San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - November 19, 2024

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, starting at 10:15 AM. The meeting included a consent agenda, a special appearance by Mayor London Breed, commendations, committee reports, and adoption of resolutions. Supervisor Catherine Stefani attended her last meeting before assuming her State Assembly seat, and the board declared November 19, 2024, as Catherine Stefani Day.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1 (severed by Supervisor Stefani): Development Agreement Amendment for 3333 California Street project by Laurel Heights Partners, LLC. Supervisor Stefani expressed strong support, noting extensive community outreach and endorsements from neighborhood associations. The item was passed unanimously.
• Items 2–4 were adopted unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Several speakers addressed the board during general public comment. Della Edwards requested assistance with a business permit for the San Francisco Century pop-up. Dmitri Akushkin reported an ethics complaint against former probation director Steve Adami, alleging violation of the one-year cooling-off period, and asked for accountability. Susan Pfeiffer reminded the board of Covered California open enrollment for 2025, including new eligibility for DACA recipients. Jim McPhee spoke against ranked-choice voting. A speaker raised concerns about black plastic meal trays used by a health department-sponsored agency, citing potential health risks. Beverly Epton of the San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium thanked Supervisor Stefani for her leadership on domestic violence services.

Mayor’s Appearance

• Mayor London Breed appeared for a formal policy discussion (2:00 PM special order). She congratulated Supervisor Stefani on her election to the State Assembly. The mayor addressed fears in immigrant communities regarding mass deportation threats under the new presidential administration. She reported that the city has increased immigrant legal defense funding by 40% to nearly $7 million, allocated $3.5 million to Delor Street Mission Action for Immigrant Support, increased the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs budget from $2.8 million to $4.1 million, and boosted the Public Defender’s Immigrant Defense Unit budget to $2.4 million. She affirmed the city’s commitment to sanctuary policies and ongoing efforts to protect residents.

Special Order Commendations (2:30 PM)

• Supervisor Ronan honored Antonio Diaz, founding director of PODER (People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Justice). Diaz was recognized for 30 years of environmental justice leadership, including securing over 1,700 affordable housing units, creating Parque Niños Unidos, and co-founding the Mission Anti-Displacement Coalition.
• Supervisor Safai honored Roberto Zentejo and Zentec Corp for 40 years of tax and accounting services to the Latino community in the Excelsior. Zentejo’s family immigrated from Guatemala in 1966; he is a product of San Francisco public schools and San Francisco State University.

Discussion Items

• Committee Reports (Items 22–26) were forwarded from the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee (November 14, 2024).
  • Item 22: Ordinance to repeal Article 26 of the Police Code on public bathhouse regulations. Passed 11-0.
  • Item 23: Ordinance to amend the Administrative Code setting a June 24, 2025, end date for firearms procurement exemptions. Passed 11-0.
  • Item 24: Ordinance to expand buffer zones around reproductive health facilities from 25–50 feet to 100 feet, align with state law, require annual SFPD training on reproductive health access laws, and classify impersonation of healthcare providers as harassment. Supervisor Stefani spoke passionately in support, noting a recent incident at Planned Parenthood. The ordinance was co-sponsored by Supervisors Ronan, Dorsey, Mandelman, Peskin, and Engardio. Passed 11-0.
  • Item 25: Resolution authorizing DPH to access criminal history for massage business permits. Passed.
  • Item 26: Resolution adopting the Mental Health Services Act annual update for FY2024-2025. Passed.
• Roll Call for Introductions:
  • Supervisor Ronan introduced a hearing request for an update on Mental Health SF.
  • Supervisor Walton introduced an ordinance to designate Leland Avenue in Visitacion Valley as a Neighborhood Commercial District (NCD), led by community merchants.
  • Supervisor Dorsey introduced a resolution urging full implementation of Proposition 36 (Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act), which passed statewide and in all 11 supervisor districts. The resolution emphasizes treatment-mandated felonies (TMFs) and enforcement equity in priority communities.
  • Supervisor Preston announced the release of a 118-page Budget and Legislative Analyst report, “Four Pillars for Success,” comparing San Francisco’s drug crisis response to Zurich’s four pillars (prevention, treatment, harm reduction, enforcement). Key findings: only 25% of San Franciscans with opioid use disorder receive medication (vs. 75% in Zurich); 40% of non-fatal overdoses appear from unintentional fentanyl consumption; enforcement-focused coordination (DMAC) lacks an interdepartmental approach. Recommendations include a comprehensive citywide drug policy, safe consumption sites (key to both harm reduction and enforcement), and city-operated wellness hubs.
  • Supervisor Preston also offered an in memoriam for Mirabai Martin Parker, owner of Mercury Cafe in Hayes Valley.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Items 2–4 adopted; Item 1 (3333 California Street) passed unanimously after being severed.
• Mayor’s Appearance: No formal action, but policy discussion recorded.
• Committee Reports 22–26: All passed 11-0.
• Items 5–9 (General Obligation Bonds): Ordinance and resolutions authorizing issuance and sale of bonds totaling up to $747 million (series 2024B earthquake safety up to $225M, 2024C affordable housing up to $70M, 2024D affordable housing up to $152M, Proposition A 2024 up to $300M) passed unanimously.
• Items 10–19 (Various contracts and grants): All passed unanimously, including:
  • Item 10: $17M amendment for transmission pipeline engineering (Kennedy/Jenks/AGS).
  • Item 11: $266,100 easement acquisition from Kaiser Foundation Hospitals.
  • Items 12–13: $5.7M and $5.9M CDC grants for HIV prevention.
  • Item 15: $26.5M airport services contract modification.
  • Items 16–17: $38M and $19.6M contracts for rehabilitation and AIDS foundation.
  • Item 18: $563.8M contract for train control system (Hitachi Rail).
  • Item 19: $319,000 grant for auto insurance fraud program.
• Item 20: Official street naming for Hunters View Phase III (Memory Lane, Fairfax Avenue). Adopted.
• Item 21: Reappointment of Supervisor Mandelman to California State Association of Counties. Approved after motion to excuse him from voting.
• Item 29: Retroactive 90-day extension for Planning Commission review of Central SoMa/TTD commercial development requirements. Adopted.
• Item 30: Resolution commending Supervisor Catherine Stefani. Adopted unanimously; November 19, 2024, declared Catherine Stefani Day in San Francisco.
• Adjournment: Meeting adjourned in memory of Dennis Kelly (former UESF president), Troy Hiram Dangerfield (police lieutenant and advocate for minority recruitment), and Jeffrey Harold Cooperman (artist, swimmer, and photographer).