San Francisco Public Safety Committee Meeting: July 9, 2026
San Francisco Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting – July 9, 2026
This meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors was held on Thursday, July 9, 2026, chaired by Supervisor Matt Dorsey, with Vice Chair Danny Sauter and Supervisor Alan Wong. The committee addressed eight agenda items, including fireworks penalties, code cleanup, speed cameras, liquor licenses, and drug-free supportive housing. Public comment was limited to one minute per speaker due to the full agenda.
Consent Calendar
- No items were on the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Illegal Fireworks Penalties (Item 3): Public comment included: Flo Kelly (resident) urged targeting sellers rather than users; Justice (Richmond District) expressed concern over enforcement-based approaches and racial disparities; Avi Fry (ACLU of Northern California) opposed the ordinance, arguing state law already criminalizes dangerous fireworks and the ordinance would penalize safe-and-sane items like sparklers; other speakers described personal experiences with fireworks-related injuries and congestion at legal displays.
- Speed Safety Cameras (Item 2): Several members of the public spoke in strong support of expanding the program, including: Glenis (District 6 resident) noted reduced noise; John Lowell (District 6, survivor of a speeding crash) described his experience; Lori Lai (Families for Safe Streets) recounted being struck by a turning driver; Susan George (physician, senior) emphasized non-lethal injuries; a parent whose son was killed by a speeding car urged support; Paul (District 8) spoke about a colleague killed by a speeding driver; Katherine Worthington (USF student) cited research on speed camera effectiveness; Richard Bauman (Richmond resident) reported speed cameras worked on Geary and Park Presidio; Jody Medeiros (Walk San Francisco) called expansion urgent, noting 11 pedestrians killed in 2026.
- Drug-Free Permanent Supportive Housing (Item 1): Dozens of speakers gave testimony. Supporters included: Richard Beale (Tenderloin Housing Clinic, 31 years sober) argued recovery needs a supportive environment; Elizabeth Funk said 71% of PSH residents want drug-free options; Tom Wolfe (recovery advocate) cited 4,090 overdose deaths from 2020-2025, with 784 in PSH; multiple TRP Academy graduates (Artis Crenshaw, Ricardo Cruz, Jason Jabo, Lloyd Banks) stressed the importance of a drug-free environment. Opponents and critics included: Lucas [no last name given] (Coalition on Homelessness) requested amendments to guarantee drug-tolerant PSH placement on second relapse; Jennifer Friedenbach (Coalition on Homelessness) cautioned against increasing evictions; Chris Bradford (recovering addict, Tenderloin resident) credited housing first with saving his life; Brittany Chakwata (Office of Racial Equity) requested term changes (e.g., "relocation" instead of "eviction") and a six-month enactment delay; Jordan Voshleski (PSH tenant) called the legislation "transphobic" and a giveaway to religious organizations; Ray Orfiano (peer responder, five years sober) advocated for both models together; Olive Madison (District 9) urged safe use sites.
Discussion Items
- Illegal Fireworks Penalties (Item 3): Supervisor Wong introduced an ordinance establishing penalty structures for illegal fireworks, citing 576 fire department calls on July 4, 2026, including 17 grass fires, 55 trash fires, and an autonomous vehicle fire from a spent fireworks box. Four people lost eyes and five lost hands at General Hospital. SFPD Government Affairs Manager Carl Nasita noted about 1,700 fireworks-related dispatch calls since 2017 (average ~145/year), with nearly two-thirds in June–July. Deputy Chief Patrick Rabbit (SFFD) reported data from 2020–2025 showing no downward trend in serious injuries. Mary Ruiz Delao (SF SPCA) estimated 40–50% of dogs have noise sensitivities. Jenny Perez (caregiver advocate) described impacts on veterans with PTSD. The ordinance passed unanimously.
- Circulating Library Law Repeal (Item 4): Supervisor Wong explained the ordinance repeals a requirement that anyone under 21 obtain parental consent to rent books from a for-profit circulating library. The item passed unanimously.
- Health Code Cleanup (Item 5): Supervisor Wong’s ordinance repeals bans on transporting bread in open containers and on selling unsterilized rags. The item passed unanimously.
- Speed Safety Camera Resolution (Item 2): Chair Dorsey proposed a resolution supporting expansion of the speed camera pilot program, noting an 80% average speed reduction at 33 locations. SFMTA implemented the program after AB 645. The resolution passed unanimously.
- Liquor Licenses (Items 6, 7, 8): Three liquor license applications were approved: Love Potion Library (type 42, 284 Noe Street), Del Rio Produce Market (type 21, 2214 Clement Street), and Food Folk LLC (type 20, 210 Clement Street). Each had zero letters of protest, no police opposition, and conditions regarding loitering and litter. All passed unanimously.
