Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - September 24, 2020
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Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - September 24, 2020
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, chaired by Supervisor Raphael Mandelman, met on September 24, 2020, to consider six agenda items: three liquor license hearings, a landmark anti-discrimination ordinance (the CAREN Act), a housing conservatorship program update, and a hearing on essential frontline workers. The meeting featured extensive public testimony and discussion on the CAREN Act, as well as concerns about the slow implementation of the housing conservatorship program.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar was used; each item was discussed individually.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Agenda Item 4 (CAREN Act), Gabby Ruiz from Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation expressed full support for the legislation. One caller raised concerns about potential unintended consequences and ethnic tensions. Camille Millenni called in support.
- No public comments were received on other agenda items.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: St. Joseph's Arts Foundation Type 99 Liquor License – Officer Samelson from the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) reported no opposition, a high-crime and high-saturation area, but Southern Station had no opposition. The applicant presented the nonprofit's mission to bring art to underserved communities, and noted community support. The committee voted to forward a resolution with positive recommendation to the full Board.
- Item 2: Golden State Food and Liquor Type 21 Transfer – Officer Samelson reported one protest letter, low crime area (error corrected), high saturation, Southern Station no opposition. Conditions included hours (8am-1am), no small distilled spirits, multi-pack sales for small containers, and loitering prevention. The applicant agreed to conditions but had not yet signed. The committee continued the item to October 8, 2020, to allow time for formal acceptance.
- Item 3: Sopracasa LLC (Soda Casa) Type 20 Transfer – Officer Samelson reported no protests, high crime, high saturation, Central Station no opposition. Condition: active monitoring of loitering. Applicant's representative described the Italian-focused shop. The committee forwarded the resolution with positive recommendation.
- Item 4: CAREN Act (Caution Against Racial and Exploitative Non-Emergencies) – Supervisor Walton presented the ordinance, which makes it unlawful to cause peace officer contact solely to discriminate. Co-sponsors include all 11 supervisors. Presentations were made by Angela Jenkins (San Francisco Interrupting Racial Profiling), Marty J., James Juanillo (victim of a false 911 call in Pacific Heights), and Brittany Chekuta (Human Rights Commission). The committee unanimously adopted amendments expanding protected classes to align with city code, adding a purpose clause not to deter legitimate calls, and adding specific harms. The ordinance was then continued to October 8, 2020, as required for substantial amendments.
- Item 5: Housing Conservatorship Preliminary Evaluation Report – Dr. Angelica Almeida (Department of Public Health) reported that no petitions for housing conservatorship under SB 1045 have been filed yet. The program began serving individuals in July 2020, and about a dozen are being tracked. Some individuals have improved after receiving notices. Chair Mandelman expressed frustration with the slow pace, noting that the program has been in effect for over a year. He requested more data on 5150s and PES diversions for the next hearing. The committee continued the hearing to November 12, 2020, warning that if no petitions are filed by then, directors would be called to discuss program viability.
- Item 6: Essential Frontline Workers Hearing – The committee continued this hearing to October 8, 2020, without discussion or public comment.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (St. Joseph's Arts Foundation): Motion to forward a resolution with positive recommendation to the full Board passed 3-0.
- Item 2 (Golden State Food and Liquor): Motion to continue to October 8, 2020, passed 3-0.
- Item 3 (Sopracasa LLC): Motion to forward a resolution with positive recommendation to the full Board passed 3-0.
- Item 4 (CAREN Act): Amendments adopted unanimously, then continued to October 8, 2020, for final vote.
- Item 5 (Housing Conservatorship): Continued to November 12, 2020, with a directive for more data.
- Item 6 (Essential Frontline Workers): Continued to October 8, 2020.
Meeting Transcript
Morning, everybody. Good morning, everyone. Um, meeting will come to order. Welcome to the September 24th, 2020 regular meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. I am Supervisor Raphael Mandelman. I chair this committee. We are joined by our vice chair Catherine Stephanie and Supervisor Shimon Walton. Um clerk is John Carroll, and I want to thank the folks at SFTV for staffing this meeting, as well as Board of Supervisors Operations and IT for your support today and every day. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a lot of announcements. In order to protect the public, board members, and city employees during the COVID-19 health emergency, 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. Both San Francisco Cable Channel 26 and sfgovtv.org are streaming a public comment call-in number across your screen at this time. Your opportunity to speak and provide public comments during the public comment period are available via phone by calling 415-65501. Once connected to that line and you're prompted, enter today's meeting ID. That is 146720960. Then press pound twice to be connected to the meeting. Once you're connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but your line will be muted and in listening mode. 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 meeting indicates that your line has been unmuted, and you may then 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 and speaking discrepancies that we may experience between the live coverage and the streaming. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in either of the following ways. You may email me. My name is John Carroll, and I'm the clerk of the public safety and neighborhood services committee. My email address is J-O-H-N, period C-A-R-R O L at SFGO V dot or G. If you submit public comment via email, it would be included in the legislative file as part of the matter. Your written comments may also be sent by U.S. Postal Service to our office in City Hall. That address for our office is one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. And finally, Mr. Chair, excuse me. Items acted upon today will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda of October 6th, unless otherwise stated. I muted it. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Can you please call our first item? Of course. Agenda item number one is a hearing to consider that the issuance of a type 99 on-sale general force special use liquor license to the St. Joseph's Arts Foundation, located at 1401 Howard. Will serve the public convenience or necessity of the city and county of San Francisco. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this hearing should call the public comment number.
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