the public library's main branch. Well-loved businesses from Ingleside's iconic Beep's Burgers to the Irish Coffee-slinging Buena Vista Café will be honored with photographs and reproductions of menus.
But not everyone is smiling.
Wood LaBounty, president and CEO of architectural group San Francisco Heritage, discovered that the Office of Small Business restructured the program responsible for registering and supporting 500 small businesses — a good many in Ingleside — to eliminate the program's sole employee.
While officials say the program isn't going away, what comes next is unclear.
The widely popular program was created in 2015 by a Board of Supervisors ordinance and reaffirmed by the voters later that year by a ballot initiative. Its main work is disbursing small grants to businesses and landlords.
"It is one of the most admired programs," LaBounty told the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday before a presentation to admit a batch of businesses into the program. "Cities from across the U.S. emulate it. They ask for advice on it."
LaBounty then thanked Richard Kurylo, the Legacy Business Program's longtime manager, for his steadfast work in promoting, marketing and handholding small business owners through the city's notorious bureaucracy.
"He cared more than pretty much any government employee I've known in his mission," said LaBounty, The Ingleside Light's former history columnist.
Kurylo, who declined to comment, will be shifted to a different department. A representative from Kurylo's union did not immediately return a phone call.
Last year, the Office of Mayor Daniel Lurie cut the manager position from the budget to close a huge deficit. After outcry from dozens of business owners and community members, the Board of Supervisors restored the position.
Han Zou and Charles Lutvak, Lurie's spokespersons, declined to comment. And the Small Business Commission has yet to take up the matter.
The Board of Supervisors cannot reinstate the position this time because Kurylo was not laid off, and it's unclear how the program will operate once Kurylo is gone. The Office of Small Business offered scant details.
"While we are unable to discuss personnel matters related to the city’s challenging budget, the Office of Small Business is committed to continuing the Legacy Business Program, to support San Francisco’s long-standing businesses through not just the registry, but grant programs, leasing help, and technical services," a spokesperson said.
South of Market Business Association President Henry Karnilowicz, who often advocates for small businesses across the city, believes the Legacy Business Program is positive for the city, helping landlords be more reasonable with commercial tenants and marketing businesses on the registry.
"I am disappointed that this position is being eliminated," Karnilowicz said. "I thought the current administration was supportive of small business?"
