The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened on January 27, 2026, for a regular meeting covering legislative matters, public safety initiatives, housing development, community recognition, and policy resolutions.
The meeting began at approximately 2:00 PM with all 11 supervisors present: Chan, Chen, Dorsey, Fielder, Mahmood, Mandelman, Melgar, Sauter, Cheryl, Walton, and Wong. The Board acknowledged the unseated ancestral homeland of the Ramitush Ohlone people and approved December 16, 2025 meeting minutes.
The Board passed several ordinances on first reading without objection:
The Board recognized several community leaders and organizations:
Supervisor Cheryl commended the Friends of Alta Plaza Park for achieving 501(c)(3) certification. Founded in 2002, the group raised $1.5 million for playground facilities. Following the Parks Alliance dissolution, they reconstituted their board and are working on playground resurfacing. Board members include President Anu Sharma, Treasurer Greg Scott, Secretary Anita Dents, and others.
Supervisor Sauter honored Professor Yu ("Yu Losey"), the last remaining Cantonese instructor at City College of San Francisco, who has taught since 1978. She received degrees from National Taiwan University, UC Berkeley (comparative literature), and NYU (bilingual education). Her work supports the Save Cantonese movement, which established a nine-unit certificate program after threats of program elimination. Supervisors Wong and Chen emphasized the importance of Cantonese instruction for public servants to serve immigrant and senior communities.
Supervisor Fielder posthumously honored Ricardo Peña of Mishcoatl, who passed away in December 2025. For over 20 years, he served the Mission District as an artist, business owner, and "Aztec warrior of love." He led Grupo Mishcoatl Anahuac, taught Danza Azteca classes at Mission Cultural Center, volunteered with Calle 24, and distributed food during the pandemic at Mission Food Hub. He is survived by wife Connie, children Xochitl and Cuauhtémoc.
Supervisor Mandelman honored Aaron Starr upon his retirement after 20 years with the Planning Department. Starting as an intern in June 2001, he became Manager of Legislative Affairs in 2014. Major achievements include:
Multiple supervisors praised his expertise, humor, and ability to navigate complex political processes while maintaining integrity.
The Board convened as Committee of the Whole for a special order at 3:00 PM to consider amendments to the Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project.
Item 25 (Philip Wong, OCII): Approved amendments for Block 4 East Phase 2:
Public comment raised concerns about community contractor inclusion and ensuring local economic participation. The ordinance passed on first reading 11-0.
Supervisor Mahmood introduced a charter amendment for the June 2, 2026 ballot to change term limits for Mayor and Board of Supervisors from consecutive to lifetime limits (two terms total).
Arguments in favor (Mahmood, Melgar, Wong, Dorsey):
Arguments against (Walton, Chan, Chen):
Supervisor Walton's Amendment (failed 4-7): Proposed extending lifetime two-term limits to:
Supervisors Walton, Chan, Chen, and Fielder voted yes; amendment failed. The original charter amendment was continued to February 3, 2026 on 8-3 vote (Walton, Chan, Fielder voting no).
Supervisor Mandelman expressed opposition to both the amendment and the underlying change, stating term limits are "at best a necessary evil" that prevent voters from choosing experienced candidates.
Introduced resolution reaffirming San Francisco's commitment to transgender, gender nonconforming, intersex, and two-spirit residents' access to medically necessary gender-affirming care. Responds to December 2025 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed rules restricting youth gender-affirming care and Kaiser's announcement halting youth gender-affirming surgeries. Resolution demands health care providers and insurers prioritize people over preemptive policy changes.
Introduced resolution condemning imminent closure of San Francisco Immigration Court on Montgomery Street by January 2027. Court began 2025 with 21 judges, now has only 4 remaining after 13 were fired and 4 retired. Approximately 120,000 cases remain pending. Closure threatens due process and access to legal aid for asylum seekers.
Resolution condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement for actions leading to loss of life, calling for:
Cited nine people killed by ICE in 2026 to date, including Renee Good (January 7) and Alex Jeffrey Preti (January 24), both killed in Minneapolis. Resolution adopted unanimously.
Called for Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee hearing on drug court effectiveness following San Francisco Chronicle investigation findings:
Hearing will include District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Department of Public Health, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, and potentially Superior Court representatives.
Called for hearing on Market Street's future following:
Since Market Street went car-free in 2020, injury collisions are down 40%. However, Better Market Street infrastructure project has been scaled back due to financial constraints. Hearing seeks transparency on transportation vision and public process.
Introduced ordinance applying prevailing wage and payroll tax transparency rules to street cleaning contracts:
Introduced resolution calling on Governor and state legislature to fully invest in public education. Responds to:
Urges city departments to support SFUSD in addressing unhoused family population and immigration enforcement concerns.
Multiple speakers advocated for banning plastic cigarette filter sales:
Richard Johnson (HVSAFE): Two years of permit with 59 weeks of violations. SFMTA not enforcing due to political pressure from supervisor and mayor. Group received legal threats for documenting violations.
Dennis Williams Jr. (Fillmore Community Development Corporation, SF Hyperlocal Building Trades Contractors Collective): Requested hearing on developer-level participation in city-supported redevelopment projects. Local minority-led developers structurally excluded from ownership, co-development authority, and long-term economic participation despite involvement in planning processes. Submitted four written submissions and draft resolution.
Sydney Simpson (registered nurse): Strong support for Supervisor Chan's resolution protecting transgender youth healthcare access. Noted approximately 35,000 city workers and families receive Kaiser coverage under city contract.
The Board adjourned in memory of:
The meeting adjourned after addressing all business items and recognizing community concerns through extensive public comment.
Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the January 27th, 2026 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 Fielder. Fielder present. Supervisor Mahmood. Mahmood present. Supervisor Mandelman? Present. Mandelman present. Supervisor Melgar? Present. Melgar present. Supervisor Sauter? Present. Sauter present. Supervisor Cheryl? Present. Cheryl present. Supervisor Walton? Present. Walton present. And Supervisor Wong? Present. Wong present. Mr. President, all members are present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors acknowledges that we are on the unseated ancestral homeland of the Ramitush Ohlone, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Ramitush Ohlone 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 the ancestors, elders, and relatives of the Ramitush Ohlone 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 and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. On behalf of the board, I want to acknowledge the staff at SFGovTV. Today that is especially Kalina Mendoza. They record each of our meetings and make the transcripts available to the public online. Madam Clerk, do you have any communications?