San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee Hearing on Taylor Street Facility Conditions – November 6, 2025
San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee Hearing on Taylor Street Facility Conditions – November 6, 2025
On November 6, 2025, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Government Audit and Oversight Committee, chaired by Supervisor Jackie Fieler and joined by Vice Chair Janie Sauter and Supervisor Mahmood, convened a hearing to examine allegations of neglect, abuse, civil rights violations, and the death of Melvin Bulawan at the Taylor Street Center (111 Taylor Street), a residential reentry facility operated by Geo Group Inc., a private prison corporation. The meeting also addressed five settlement ordinances (items 2–6).
Consent Calendar
- Items 2–6: Five ordinances authorizing settlement of lawsuits against the city were forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation, without public comment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Melvin Bulawan's family (son Andrew Bulawan and mother Amelia Miguel) testified emotionally about his death on July 14, 2025. Andrew stated that his father called him on July 13, saying, "I'm scared. I'd rather go back to jail than stay here." Despite multiple calls requesting a wellness check, the facility hung up. Andrew criticized Geo Group's profit motive and lack of accountability. Amelia Miguel urged the committee to ensure no other mother endures the same loss.
- Janetta Johnson (Miss Major Alexander L. Lee TGIJP Black Transcultural Center) spoke from her experience as a former resident in 2012, describing pat-downs, breathalyzers, forced unpaid labor, disgusting food, and retaliation against those who complained. She noted that many residents prefer prison over the facility.
- Quinn Dior (Compton's Coalition) characterized the facility as a "for-profit, carceral institution" operating illegally under group housing zoning. He demanded Geo Group's exit and called for release of all records, on-site inspections, and enforcement of violations. He highlighted that the site is a landmark of trans resistance (Compton's Cafeteria).
- Wilder Zeiser (Compton's Coalition) reported survey findings of consistent complaints: sexual violence by staff, trash buildup, fires, insect infestations, lack of hot water, and food poisoning outbreaks.
- Dozens of other community members gave one-minute testimonies detailing similar abuses, including denial of medical care, confiscation of phones, lack of kitchen access, and fear of retaliation. Several speakers noted that Geo Group also operates ICE detention centers, contradicting San Francisco's sanctuary city values.
Discussion Items
Hearing on Taylor Street Center (Item 1)
- Victoria Westbrook (Adult Probation Department) presented the city's reentry portfolio, emphasizing that their 14 housing programs (e.g., CASC, Westside Community Services) provide longer stays (12–18 months) and address criminogenic needs. She stated that Adult Probation has no contract with Geo Group and that best practices require at least 12 months of structured support.
- Nadia Iqbal (Public Defender's Office) described parole violations as punitive and noted clients are forced into halfway houses like 111 Taylor, where conditions include crowded dormitories (up to 14 per room), restrictive curfews, and prohibitions on speaking to media. She cited a documentary showing lack of COVID protocols. She recommended starting over with community-based housing models like the Homecoming Project.
- Chief Chris Karuba-Katz and Chief Sylvia Olugo (U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services) defended the facility as a "last resort" alternative to detention. They emphasized that 78% of federal participants discharged successfully in 2024, and that the facility allows for community integration. They admitted they do not track building code violations or inspect conditions beyond visual tours.
- Molly Rose Graves and Maria Richard (Geo Group/Taylor Street Center) argued the program is voluntary and structured, with 400 new participants in 2024, 78% successful discharges, and average savings of $2,000–$5,000 per resident. They denied reports of 14-person rooms, maggots in food, and phone confiscation. Regarding Melvin Bulawan's death, they refused to comment on specific cases, citing contractual confidentiality.
- Supervisor Mahmood questioned Geo Group on: lack of on-site medical or mental health staff (care is outsourced); noncompliance with group housing kitchen access requirements (non-conforming use); unpaid labor (residents clean the facility); and whether AB 32 (ban on private incarceration contracts) applies. Maria Richard maintained that the facility is a community reentry center, not a detention center.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Continue Item 1: Supervisor Mahmood moved to continue the hearing on the Taylor Street Center to the call of the chair, to allow further investigation. The motion passed unanimously (3–0, with Supervisor Cheryl excused).
