Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - May 11, 2023
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Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Regular Meeting - May 11, 2023
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee convened on May 11, 2023, to consider five items: two liquor license transfers, an ordinance amending health code massage permit requirements, a resolution to rename Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park, and a resolution on police recruitment bonuses and staffing. The committee voted on all items, with one continued to a future date.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (Liquor License Transfer – 1336 Grant Avenue): Santino DeRose, a nearby business owner, spoke in opposition, stating the new owner had reduced grocery offerings, increased alcohol displays, and that the area already has nine other liquor stores within four blocks. He noted over 30 letters of opposition were submitted.
- Item 4 (Renaming Stowe Lake): Multiple speakers supported the resolution. Henry McCulski, a Holocaust survivor’s child, emphasized the need to reject anti-Semitism. Angus McFarland proposed naming the lake after Patrick Quigley, a former park foreman. Representatives from the Jewish Community Relations Council and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus cited rising anti-Semitism: a 41% increase in anti-Semitic incidents in California in 2022 and a 91% increase in white supremacist propaganda. All encouraged the name change.
- Item 5 (Police Recruitment Bonuses): David Pilpel spoke in support but cautioned against the word “automatically” in the resolution title and suggested civilianizing some sworn positions to improve efficiency.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 – Liquor License Transfer (The Nature Stop): Officer Salmonson reported the Alcohol Liaison Unit recommended approval, but the acting captain of Central Station opposed. Applicant’s attorney argued for approval based on a clean operation and security measures. Committee members noted 29 letters of opposition, oversaturation in the area, and opposition from District 3 Supervisor Peskin. The committee voted to prepare a resolution finding that the transfer would not serve public convenience or necessity.
- Item 2 – Liquor License Transfer (Casa Lucaz #3): Officer Salmonson reported no opposition from Ingleside Station and ALU recommended approval with conditions. Applicant’s representative confirmed that all conditions (graffiti removal, lighting, window clearing) were met within 24 hours. The committee voted to prepare a resolution finding that the transfer would serve public convenience or necessity.
- Item 3 – Health Code Massage Permit Requirements: This ordinance, previously amended on April 27, was heard again. No public comment. The committee voted to recommend approval to the full board.
- Item 4 – Renaming Stowe Lake: Supervisor Melgar presented the resolution, detailing William Stowe’s anti-Semitic record as a 19th-century California Assembly Speaker. The committee expressed support, and Chair Stephanie, Supervisor Dorsey, and Vice Chair Engardio added their names as co-sponsors. The committee voted to send the resolution to the full board with a positive recommendation.
- Item 5 – Police Recruitment and Staffing: Supervisor Dorsey introduced the resolution, noting that the City of Alameda now offers a $75,000 recruiting bonus. He proposed amendments to include parallel provisions for the Sheriff’s Department and to remove the word “automatically” from the text. After public comment, the committee voted to adopt the amendment and then continued the item to the call of the chair.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Motion passed (3-0) to send a resolution to the Board of Supervisors recommending that the liquor license transfer not serve public convenience or necessity.
- Item 2: Motion passed (3-0) to recommend approval of the liquor license transfer.
- Item 3: Motion passed (3-0) to recommend the ordinance to the full board.
- Item 4: Motion passed (3-0) to send the resolution as a committee report to the full board.
- Item 5: Motion to amend (including parallel provisions for Sheriff’s Department and removing “automatically”) passed (3-0). Motion to continue to the call of the chair passed (3-0).
Meeting Transcript
This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the May 10th, 2023 regular meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. I am Supervisor Catherine. You are unmuted. Start it over. We'll start again. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the May 10th, 2023 regular meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. I'm Supervisor Catherine Stephanie, Chair of the Committee. To my right is Vice Chair Angardio, and to my left is Supervisor Dorsey. The clerk is Mr. John Carroll, and I'd like to thank Jason Goldemer at SFGov TV for staffing this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. The Board of Supervisors and its committees are convening hybrid meetings that allow in-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access and public comment via telephone. The board recognizes that equitable public access is essential, and we will be taking public comment as follows. First, public comment will be taken on each item on today's agenda. Those attending the meeting in person will be allowed to speak first, and then we will hear from those who are waiting on the telephone line. The public comment call in number for today's meeting is 415-6550001. When you're connected, you will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. The meeting ID for today's meeting is 2592-300-7038. After you've entered the meeting ID, press the pound symbol two times. You'll know you're connected because you will hear the meeting discussions, but your telephone line will be muted and in listening mode only. When your item of interest comes up on our agenda and public comments is called, those joining us in person here in room 250 should line up to speak along the curtain wall here. And then those in the telephone line should dial star, followed by three to be added to the speaker line. If you're on their telephone, please remember to turn down your television, your radio, your streaming device, whatever you may be using to access today's proceedings in order to prevent us from having any issues with Echo. Alternatively, you may submit your public comments in writing in either of the following ways. You may email them to myself, the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Clerk at J-O-H-N period C-A-R-R-O-L-L at SFGOV.org. Or you may send your written comments via U.S. Postal Service to our office in City Hall. Our office is the clerk's office, room 244, and City Hall's addresses. One, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, San Francisco, California, 94102. If you submit public comment in writing, I will forward your comment to the supervisors and it will be included as part of the official file on which you are commenting. Of course, all the contact information that you may need in order to provide that commentary can be consulted on the front page of any of our committee agenda in case I've gone too quickly. Finally, Madam Chair, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda of May 23rd, 2023, unless otherwise stated. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Will you please call the first item? Agenda item number one is a hearing to consider that the person-to-person premises to premise transfer of a type 21 off-sale general beer, wine, and distilled spirits liquor license to Tony's Nature Food Incorporated doing business as the nature stop located at 1336 Grant Avenue will serve the public convenience or necessity of the city and county. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. I think we have Officer Salmonson from the SFPD ABC Liaison unit with us today. Yes, good morning, members of the board. Okay, Tony's Nature Food has applied for type 21 license, and if approved, this would allow them to operate an off-scale general premise. There's one letter of protest, zero letters of support. They're located in plot 132, which is considered high crimeria. They are on census track 106, which is considered a high saturation area.
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