- Drug-Free Permanent Supportive Housing (Item 1): Chair Dorsey introduced amendments to the ordinance, including a guarantee that no resident would be evicted for a single relapse and that HSH must offer alternative housing or shelter before eviction for illicit drug use. He cited a citywide survey showing 69% voter support. The ordinance requires HSH to survey PSH residents and adopt rules and regulations. The amended ordinance passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Item 3 (Fireworks Penalties): Ordinance passed 3–0 (Wong moved, Sauter seconded, Dorsey aye). First offense: infraction, $125–$250 fine; repeat offenses within five years: misdemeanor, $250–$750 fine and/or up to six months in jail.
- Item 4 (Circulating Library Repeal): Ordinance passed 3–0.
- Item 5 (Health Code Cleanup): Ordinance passed 3–0.
- Item 2 (Speed Camera Resolution): Resolution passed 3–0, forwarded as a committee report to the July 14, 2026 Board of Supervisors meeting.
- Item 6 (Love Potion Library): Resolution of public convenience/necessity passed 3–0.
- Item 7 (Del Rio Produce Market): Resolution of public convenience/necessity passed 3–0.
- Item 8 (Food Folk LLC): Resolution of public convenience/necessity passed 3–0.
- Item 1 (Drug-Free PSH): Ordinance amended and passed 3–0, forwarded as a committee report to the July 14, 2026 Board of Supervisors meeting. Key amendments: before eviction for illicit drug use, HSH must confirm that the resident has been offered alternative housing or shelter; single relapse does not trigger eviction.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for Thursday, July 9th, 2026. I'm Supervisor Matt Dorsey, chair of this committee. I'm joined today by fellow committee members, Vice Chair Danny Sutter and Supervisor Alan Wong. We are grateful for our ever capable clerk today, Ms. Monique Creighton, whom we thank in advance for staffing us and keeping us on track. As well, we're appreciative to the entire team at SFGov TV for facilitating and broadcasting today's meeting, and that's especially true for James, Mr. James Kawana, who will be serving as our producer today. Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices. Documents to be included as part of the file should be submitted to the clerk. Public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, please line up to speak on your right. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. First, you may email them to myself, the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Clerk at M O N I Q U E. C-R-A-Y-T-O-N at SFGOV.org. Or you may send your written comments via US Postal Service to our office in City Hall. Number one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. If you submit public comment in writing, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and also included as part of the official file in which you are commenting. Finally, items acted the pun today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of July 21st, 2026, unless otherwise stated. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Today I will be calling some agenda items slightly out of order to be mindful of departmental staff who are giving presentations and members of the public who are attending to give public comment. The order I will call today's agenda items is as follows. It'll be three, four, five, two, six, seven, eight, and one. Because we have a full agenda today and with a couple of items that hold significant public interest, we will be limiting public comment today to one minute per person. However, we always welcome and carefully review written commentary, which is submitted into the public record and has no limit on length or content. Madam Clerk, will you please call item number three? Yes, item number three is an ordinance submitting the police code to provide penalties for the prohibited discharge of fireworks, including that a first offense is punishable as an infraction with a fine not less than a hundred and twenty-five dollars or more than two hundred and fifty dollars. And a second and at in any subsequent offenses within five years of a prior offense are punishable as misdemeanors with a fine not less than two hundred and fifty dollars or more than seven hundred and fifty dollars, or imprisonment in the county jail of not more than six months or by both such fine and imprisonment. Thank you, madam clerk. This is a particularly timely item that was introduced by Supervisor Wong given 4th of July just last week. Um illegal fireworks tend to surge during summer months, particularly around July. They are dangerous, disruptive. Um, best left to train professionals and uh bedevil both of my dogs. I understand we have uh staff from several departments here to speak to this this morning. And with that, uh, Supervisor Wong, the floor is yours. Colleagues, this legislation comes before us just days after the 4th of July when San Francisco once again saw the real public safety impacts of legal of illegal fireworks. This year, those impacts were not abstract. Emergency departments and first responders saw a sharp increase in serious injuries over the hall day weekend. At General Hospital, doctors reported devastating trauma, including four people who lost eyes and five people who lost hands. Medical incidents on July 4th and 5th were also reported to be about double the number seen during the same period last year. Our firefighters also face significant strain. The fire department reported roughly 576 calls in a 24-hour period, almost 200 more calls than usual, and two house fires on the 4th of July due to fireworks activity. That is why this ordinance is necessary. Illegal fireworks are not just a seasonal nuisance. They are a recurring public safety and quality of life problem. They can cause injuries, start fires, damage property, and place additional strain on firefighters, police officers, park rangers, emergency medical workers, and other first responders.
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