- Items 2–6 Forwarded to Full Board: The five settlement ordinances were sent to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation (3–0).
- Next Steps: The committee will schedule further hearings; community advocates demanded subpoenas for Geo Group records, on-site city inspections, and a transition plan to remove Geo Group from 111 Taylor Street.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the November 6th, 2025 regular meeting of the Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I am Supervisor Jackie Fieler, Chair of the Committee, joined by Vice Chair Janie Sauter and Supervisor Mahmood today. Our committee clerk is Monique Crane. Thanks to Eugene Levadia of SFGov TV for staffing this meeting. Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, please sign up to speak on your right. Alternatively, you may submit public comment and writing in either of the following ways. Email them to the government audit and oversight committee clerk at M O N IQE. C-R-A-Y-T-O-N at SFGOV.org. You can submit public comment via email. It will be forwarded to the supervisors and also included as part of the official file. You may also send your written comments via U.S. Postal Service to our office in City Hall. Number one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, room 244 San Francisco, California 94102. If you have documents you would like to be included as part of the file, please submit them to me before the end of the meeting. Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices to prevent any interruptions today's proceedings. Finally, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisor Agenda of November 18th, 2025, unless otherwise stated. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And Supervisor Cheryl is unfortunately unable to join us today, so I will move to excuse Supervisor Cheryl. Yes, and on the motion to excuse Supervisor Sheryl, Vice Chair Sauter. Chairfielder, Chairfielder, I have three eyes with Member Sheryl Excused. Thank you. The motion passes. Madam Clerk, please call item one. Yes, item number one is a hearing to address concerns raised by community members of neglect, abuse, and civil rights violations at Taylor Street facility, located at 11 Taylor Street, operated by Geo Group Inc. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And before I hand it off to Supervisor Mahmoud to uh lead this hearing today, I would like to thank Victoria Westbrook from the Adult Probation Department, Nadia Iqbal from the Public Defender's Office, Chris Karuba and Sylvia Olugo from the U.S. Probation Office and Pre-Trial Services Agency, David Blackwell, Molly Rose Graves, Mario Richard from GEO Group for being here to present and answer our questions today. My thanks also to Dakota Rose Austin and Andrew De Leon for giving public testimony on behalf of Melvin Buluan and community advocates for fighting for justice and accountability. Supervisor Mahmoud, please go ahead. Thank you, Chair Fielder. This hearing is convened to address serious and ongoing concerns regarding the conditions, oversight, and restrictiveness of the facility located at 11 Taylor Street, operated by the Geo Group, a multi-billion dollar private prison group holding billions of dollars in contracts with immigration and customs enforcement ice across the country. Our focus today, though, will be narrow on allegations of neglect, abuse, health, and safety violations, and potential civil rights violations. We will also examine whether the Taylor Street Center functions as a carcel facility in practice, despite being classified as a community reentry center. This hearing was called in response to public comment earlier this year at the Board of Appeals and the reentry council, as well as the testimony before the Board of Supervisors by the Bouan family concerning the death of Melvin Bilwan in July 2025. I want to make clear that in San Francisco, we recognize the potential of justice-involved individuals and believe in second chances at life. Values of equity, community, and inclusion are woven into the fabric of what makes this city a beacon of hope for so many. We're also city that believes in fairness. And so the purpose of this hearing is to ensure transparency, accountability, and justice for those affected by GEO operations, to clarify the roles and responsibilities of oversight agencies and to provide an opportunity for multiple stakeholders to present their perspective and participate in an open dialogue regarding these community concerns. As Chair Fielder mentioned, we are joined by several city departments, Geo Group and Taylor Center, Taylor Street Center representatives, as well as community members. It's important to note that while my office requested the presence of an engage with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, CDCR. Local representatives for the department declined the invitation to participate in today's proceedings. Noting that, I'd like to begin by calling up Victoria Westbrook with the San Francisco Adult Probation Department. I have a presentation. If you guys can put it, thank you so much.
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