San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – March 18, 2025
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – March 18, 2025
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 10:15 AM in City Hall. The meeting covered a wide range of legislative and ceremonial items, including a debated suspension of the Empty Homes Tax, approval of consent items, public commendations for Women's History Month, and continuance of two special-order hearings.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (February 11, 2025): Approved 11-0.
- Voluntary Disclosure Program (Item 1): Ordinance to amend business tax code; passed 11-0.
- CalWORKs Housing Support Program (Item 3): Appropriation of $4,956,133; passed on first reading.
- Airport Leases (Items 4-5): Lease modifications for FBI and Michael C. Mitchell; adopted.
- Technology Marketplace Contract Amendments (Items 6-9): Four contract increases totaling over $242 million; adopted.
- Settlement – Hotel Des Arts (Items 10 & 27): Settlement allowing conversion of 38 residential hotel rooms at 447 Bush Street to tourist rooms in exchange for creating 34 residential hotel rooms elsewhere; passed on first reading.
- Central SoMa Commercial Development Requirements (Items 12-13): General Plan and Planning Code amendments to reduce commercial development requirements; passed on first reading.
- Treasure Island Sewer Pump Stations (Item 14): Ordinance accepting infrastructure; passed on first reading.
- Appointments (Items 15-18): Appointed members to the Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax Advisory Committee, Veterans Affairs Commission, MTA Board, and Police Commission; all approved.
- Committee Reports (Items 24-26): Window replacement standards, interim housing in hotels, and parking lot continuance; passed on first reading.
- Adoption Without Committee Reference (Items 30-32): Transit Operator Appreciation Day, Heritage on the Marina Day, and Alexandria Theater Special Use District extension; adopted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Michael Petrelli (Castro resident): Demanded a town hall after a homeless man’s death and an assault in the Castro.
- Chris Ward Klein (U.S. Marine veteran): Alleged surveillance by the City Attorney’s Office and urged contact with federal authorities.
- Julie Threet & Ronald F. Owens Jr. (Vaccine injury advocates): Cited adverse events and deaths from COVID-19 vaccines; requested hearings and removal of safe-and-effective claims from city websites.
- Ellen Lee Jiao (former mayoral candidate): Called vaccines a bioweapon and accused the board of criminal behavior.
- Richard S. T. Peterson (retired attorney): Complained about delays in obtaining a fortune-telling permit.
- Gladys Wong (senior resident): Requested parking removal on Lucky Street for fire truck access.
- Unnamed speaker: Criticized recovery-first drug policy and wealth inequality; referenced global conflicts and corporate abuses.
- Unnamed speaker: Thanked Supervisor Dorsey for a resolution protecting tip-reporting anonymity.
- Reverend Amos Brown (NAACP, former supervisor): Urged a resolution condemning the U.S. Army’s removal of Medgar Evers from a diversity webpage.
Discussion Items
- Empty Homes Tax Suspension (Item 2): Supervisor Fielder explained her “no” vote because the suspension would prevent collection even if the court lifted the injunction. Supervisor Chan supported suspension after hearing from the Treasurer’s Office about high administrative costs and legal uncertainty. The Controller’s Office revised the estimated annual yield from the original $25 million to ~$15.4 million (accounting for taxpayer response). The ordinance suspends the tax pending final litigation.
- Behested Payment Waiver – Embarcadero Plaza (Item 11): Supervisors Fielder and Dorsey expressed support for the renovation but stressed the need to maintain ethical standards after the Recology scandal. The waiver was approved.
- Central SoMa Plan (Items 12-13): Supervisor Dorsey highlighted the package’s role in meeting housing targets and preserving community benefits.
- Special Order – Committee of the Whole (Item 19): Supervisor Walton moved to continue the DOJ reform hearing to May 6, 2025; public comment was taken; motion passed without objection.
- Special Order – CEQA Appeal (Items 20-23): Appeal of environmental exemption for 2142-22nd Street Project. Supervisor Walton moved to continue to April 15, 2025; public comment (one speaker alleging attacks via technology); motion passed without objection.
- Roll Call Introductions:
- Supervisor Sauter introduced a resolution supporting SB 417/AB 736 (Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, $10 billion).
- Supervisor Cheryl introduced legislation to extend the First Year Free program.
- Supervisor Walton adjourned in memory of former Assistant Fire Chief Art Kenny.
- Supervisor Fielder introduced a resolution calling for $2 billion in state transit funding.
- Supervisor Mahmoud requested a BLA report on post-entitlement permitting.
- President Mandelman introduced a resolution supporting SB 222 (climate accountability for oil companies).
- Supervisor Melgar requested a hearing on SFPD Special Victims Unit staffing (65.7% reduction from 70 to 24 investigators) and adjourned in memory of Professor Dewey William Camp Jr.
Key Outcomes
- Empty Homes Tax Suspension: Passed on first reading 9-2 (Supervisors Walton and Fielder dissented). The ordinance suspends the tax until final court decision.
- Behested Payment Waiver: Adopted without objection.
- Central SoMa Package: Passed on first reading.
- Settlement – Hotel Des Arts: Passed on first reading.
- Committee of the Whole Hearing: Continued to May 6, 2025.
- CEQA Appeal Hearing: Continued to April 15, 2025.
- All appointments and consent items: Approved as listed.
- Resolutions adopted: Transit Operator Appreciation Day (March 18, 2025), Heritage on the Marina Day (March 27, 2025), Alexandria Theater extension.
- In Memoriam: Meeting adjourned in memory of Art Kenny and Professor Dewey William Camp Jr.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Welcome to the March 18th, 2025 regular meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Yes, Mr. President. Supervisor Chan. Chan present. Supervisor Chen. Chen present. Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey, present. Supervisor Engardio. Engario present. Supervisor Fielder. Fielder present. Supervisor Mahmoud. Mahmoud present. Supervisor Mandelman. Present. Mandelman, present. Supervisor Melgar. Present. Melgar present. Supervisor Sodder. Present. Soder, present. Supervisor Cheryl. Cheryl, present. Supervisor Walton. Present. Walton, present. Mr. President, all members are present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatu Shaloni, 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 our ancestors, acknowledging the ancestors, elders, and relatives of the Ramatushalone community, and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. Colleagues, will you join me in saying the Pledge of Allegiance? On behalf of the board, I want to acknowledge the staff at SFGov TV and today, particularly Colina Mendoza. They record each of our meetings and make the transcripts available to the public online, and we appreciate them. Madam Clerk, are there any communications? Yes, thank you, Mr. President. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors welcomes your attendance at this meeting in the board's legislative chamber, room 250, second floor in City Hall. You may also watch the proceedings on SFGov TV's Channel 26 or view the live stream at WW.sfg-ovtv.org. To submit your public comment, send an email to BOS at SFGO V dot org or via U.S. Postal Service to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Number one, Dr. Carlton B.
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