Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - July 23, 2020
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Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - July 23, 2020
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on July 23, 2020, via video conference due to the COVID-19 emergency. Chair Raphael Mandelman presided, joined by Vice Chair Catherine Stephanie and Supervisor Shamann Walton (transcript spells Shimon but likely Shamann). The committee considered four items: a liquor license issuance, a resolution declaring anti-Black racism a public health crisis, a hearing on the housing conservatorship program, and a hearing on COVID-19 impacts on behavioral health services for unhoused residents.
Liquor License Issuance - 706 Mission Street
The committee held a hearing on a Type 57 liquor license for the Four Seasons Private Residences. The item had been continued from March 12 to allow for additional community outreach. No public comments were received. The committee voted unanimously to forward a resolution finding public convenience and necessity to the full board.
Resolution Declaring Anti-Black Racism as a Human Rights and Public Health Crisis
Supervisor Walton presented the resolution, co-sponsored by several supervisors. Presenters from the Human Rights Commission, Department of Public Health, and the community group Mega Black SF testified that anti-Black racism drives disparities, noting that Black people comprise about 5% of the city's population but 10% of COVID-19 deaths. Supervisor Walton read amendments to update statistics and add a clause referencing the Health Commission's passage of a similar resolution. A technical issue initially prevented public comment, leading the committee to rescind its vote and reopen the comment period. Public comment included support from a nurse and a representative of taxpayers for public safety, and a suggestion to change "prioritize" to "ensure" in the resolution. The committee then voted unanimously to forward the amended resolution to the full board.
Housing Conservatorship Preliminary Evaluation Report
The committee heard an update from Angelica Almeida (Department of Public Health) and Jill Nielsen (Office of the Public Conservator) on the SB 1045 housing conservatorship program. As of the hearing, no petitions had been filed, but a few individuals were nearing the threshold of eight 5150 holds. The program aims to intervene at the fifth hold with voluntary services. Almeida noted that most individuals currently on the pathway are Caucasian, but data on racial breakdown would be provided. Public comment was extensive: supporters, including Rescue SF and neighborhood groups, urged expanded conservatorship and funding; opponents, including Senior and Disability Action and TNDC, argued the program is racially discriminatory and that voluntary services and housing are underfunded. The committee voted to continue the hearing to September 10, 2020.
Impacts of COVID-19 on Behavioral Health Needs of Unhoused San Franciscans
Dr. Hallie Hammer (Director of Ambulatory Care) presented DPH's plan for implementing Mental Health SF, focusing on an Office of Coordinated Care, behavioral health bed investments, street crisis response teams, and a mental health service center. Costs were discussed, including a ~$13 million annual cost for a 24/7 mental health service center and a $10 million investment to reduce bed wait times to zero. Public comment included support for crisis response teams and safe sleeping sites, criticism of the police response, and concerns about racial disparities. The committee filed the hearing after discussion.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Forwarded liquor license resolution to full board (3-0).
- Item 2: Forwarded amended resolution to full board (3-0).
- Item 3: Continued hearing to September 10, 2020 (3-0).
- Item 4: Filed hearing (3-0).
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the July 23rd, 2020 regular meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. I am Supervisor Raphael Mandelman. I chair this committee. We're joined by our Vice Chair Catherine Stephanie and Supervisor Shimon Walton. Our clerk is John Carroll. And I want to thank the folks at SFG TV for staffing the meeting as well as Board of Supervisors Operations and IT for all of their support as well. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. In order to protect board members, city employees, and the public during the COVID-19 health emergency at the Board of Supervisors Legislative Chamber and Committee Room are closed. This precaution is taken pursuant to all various local, state, and federal orders, declarations, and directives. Committee members will attend the meeting through video conference and participate in the meeting to the same extent as if they were physically present. Public comment will be available for each item on this agenda. San Francisco Cable Channel 26 and sfgovtv.org are streaming a public comment call-in number across your screens. Your opportunity to speak and provide comments during the public comment period are available via phone by calling 415 65501. Once connected and prompted, enter the meeting ID. Today's meeting ID is 146812 8928. After you've dialed in, press Pound, followed by Pound a second time to be connected to the meeting. When you're connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you'll be muted and you will be in listening mode only. When your item of interest comes up, dial star followed by three to be added to the speaker line. A system prompt will indicate that you have raised your hand. Please wait until the system indicates that you've been unmuted and you may begin your comments. Best practices are to call from a quiet location, speak clearly and slowly, and turn down your television, your radio, or your streaming device. Everyone should account for potential time delays we may experience and speaking discrepancies between live coverage and streaming. Alternatively, you may submit your public comment in either of the following ways. You may email me. My name is John Carroll. I'm the clerk of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, and my email address is J O H N period C A R R O L L at SF G-O-V dot or G. If you submit public comment via email, it will be included in the legislative file as part of the matter. Your written comments may also be sent by a U.S. Postal Service to our office in City Hall. The address for the clerk's office is 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. And finally, Mr. Chair, items acted upon today will appear on the Board of Supervisors irregular agenda, special agenda of August 11th, 2020, unless otherwise stated. Can you please call our first item? Agenda item number one is a hearing to consider that the issuance of a type 57 special on-sale general beer, wine, and distilled spirits liquor license to 706 Mission Residences Owners Association to do business as the Four Seasons Private Residences on the fifth floor of 706 mission. We'll serve the public convenience or necessity of the city and county. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this hearing should call the public comment number. I'll repeat it. It is 415-655-0001. Enter the meeting ID. That is 146812-8928. Press the pound symbol twice to connect to the meeting, then press the star key, followed by the number three to enter the queue to speak. A system prompt will indicate that you have raised your hand. Please wait until the system indicates that you've been unmuted and you may begin your comments, Mr. Chair. Great.
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