Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - October 14, 2021

This meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, chaired by Supervisor Gordon Maher, included Vice Chair Catherine Stefani, Supervisor Matt Haney, and later Supervisor Aaron Peskin for the second item. The committee discussed two major agenda items: a resolution to declare a local emergency on the overdose crisis and support the immediate implementation of overdose prevention sites, and a hearing on the city's urban canopy and street tree maintenance plans.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 1 (Overdose Crisis Resolution): Fourteen public commenters spoke in support of the resolution and immediate implementation of overdose prevention sites. Speakers included Eric Aguleo (Glide), Dr. Amber Gotham (UCSF pediatrician), Michael Rupe (HIV Advocacy Network), Seth Cass, Soma (Sidewalk Project), Zach Lifton (District 6 resident), Gulaire Mousse (Glide), Michael Lupso, Noxville Rama (Treatment on Demand Coalition), Eliana Binder (GLIDE), Wesley Saver (Glide), Calder Lorenz (Gubio Project), Curtis Bradford (Tenderloin People's Congress), Lydia Branson (Gubio Project), Nick Derenzi (Critical Resistance), John Holly Fox (SF AIDS Foundation), Cesar Espinoza, Dr. Leslie Soon (SF General Hospital), Philip Lasseter (SF AIDS Foundation), Mary Kate Bakalau (Compass Family Services), Xander Mora (San Francisco Community Health Center), and Jam (SF AIDS Foundation). Many cited personal experiences, statistics (over 400 deaths Jan-July 2021, 700+ in 2020, 60% involving fentanyl), and argued that safe consumption sites save lives, reduce crime, and save money. One caller, Tom Wolfe, expressed support for sites but emphasized the need to address drug availability. Cesar Espinoza described experiencing government violence and urged action.
• Item 2 (Urban Canopy Hearing): Public commenters included Lance Carnes, who presented a tree watering audit showing only 28% of 72 trees were watered, and criticized the city's planting and watering practices. Sarah Jones (FUF board member) spoke on equity and climate resilience. Anonymous caller raised concerns about property owner responsibilities and fragmented funding. Josh Clip (FUF volunteer) cited the Bureau of Budget and Legislative Analyst's report calling the program an objective failure. Catherine Howard (Outer Sunset) described trees dying from lack of water and criticized the Better Market Street plan. Kindra Sherrick (Mission Verde) highlighted the success of the 24th Street community watering program.

Discussion Items

• Item 1: Resolution Urging Declaration of Local Emergency on Overdose Crisis and Supporting Overdose Prevention Sites (File 210946)

  • Supervisor Haney presented the resolution, noting that over 400 people died from overdoses from January to July 2021, and over 700 in 2020. He stated that fentanyl accounted for nearly 60% of overdose deaths and that safe consumption sites are proven to prevent deaths, reduce disease, and link people to treatment. He introduced an amendment to strike lines 5-6 on page 4, changing the final resolve clause to read: "further resolved that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will support the mayor by concurring with a mayoral proclamation of emergency on the overdose crisis." The amendment was deemed non-substantive by the city attorney.
  • Presentations: Laura Thomas (SF AIDS Foundation) provided policy context, noting that SB 57 is stalled and that the city has legal authority to act. Alex Kral (RTI International) presented research showing that in the first five years of a safe consumption site in the U.S., 33 overdoses were reversed with no deaths, users had 54% fewer emergency department visits, 32% fewer hospitalizations, and crime decreased in the surrounding area. He estimated net savings of $3.5 million per site per year. Daniela Walkie and Paul Harkin (Safer Inside Coalition) emphasized the urgency, noting that 2,000 San Franciscans have died since the task force recommendations in 2017, and that no overdose deaths have ever occurred at a safe consumption site worldwide.
  • Vice Chair Stefani expressed support but raised concerns about open-air drug dealing and the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses the drug supply. She asked about the location of overdose deaths (mostly in the Tenderloin streets) and stressed protecting all users, including those who use alone. Supervisor Haney acknowledged her leadership and agreed to follow up with data.
  • Vote: A motion to excuse Supervisor Haney passed. The committee then voted to accept the amendment (2-0, with Stefani and Maher in favor) and to recommend the amended resolution to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation (2-0).

• Item 2: Hearing on San Francisco Urban Canopy and Street Tree Maintenance Plan Updates (File 211018)

  • Supervisor Peskin, sponsor of the hearing, introduced the item, noting that San Francisco's tree canopy is 13.7%, below the national average, and that the city's Urban Forest Plan aims for 25% by 2034. He emphasized the need for equity and transparency.
  • Presentations:
    • Brian Wiedenmeyer (Executive Director, Friends of the Urban Forest): FUF planted 1,100 trees in the last fiscal year and over 5,000 since Prop E passed in 2016. He noted that watering is a challenge and that FUF currently waters 500 trees per week, but there is a gap. He stressed the need for $2,000 per tree to plant and water for three years.
    • Denny Kern (Deputy Director for Operations, Rec & Parks): Rec & Parks manages 131,000 trees on parkland with a staff of 34. They have a goal of a 15-year tree management cycle but are currently mostly reactive. They use a 2-for-1 replacement ratio for removed trees. They are working on a database tool to improve tracking, expected by end of 2022.
    • Emily Lan (Acting Deputy Assistant General Manager, SFPUC): The PUC has about 4,000 trees, half at Lake Merced maintained by Rec & Parks. They water newly planted trees only, and some trees are removed for dam safety compliance.
    • Nicholas Crawford (Acting Superintendent, Bureau of Urban Forestry, DPW): DPW now manages all 125,000 street trees under Street Tree SF. They have pruned 54,409 trees, removed 6,852, and repaired 535,000 square feet of sidewalk. They are using a "worst-first" approach but now aim to address equity. The 2014 Urban Forest Plan called for 155,000 street trees by 2034, but progress is slow. He noted that Prop K funding (1.4% of transportation authority budget) is at risk of being cut. He presented a planting strategy document and highlighted the need for $8 million per year to plant 4,000 trees (2,500 replacement, 1,500 new). He also mentioned the 24th Street case study where community group Mission Verde waters 145 trees weekly.
  • Supervisor Peskin noted that the Budget and Legislative Analyst issued a report with nine recommendations, one of which is for the Board to review street tree planting funding. He raised questions about tree mortality, watering gaps, and the need for clear metrics. Supervisor Safai discussed his legislation on increasing penalties for illegal tree removal and requiring tree replacement for city projects.
  • The hearing was continued to the call of the chair to allow for further discussion and the BLA report presentation.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1 (Resolution 210946): The resolution was amended and recommended to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation. The vote was 2-0 (Supervisors Stefani and Maher in favor).
• Item 2 (Hearing 211018): The hearing was continued to the call of the chair. No action was taken, but the committee will revisit the topic to discuss the BLA report and potential policy changes.