San Francisco Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee – October 28, 2021
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The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee met on October 28, 2021, to consider two liquor license transfers, an ordinance requiring quarterly domestic violence data reporting, and a hearing on the Family Violence Council's 2021 annual report. All items were recommended for approval or filed, with the ordinance amended and forwarded to the full board.
Liquor License Transfer – 2539 Mission Street (Evergreen Market)
Officer Fernares of the SFPD ABC Liaison Unit reported zero letters of protest or support, that the location is in a high-crime census tract and high-saturation area, and that ALU recommended approval with conditions. Ishmael Ahmed, son of the owner, spoke in favor, saying Evergreen Market has operated since 1986 and seeks to bring imported spirits from Peru, Brazil, and Argentina to meet community demand. The committee voted unanimously (Haney, Mar, Stephanie) to approve a resolution determining the license serves public convenience or necessity, sending it to the full board with a positive recommendation.
Liquor License Transfer – 524 Post Street (The Olympic Club)
Officer Fernares reported zero letters of protest or support, a high-crime and high-saturation location, no opposition from Central Station, and an ALU recommendation for approval with no conditions. Avi Sankar, director of the Olympic Club's city clubhouse, described the club's historic role (stating it was founded in 1816 and rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake) and said the type 21 license would allow off-sale alcohol to-go, a popular COVID-era service that would generate revenue and support jobs. The committee voted unanimously to approve and forward the resolution with a positive recommendation.
Domestic Violence Data Reporting Ordinance (Item 3)
Supervisor Stephanie introduced the ordinance, explaining it was born out of concerns that domestic violence cases were not being prosecuted or resolved safely. She cited SFPD data showing 131 felony domestic violence cases presented to the district attorney's office in Q4 2020, with 113 dismissed. She also described a fatal child abuse case where prior DV charges were dismissed, and a case involving a loaded gun and knife with 30 prior incidents that was reduced to misdemeanor vandalism. The ordinance would require the police department and district attorney to submit quarterly reports to the Board of Supervisors on DV-related 911 calls, presence of children or firearms, cases presented, charges filed, and case dispositions. Supervisor Stephanie said she received a last-minute letter from the DA's office contesting her understanding, but insisted the data is not difficult to provide. Supervisor Melgar co-sponsored, sharing her personal experience as a child survivor of domestic violence and emphasizing the need for honest data to evaluate interventions. Supervisor Haney and Chair Mar asked to be added as co-sponsors. Amendments were offered to expand reporting to the mayor, Office of Racial Equity, Human Rights Commission, Department on the Status of Women, and Police Commission, and to require the reports be posted on department websites.
Family Violence Council Report Hearing (Item 4)
The Family Violence Council presented its 10th comprehensive report for fiscal year 2019–2020. Key data and findings included: domestic violence is reported in 60–80% of child abuse cases; a firearm in a domestic violence situation increases homicide risk by 500%; 533 of 5,000 child abuse reports were substantiated (about 10%), and police data showed 500 incidents leading to 253 arrests, 145 special victims unit investigations, 52 cases received by the DA, and 33 prosecuted. DV crisis lines received 11,000 calls, a 30% increase from FY19, while 7,000 911 calls were DV-related. The Department on the Status of Women administered $8.5 million to support nearly 30 community-based organizations serving over 14,000 individuals. Elder abuse substantiations increased 23% over six years; 448 elder physical abuse incidents led to 188 arrests. Racial disparities were stark: Black children accounted for 4 in 10 substantiated child abuse cases, and more than half of DV victims were Black or Latinx. Shelter turnaway rates remained at about 78%. Presenters highlighted pandemic-driven economic stressors: food insecurity rose from 6% to 19%, and unemployment increased 500% since February 2020. Recommendations included investments in prevention, universal basic income for marginalized families, standardized training for frontline staff, geriatric emergency response units (GEMS), child welfare system transformation, and expanding on-site DV advocacy at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. The council reported that DGO 6.09 (domestic violence general order) was approved by the Police Commission in January 2021 but has not yet been rolled out. The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing described a shelter-in-place hotel floor that served 38 households (24% transgender or gender non-binary), a rapid rehousing program for 25 survivor households, and a pending DV bonus grant to fund 136 survivor households and 25 additional rapid rehousing slots.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A caller criticized the length of the presentation and called for audits of public safety entities, citing roughly $600 million in spending and unresolved COPS recommendations.
