San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – September 19, 2023

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, beginning at 2:15 PM. The meeting included a consent agenda, regular agenda items, roll call introductions, and a major special order: a Committee of the Whole hearing on the Draft San Francisco Reparations Plan and Dream Keeper Initiative updates. The board also adopted several resolutions, ordinances, and appointments, and introduced new charter amendments.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1 and 2 were approved unanimously (11-0). These included an ordinance regarding Guaranteed Income and a resolution authorizing certificates of participation for capital improvements up to $77,170,000.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Reparations Hearing (3:00 PM Special Order): Over 100 members of the public spoke in person and remotely, the vast majority expressing strong support for the reparations plan and urging immediate action. Many speakers shared personal stories of displacement, discrimination, and harm caused by city policies. A few callers opposed the plan, calling it racist or unconstitutional. Speakers included leaders from the African American Reparations Advisory Committee, clergy, educators, business owners, and allies from various communities. Several callers also criticized the board’s reduction of public comment time to one minute.
• General Public Comment: A few speakers addressed other topics, including condemnation of an anti-trans conference, criticism of a proposed police staffing charter amendment, and calls for action on the drug crisis and homelessness.

Discussion Items

• Committee of the Whole – Reparations Plan (Item 10): The board heard presentations from:
  • Eric McDonnell (Chair) and Tanish Hollins (Vice Chair) of the African American Reparations Advisory Committee, who detailed the harms of urban renewal, redlining, and displacement, and presented the committee’s final report with over 100 recommendations across four areas: economic empowerment, education, health, and public policy. Key recommendations included a formal apology, creation of an Office of Reparations, and a stakeholder authority.
  • Dr. Cheryl Davis, Director of the Human Rights Commission, who provided an update on the Dream Keeper Initiative and outlined immediate actionable steps, including funding the Fillmore Heritage Center, supporting HBCU satellite campuses, and prioritizing certificate of preference holders.
  • Reverend Dr. Amos Brown and other community leaders urged the board to act without delay.
• Supervisor Comments: All 11 supervisors voiced strong support for reparations. Many highlighted specific recommendations they were working on, such as public banking, affordable housing, and support for black-owned businesses. Supervisor Walton introduced a resolution to accept the final reparations plan.
• Other Agenda Items:
  • Item 3 (1939 Market Street and 1515 South Van Ness Avenue): Declared surplus property for 100% affordable housing – adopted.
  • Item 4 (Produce Market lease amendment) – adopted.
  • Item 5 (Shared Spaces seating at Taraval and 46th) – passed on first reading.
  • Item 6 (Treasure Island park acceptance) – passed on first reading.
  • Item 7 (Interim zoning controls for parcel delivery services) – passed 9-0 after recusals by Supervisors Peskin and Walton.
  • Items 8-9 (Appointments to Health Authority and Reentry Council) – approved.
  • Items 11-14 (Liquor licenses, firefighters payroll deduction, Historic Preservation appointment) – adopted as committee reports.
• Roll Call Introductions: Supervisors introduced new legislation, including:
  • Supervisor Safai: Charter amendments to require mayoral approval for SFMTA fare/ meter changes and to elevate the Department of Emergency Management to a charter department.
  • Supervisor Dorsey: Charter amendment (San Francisco Police Full Staffing Act) to set minimum staffing of 2,182 officers within five years, with a budget set-aside.
  • Supervisor Chan: Ordinance to reinstate the Graffiti Advisory Board.
  • Resolutions recognizing Annette Williams Day (September 19) and Armenian Independence Day.

Key Outcomes

• Reparations Plan: The board accepted the final report from the African American Reparations Advisory Committee via resolution introduced by Supervisor Walton. The board committed to establishing an Office of Reparations, with $5 million already allocated in the budget. Supervisors pledged to work on implementing specific recommendations, including a formal apology, funding for black cultural districts, and support for HBCU satellites.
• Consent and Regular Agenda: All items on the consent and regular agenda were adopted as follows:
  • Consent items 1-2: Final passage (11-0).
  • Items 3-6: Adopted or passed on first reading unanimously.
  • Item 7: Passed 9-0 (two recusals).
  • Items 8-9: Appointments approved (11-0).
  • Items 11-14: Adopted as committee reports.
• Adoption Without Committee Reference: Items 17 (Annette Williams Day) and 19 (Armenian Independence Day) were adopted unanimously (11-0). Item 18 (Inflation Reduction Act funding framework) was amended and adopted unanimously after severance.
• Next Steps: The reparations hearing was heard and filed. The board will continue to work on funding and implementing the Office of Reparations and other recommendations. Supervisors pledged to bring forward legislation to advance specific proposals.