San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - May 14, 2024

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting on May 14, 2024, beginning at 10:15 AM. All 11 supervisors were present. The agenda included routine consent items, multiple legislative introductions, special commendations for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and a lengthy committee-of-the-whole hearing on the impacts of county jail lockdowns due to overcrowding and understaffing. The meeting also featured a resolution in support of stuttering awareness and a call to restore state funding for foreclosure intervention.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1–6 passed unanimously without objection. These included ordinances concerning firefighter personal protective equipment containing PFAS, the Great Highway extension road closure, firearm and ammunition procurement, the Family Violence Council, surveillance technology policy for driver-safety video analytics, and agreements with government entities.

Special Order 2:30 PM – Commendations

• The board recognized Consul General Munkhbatar Begjav of Mongolia for his diplomatic leadership during AAPI Heritage Month.
• Supervisor Mandelman commended Jenny Lamb, outgoing Board of Education member, for her 25 years of public service and championing equity in education.
• Supervisor Ronan honored May Ling, gardening program manager at Recreation and Parks, for her two decades of work in urban agriculture and food security.
• Supervisor Safai recognized Julius Anthony Cordero and Jason Cragasine, co-founders of the Academy Barber College, for providing barber training and second chances to underserved communities.

Introductions & New Legislation

• Supervisor Stefani introduced a resolution supporting AB 2913 (California Homicide Victims Families Rights Act) and adjourned in memory of Romano Marcucci.
• Supervisor Walton introduced a charter amendment to elect the Director of the Department of Police Accountability, citing racial disparities in police violence and the need for independent oversight.
• Supervisor Chan introduced an ordinance to expedite procurement for Vision Zero safety projects on high-injury corridors.
• Supervisor Dorsey introduced legislation requiring all retail pharmacies in San Francisco to stock buprenorphine for opioid addiction, noting that only 44% of local pharmacies currently have it in stock.
• Supervisor Mandelman introduced a resolution recognizing May 25–June 2 as Queer and Transgender Asian and Pacific Islander (QTAPI) Week.
• Supervisor Preston introduced a resolution condemning racial terror threats against Terry Williams, a Black Fillmore resident, and calling for an FBI investigation.
• Supervisor Safai introduced a resolution urging the mayor and Department of Children, Youth and Families to raise $24.8 million to restore cuts to youth programs, contrasting with a planned fundraising campaign for a panda exhibit at the zoo.

Regular Agenda (Items 7–18)

All items were approved on a single vote without roll call unless noted:

• Item 7: Ordinance modifying the 900 Kearny Street Special Use District to allow an enclosed rooftop arts addition.
• Items 8–9: Airport lease modifications with American Airlines and United Airlines, extending terms two years with rent increases ($7.24M and $5.56M annually, respectively).
• Item 10: FAA grant acceptance up to $31 million for HVAC improvements at the International Terminal.
• Items 11–12: Homelessness services grant amendments – Conard House ($12.8M for McAllister Hotel) and Hamilton Families ($21.9M for rapid re-housing).
• Items 13–14: Designation of official city newspapers for FY2024–2025: Clinton Reilly Communications (SF Examiner) and a list of community periodicals.
• Item 15: Recology refuse collection contract modification, extending term four months and increasing amount by $43.8 million.
• Item 16: Retroactive cannabis equity grant acceptance of $2.04 million from the state.
• Item 17: Commemorative street name “Midge Wilson Alley” on the 100 block of Elm Street.
• Item 18: Reappointment of Thomas Richard Harrison to the Sanitation and Streets Commission.

Special Order 3:00 PM – Committee of the Whole: Impacts of County Jail Lockdowns

This hearing dominated the afternoon. Presenters included Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Deputy Sheriff’s Association President Ken Lamba, Inspector General Terry Wiley, and Assistant Chief Attorney Angela Chan from the Public Defender’s Office.

Key findings and statistics presented:

• Jail population increased 36% over the past year, from ~800 to ~1,200 inmates (as of May 14, 2024).
• Custody staff is at 78% of authorized strength; there are 195 sworn vacancies.
• Assaults on deputies increased 380% from 2021 to 2023; inmate-on-inmate fights rose 45%.
• 76% of inmates are released within seven days; 97% are pretrial. The jail population is 75% Black (Black residents are 6% of San Francisco).
• Only 44% of surveyed pharmacies stocked buprenorphine; the same proportion of jails have limited programming.
• Lockdowns occurred multiple times per week, often triggered by staffing shortages; the longest recent lockdown lasted six days (April 12–18).

Key positions:

• Sheriff Miyamoto attributed the crisis to increased enforcement of drug offenses, a changed inmate population (more mental health and substance use disorders), and chronic understaffing. He called for a non-carceral withdrawal management facility, additional body-worn cameras, and investment in technology to improve surveillance efficiency.
• DSA President Lamba argued that the department is “running on fumes” with mandatory overtime averaging 28 hours per week (up from 16). He proposed eliminating the first step of deputy pay, freezing vacant FTEs for hiring, and creating a national recruitment campaign.
• Inspector General Wiley recommended redeploying deputies from non-charter assignments (e.g., street patrol) back to jails, investing in AI-enabled cameras, and reducing reliance on overtime.
• Public Defender Chan highlighted constitutional violations: denial of legal visits, delayed court transport, and lack of outdoor sunlight (a lawsuit over this is ongoing). She criticized the “war on drugs” approach and called for redirecting funds from law enforcement to community-based treatment.

Mayor’s Office representative Tom Paulino was unable to answer detailed questions about the administration’s plan; supervisors expressed frustration.

Public Comment (Item 19)

Speakers included a mother of an incarcerated person, deputies, and community advocates. They all emphasized the need for more staffing, better programming, and alternatives to incarceration.

Adoption Without Committee Reference (Items 22–27)

Items 24 (Stuttering Awareness Week) and 25 (Foreclosure Intervention Housing Preservation Program) were severed for individual votes. Both passed unanimously after brief discussion. Items 22, 23, 26, and 27 were adopted on a single roll call.

• Item 22: Designating the Arts Commission as state-local partner with California Arts Council.
• Item 23: Supporting CA Assembly Bill 1775 (Cannabis Cafes).
• Item 24: Proclaiming May 13–18 as Stuttering Awareness Week.
• Item 25: Resolution supporting state funding for foreclosure prevention and opposing cuts to homelessness prevention.
• Item 26: Urging collaboration between CPMC and CIR-SEIU for safe working conditions.
• Item 27: Urging funding for the California Employee Ownership Hub.

In-Memoriam

Supervisors adjourned in memory of Marilyn Patricia Driscoll, Romano Marcucci, Rebecca Scholes Winster, Barbara “Bobby” Stauffacher Solomon, and Philip C. Chin.

Next Steps

The hearing on jail conditions was filed. Several pieces of introduced legislation will be referred to committees for further consideration. Budget discussions on sheriff’s department funding are expected during the upcoming budget cycle.