San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – July 9, 2024
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – July 9, 2024
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting on July 9, 2024, at 2:00 PM in City Hall. The meeting included a special appearance by Mayor London Breed for a formal policy discussion, adoption of the consent calendar, continuation of the FY2024-2026 budget, recognition of commendations, and a heated debate on a resolution supporting the Justice for Renters Act (repeal of Costa Hawkins).
Consent Calendar
- Items 2–6 (Settlements): Approved unanimously. Settlements included: Jean Agustin ($75,000), Rahul Seth, M.D. (city to receive $170,000), Vincent Keith Bell ($500,000), Denise Wear ($45,000), Wendy Offen and Stephen Offen ($140,000).
- Item 7 (Transient Occupancy Tax Exemption Increase): Ordinance raising daily exemption from $52 to $60 and weekly from $130 to $149, with a controller review by September 2027–2029. Passed unanimously.
- Item 9 (Tenderloin Retail Hours Restriction Pilot): Two-year pilot prohibiting retail food and tobacco sales from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. (2 a.m. to 5 a.m. if alcohol-licensed). Passed unanimously.
Special Order – Mayor's Appearance (2:00 PM)
Mayor Breed discussed the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision, which lifts restrictions on street encampment enforcement. She stated that San Francisco will continue outreach and shelter offers (60% increase in shelter capacity since 2018), noting that about 30% accept, 60% refuse, and 10% are already housed. She emphasized a compassionate but firm approach, including progressive penalties. Supervisor Preston asked about repealing Costa Hawkins; Mayor Breed expressed support for rent control but nuanced views on vacancy control and the ballot measure. She declined to take a definitive position without further review.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Multiple speakers addressed general matters. One speaker urged the board to support the Justice for Renters Act, linking it to tenant protections. Another speaker accused Supervisor Safai of groping at a 2018 political event. A speaker criticized the mayor’s homeless shelter strategy, arguing shelters keep people on the street. Other comments touched on local politics, climate change, and federal policy.
Discussion Items
- Budget Items (10–33): Supervisor Chan introduced clerical corrections to item 10, which were approved. Supervisor Ronan added amendments to item 21 (reallocating $13.676 million from the Our City, Our Home Fund) to require explicit notification to subsidy recipients about eligibility for extensions up to five years. The entire budget package was continued to the next meeting (July 16, 2024).
- Commendations (2:30 PM): The board recognized Linda Ronstadt Day (July 15, 2024) – Joel Selvin accepted on her behalf. Supervisor Ronan honored Marcia Contreras, Deputy Director of Mission Housing, for her leadership in affordable housing and community development.
- Item 36 – Resolution Supporting Justice for Renters Act: Supervisor Preston championed the resolution to support repealing Costa Hawkins, which allows local rent control. He argued it would restore local authority and protect tenants from skyrocketing rents. Supervisor Dorsey opposed, calling the ballot measure overly broad and warning it could empower anti-development jurisdictions to block housing. After debate, the resolution passed 8–2 (Supervisor Dorsey and Supervisor Engardio voting no).
Key Outcomes
- Approved resolutions: Linda Ronstadt Day (July 15, 2024) and Black Women’s Equal Pay Day (July 9, 2024) adopted without committee referral.
- Vote on item 36: 8 ayes (Chan, Mandelman, Melgar, Peskin, Preston, Ronan, Safai, Walton) and 2 noes (Dorsey, Engardio).
- Budget continuation: Items 10–33 (with amendments to 10 and 21) continued to July 16, 2024.
- Other ordinances passed on first reading: Item 34 (1629 Market Street infrastructure acceptance) and Item 35 (rezoning 135 Kissling Street).
- Meeting adjourned in memory of Jane F. McAlevey, Con Ringo Hallanan, and Chekyuk Lu Chan.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the July 9th, 2024 regular meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Thank you, Mr. President. Supervisor Chan. Chan present, Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey present, Supervisor Ingardeo. Engardeo present, Supervisor Mandelman. Mandelman present, Supervisor Melgar. Melgar present. Supervisor Peskin. Present. Peskin present, Supervisor Preston. Preston present, Supervisor Ronan. Ronan present, Supervisor Safai. Present. Safai present, Supervisor Stephanie, Stephanie not present, and 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 Ramatushaloni 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 people 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 Ramatushaloni community and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. Colleagues, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which we stand as one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all Madam Clerk. Do we have any announcements? Yes, Mr. President. First and foremost, we did receive a uh a memo from Supervisor Catherine Stephanie today requesting that she be excused from today's meeting due to a family emergency. Colleagues, can we have a motion to excuse Supervisor Stephanie made by Supervisor Mandelman, seconded by Supervisor Safai. Colleagues, we will take that motion without objection, and Supervisor Stephanie is excused. Okay, thank you, Ms. Thank you, Mr. President. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors welcomes interested persons to attend this meeting in this board's legislative chamber, room 250 here in San Francisco City Hall, second floor, room 250. You may also watch the proceeding on SFGOV TV's Channel 26 or view the live stream at WW.sfgovtv.org. Submit public comment. You can send an email to BOS at SFgov.org or in writing via the U.S. Postal Service to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the number one, Dr. Carlton, Capital B, period, Goodlit Place, City Hall Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. If you need a reasonable accommodation, you may request one under the Americans with Disability Act. Or if you need language assistance, you can contact the clerk's office in both instances, at least two business days in advance by calling 415-554-5184. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Could you please call our 2 p.m. special order? The special order at 2 p.m.
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