San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - January 9, 2024
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - January 9, 2024
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held its first regular meeting of 2024 on January 9, 2024, at 2:15 PM. The meeting included a consent calendar, committee reports, and a lengthy discussion and vote on a ceasefire resolution concerning the Israel-Gaza conflict. The board also addressed routine approvals, public comments, and several proclamations and introductions.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from November 14, 2023, November 28, 2023, and the November 20, 2023 special meeting (11-0).
- Passed ordinances and resolutions on consent, including:
- Item 1: Accept and expend a $15,326,301 grant from the Board of State and Community Corrections for the Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program.
- Items 2-6: Planning code amendments for fleet charging, public art relocation, and landmark designations (Chata Gutierrez Mural and Carnaval Mural).
- Item 7: Exempt certain PDR and arts uses from conversion limits in Eastern Neighborhoods (8 votes required, passed unanimously).
- Items 8-19: Prevailing wage rates, eviction defense grant amendment ($11.4 million aggregate), and ten technology marketplace contracts (each up to $20 million, five-year terms).
- Item 20: Accept $6,336,363 grant from California State Library for Main Library seismic and roof projects.
- Item 22: Liquor license transfer to Willow on the Green (1327B 9th Avenue).
- Item 23: Appointment of Azalina Eusope to the Sanitation and Streets Commission (term ending July 1, 2026).
Special Order – Public Comment Accommodation
- The board provided a special accommodation for a caller, Kevin Lamb, who identified as a disability activist. He requested that meeting minutes include details of prior public comments, including his support for Supervisor Dean Preston and homeless populations. He also stated that his ADA request to speak on the ceasefire resolution the previous day was denied, and he expressed frustration with the denial of accommodations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment: Several speakers addressed the board:
- Chris Workline alleged illegal wiretapping by the city and requested removal of surveillance systems.
- Jordan Pronunciate Day criticized the board on multiple issues, including remote public comment, the Safeway closure, and Supervisors Mandelman, Dorsey, and Stephanie.
- Mauricio Chavez (NorCal Carpenters Union) spoke in support of union labor standards, apprenticeship programs, and living wages.
- Nina Smollett (Collective Impact) opposed the planned closure of the Safeway in the Fillmore/Western Addition, citing food justice concerns for seniors and the loss of a pharmacy and bank.
- Matthew Beeston (NorCal Carpenters Union) emphasized the importance of labor standards on construction projects.
- Daniel Landry supported Supervisor Preston’s resolution to halt the Safeway closure, noting historical racial profiling by Safeway.
- Rev. Amos Brown (NAACP San Francisco) urged the board to unanimously support Supervisor Preston’s measure and called for community engagement before any closure.
Discussion Items
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Ceasefire Resolution (Item 26): The board debated a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, humanitarian aid, release of hostages, and condemnation of hate.
- President Peskin proposed amendments to streamline the resolution into a one-page document, focusing on: a sustained ceasefire, humanitarian aid, release of all hostages, urging the Biden administration to act, condemning antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic rhetoric, condemning the Netanyahu government’s attacks resulting in tens of thousands of Palestinian civilian deaths, calling for new leadership on both sides, and urging an international investigation into war crimes, including gender-based violence and killing of children.
- Supervisor Preston, the original author, thanked the public and staff, and expressed hope the amendments would build consensus.
- Supervisor Ronan spoke passionately about the need for bravery in calling for a ceasefire, referencing the book “Number of Stars” and the role of U.S. support for Israel.
- Supervisor Mandelman stated he could not support the resolution despite appreciating efforts at consensus, and voted no, hoping for peace.
- Supervisor Walton voiced support, emphasizing the need to end violence and hatred.
- Supervisor Melgar supported the compromise, acknowledging deep divisions but urging attention to local issues.
- Supervisor Dorsey explained his opposition, citing the failure to explicitly condemn Hamas’s October 7th attack and its gender-based violence, and expressed concern that the resolution would reward terrorism.
- Supervisor Stephanie stated she could not vote for the resolution, citing the rise in antisemitic attacks, the need to condemn Hamas, and the weaponization of sexual violence.
