San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - February 25, 2025
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - February 25, 2025
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on February 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting covered routine consent items, several legislative proposals, and a special order 3:00 p.m. hearing on the mayor's removal of Police Commissioner Max Carter-Oberstone. Key actions included the approval of an office-to-residential conversion fee waiver with a 7 million square foot cap, adoption of a resolution supporting regional transit funding, and a 9-2 vote to consent to the mayor's removal of Commissioner Carter-Oberstone.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1-2: Approved unanimously (11-0). Included appropriation for Municipal Transportation Agency ($526,000) and amendment to Airport Surveillance Technology Policy.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On the police commission removal: Over 50 speakers addressed the board. The majority opposed the removal, arguing Commissioner Carter-Oberstone was an independent, principled reformer who held SFPD accountable on pretext stops, DNA retention, and drone policies. Many called it a "Trump-style power grab" and noted it was Black History Month. Supporters of removal (including some from Asian American groups and Stop Crime Action) argued the commissioner's policies hindered traffic enforcement and morale, and that the mayor had the right to his own appointees.
- Other public comments: Taxi medallion holders (at least 10 speakers) pleaded for relief from the failed medallion sales program, citing $250,000 loans, predatory terms, and competition from Uber/Lyft/Waymo. One speaker requested a cooperative pharmacy model. A representative from BART spoke in favor of item 27 (transit funding resolution). Several individuals spoke about unsolved homicides and the need for independent oversight.
Discussion Items
- Item 14 – Mid-Market/Tenderloin Community-Based Safety Program (Grant Amendment): Chair Chan spoke against, noting the city's $1 billion deficit and trade-offs. Supervisor Mahmood spoke in support, citing a 52% crime reduction and 80% drug crime reduction where ambassadors are deployed. The item passed 10-1 (Chan dissenting).
- Item 15 – Office-to-Residential Conversion Impact Fee Waiver (Planning Code): Supervisor Dorsey introduced amendments with Supervisor Sauter to cap the total square footage eligible at 7 million (estimated 7,000 units). Debate included concerns from Supervisors Walton and Fielder about impacts on priority equity neighborhoods and loss of affordable housing funds. Supervisor Chen supported after trust in mayor's office. The amended ordinance passed 9-2 (Walton and Fielder voting no).
- Special Order 3:00 p.m. – Removal of Police Commissioner Max Carter-Oberstone: The board sat as a Committee of the Whole. Commissioner Carter-Oberstone spoke in his own defense, emphasizing his independence and record of accountability. Supervisors then debated and voted on a motion to consent to removal. Supervisor Dorsey argued the charter allows removal without cause and that the mayor should have his own appointees. Supervisor Fielder opposed, citing the commissioner's accountability work and the lack of stated cause. Supervisor Melgar also opposed, stating that removal should be reserved for malfeasance. The motion to consent passed 9-2 (Melgar and Fielder dissenting).
- Item 16 – Disability Access Improvements for Places of Public Accommodation: Passed unanimously (11-0) on first reading.
- Items 17-18 – Liquor License Transfers: Approved without objection.
- Items 19-20 – Appointments to Golden Gate Bridge Board and Police Commission (W.E. Wilson Leung): Approved without objection.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: All items approved unanimously.
- Item 14 (Safety Program Grant Amendment): Passed 10-1.
- Item 15 (Office-to-Residential Conversion Fee Waiver): Passed 9-2 on first reading, with a 7 million square foot cap (amended).
- Item 16 (Disability Access): Passed 11-0 on first reading.
- Police Commission Removal: The board consented to Mayor Lurie's removal of Commissioner Carter-Oberstone by a 9-2 vote.
- Items 27-31 (For Adoption Without Committee Reference): Adopted unanimously, including resolutions on transit funding (affirming commitment to fiscal solutions for public transportation), Children's Dental Health Month, supporting AB 381 (forced labor), honoring Captain Jason Sawyer and Reverend Roland Gordon.
- Appointments: Sabrina Hernandez, Bert Hill, Liam Devlin, Gregory Hardeman to Golden Gate Bridge Board; Wilson Leung to Police Commission.
- In-Memoriam: Adjourned in memory of Betty Mae Cooks, Joe Chavez, Jean Alexander, Loretta Wiltshire, John Horton, and FX Crowley.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the February 25th, 2025, 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 Chen. Chen present, Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey present, Supervisor Rengario. Engario present, Supervisor Fielder. Fielder present, Supervisor Mahmud. Mahmud present, Supervisor Mandelman. Present. Mandelman present, Supervisor Melgar. Melgar present, Supervisor Sauter. Sauter present, Supervisor Cheryl. Sheryl present, and Supervisor Walton. Walton present. Mr. President, all members are present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors acknowledges that we are in 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 Ramatu Shaloni 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 acknowledging the ancestors, elders, and relatives of the Ramatush Aloney community, and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples. Colleagues, will you join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. We choose the Republic for which it stands. And especially today, Jaime Ashevery, who record each of our meetings and make the transcript transcripts available to the public. Madam Clerk, are there any communications? Thank you, Mr. President. San Francisco Board of Supervisors welcomes your attendance at this meeting today here in the Board's legislative chamber, room 250 within City Hall on the second floor. Or you may also watch the proceeding on SFGOV TV's Channel 26 or view the live stream at WWW dot SFGOVTV.org. You also can submit your public comment in writing. You can use email, send it to BOS at SFgov.org, or use the Postal Service to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the number one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlitt Place, City Hall, Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. And finally, if you need to make a reasonable accommodation request under the Americans with Disability Act, or if you need language assistance, please contact the clerk's office at least two business days in advance. Please call 415-554-5184. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Let's go to approval of the meeting minutes. This is the approval of the January 14th, 2025 board meeting minutes. All right. Colleagues, are there any changes to these meeting minutes? Seeing none, can I have a motion to approve the minutes as presented, moved by Walton and seconded by Cheryl. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?
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