- A caller thanked the council for addressing domestic violence, asked that Park Police be included in DV responses for Presidio families, and raised concerns about family court outcomes, stating that 84% of women who raise domestic violence in custody cases lose custody of their children. She requested trauma-informed judges and transparency in family court.
- Zach Dillon from the Public Defender's Office argued the ordinance should also require reporting from the Adult Probation Department to evaluate the effectiveness of 52-week DV intervention programs, describing APD as a "black box."
Key Outcomes
- Approved the Evergreen Market liquor license transfer resolution unanimously (3–0) and sent it to the full board.
- Approved the Olympic Club liquor license transfer resolution unanimously (3–0) and sent it to the full board.
- Excused Supervisor Haney from the remainder of the meeting after noon (2–0).
- Amended and recommended the domestic violence data reporting ordinance to the full board as amended (2–0).
- Filed the Family Violence Council report hearing (2–0).
- Items are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda on November 9, 2021, as announced by the clerk.
Meeting Transcript
Samara for staffing the meeting and also Maria Pena from SFGov TV. Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, Mr. Chair. The minutes will reflect that committee members participated in this remote meeting through video conference to the same extent as though physically present. The board recognizes that public access to city services is essential and invite public participation in the following ways. First, public comment will be available on each item on this agenda, either channel 26, 78 or 99, depending on your provider. And sfgovtv.org are streaming the public calling number across the screen. Each speaker will be allowed two minutes to speak. Comments or opportunities to speak during the public comment period are available via phone by calling 415 65501. Again, 415 65501. The meeting ID is 24852423908, then pound and then pound again. When connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, which you will be muted and in listening mode only. When your item of interest comes up, please ask three to be added to the speaker line. Best practices are to call from a quiet location, speak clearly and slowly, and turn down your television or radio. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. You can email myself, the public safety and neighborhood services clerk at Alisa A L I S A dot Samara, S O M E R A at S F G-O V dot org. If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and included as part of the as part of the official file. You may also send written your written comments via US Postal Service to our office at City Hall One. Dr. Carlton B. Goodlick Place, room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. Finally, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of November 9th, 2020, 2021, unless otherwise stated. Mr. Chair. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. Can you please call item number one? Yes. Agenda item number one is a hearing to consider that the transfer of a type 21 off sale general beer, wine, and distilled spirits liquor license to ishes community market doing business as Evergreen Market, located at 2539 Mission Street in District 9 will serve the public convenience or necessity. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this hearing item. So call the public comment number 415 65501. Enter the meeting ID of 2485242 3908. Press the star symbol twice to connect to the meeting, and then press the star key followed by the number three to enter the queue to speak. A system prompt will indicate that you have reached your hand. Please wait until we call for public comment. And the system indicates that you have been unmuted, and then you may begin your comments, Mr. Chair. Thank you. First up, we're going to hear from the SFPD ABC Liaison unit. And we have Officer Fernares here to present on the ALU report on this item. Okay. You have before you a PCN report for ISH, I guess Ish Community Market. They have applied for a type 21 license. And if approved, this would allow them to operate an off-sale general premises. There are zero letters of protest, zero letters of support. They are located in plot 444, which is considered a high crime area. They are in a census track 208.00, which is considered high saturation area. ALU recommendation approval with the following conditions for a type 21 off-sale general premise. The practitioners shall actively monitor the area under their control in an effort to prevent the loitering of persons on any property adjacent to the license premise as depicted on the ABC-253. It should be noted as of October 19th, 2021, the applicant had agreed to the above listed recommendations and conditions.
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