- Supervisor Safai, born in the region, supported the resolution as a way to show solidarity and reduce fear in local communities.
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Amendments Vote: The amendments passed 8-3 (Supervisors Dorsey, Mandelman, and Stephanie voting no).
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Final Resolution Vote: The resolution as amended passed 8-3 (same three supervisors voting no).
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Committee Reports (Items 24-27):
- Item 24: Ordinance reducing membership of the Behavioral Health Commission from 17 to 12 seats, passed on first reading.
- Item 25: Ordinance approving a modified surveillance technology policy for city administrator’s security camera systems, passed on first reading.
- Item 27: Motion appointing Nkita Kumar to the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, approved 9-0 (Supervisors Preston and Ronan absent).
Key Outcomes
- Ceasefire Resolution Adopted: The board passed a resolution (8-3) calling for a sustained ceasefire, humanitarian aid, release of all hostages, condemnation of hate, and an international investigation into war crimes.
- Committee Assignments Announced: President Peskin announced new committee lineups effective January 10, 2024, including:
- Budget and Finance: Chair Chan, Vice Chair Mandelman, member Melgar.
- Public Safety and Neighborhood Services: Chair Stephanie, Vice Chair Engardio, member Dorsey.
- Government Audit and Oversight: Chair Preston, Vice Chair Stephanie, member Chan.
- Land Use: Chair Melgar, Vice Chair Preston, member Peskin.
- Rules: Chair Ronen, Vice Chair Walton, member Safai.
- Memorials: The board adjourned in memory of Gertrude G. G. Platt, Mary Edda Moose, Falkor Short Gullickson, Lawrence Larry Carp, Dennis James Kern, and Gloria M. Lucas Davis.
- Legislation Introduced: Supervisors introduced several items, including:
- Supervisor Preston: Resolution demanding Safeway reconsider its planned closure of the Fillmore store (co-sponsored by Walton).
- Supervisor Safai: Ordinance requiring the Lakeview Library to be built at 100 Orizaba, prohibiting city funds for other locations pending environmental review.
- Supervisor Stephanie: Resolution supporting California Senate Bill 905 (auto burglary prosecution) and a letter to SFUSD on school safety after a December 8 incident.
- Adoption Without Committee Reference: Item 30 (retroactive 90-day extension for Planning Commission review of cannabis retail uses) was adopted unanimously (11-0).
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting for today, January 9th, 2024, our first meeting of the new year. Happy New Year. Madam Clerk, would you please call the role Supervisor Chan? Chan, present. Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey, present, Supervisor Ingardeo. Present. Present. Mandelman present. Supervisor Melgar. Melgar present. Supervisor Peskin present. Peskin present. Supervisor Preston. Preston present. Supervisor Ronan. Ronin present. Supervisor Safai. Safai present. Supervisor Stephanie. Stephanie present. Supervisor Walton. Walton, present. Mr. President, you have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors acknowledges we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatushalone, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Ramatushaloni have never ceded, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the ancestors, elders, and relatives of the Ramatushalone community and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Madam Clerk, do we have any communications? Yes, Mr. President. On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, all persons interested in this meeting are welcome to the board's legislative chamber here at City Hall, second floor, room 250. Or you may watch this meeting on SFGov TV's channel 26 or view the live stream at sfgovtv.org. As a reminder to the public, we will not be taking public comment today on item 26, the ceasefire resolution. Since it was taken yesterday during the rules committee meeting, if you do attempt to speak on this matter, we will be moving on to the next speaker. As an alternative, you can be we are still accepting. Um and you may submit your public comments in writing by email to BOS at SFGO V dotorg or via the U.S. Postal Service to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Number one, Dr. Carleton B. Goodlick Place, City Hall, Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. We do thank you for your understanding and compliance with our rules on this matter. To make a reasonable accommodation request under ADA or to request language assistance, please contact the clerk's office at least 48 business hours in advance of a meeting by calling 415-554-5184. And today, Mr. President, through a previous arrangement, we are prepared to provide an accommodation to a caller at the appropriate time. Mr. President, that concludes my communication.
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