SF Public Safety Committee: Liquor Licenses & Tree Canopy Equity Hearing (Sept 25, 2026)

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, chaired by Supervisor Danny Sauter and including Vice Chair Bilal Mahmood, Supervisor Alan Wong, and Supervisor Dorsey, convened on September 25, 2026. The meeting addressed three routine liquor license transfers and a major oversight hearing on tree canopy equity in District 6, focusing on the Department of Public Works' Bureau of Urban Forestry.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Coit Liquors (District 3). Unanimously approved forwarding a positive recommendation to the full Board of Supervisors for the transfer of Type 21 and Type 86 licenses. The applicant, a neighborhood merchant since 1961, relocated due to a fire. Zero letters of protest were filed. SFPD recommended approval with conditions for monitoring loitering and maintaining a litter-free area.
• Item 2: Mission Bay Community Market (District 6). The committee unanimously approved the transfer of a Type 21 license. Supervisor Dorsey expressed full support, stating the market serves a public convenience and necessity in an underserved neighborhood.
• Item 3: Nariana Farmers Market (District 11). The committee unanimously approved the Type 21 license transfer. Representative David Villalbos expressed strong support for the applicants, noting their responsible business history and purchase of an ID scanning system.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Item 4 (Tree Canopy Equity):

• Alex Ludlum (SoMa West CBD) expressed strong support for a pilot partnership watering trees, describing it as a perfect example of city-community cooperation.
• Leanne (SoMa West resident) urged the city to prioritize trees in her neighborhood, citing poor air quality, heat, and impacts on her family's health.
• Gail Ball (Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association) expressed that greening alleys improves safety and suggested using chicanes to create planting space.
• Sean Auckland (SoMa resident) argued that the current approach lacks formal targets and called for the committee to keep the file open for 90 days to establish specific canopy and tree count goals.
• Josh Cluver (D10 resident, Urban Forestry Council) argued that tree preservation is not adequately factored into equity plans, citing tree removals for development.
• Marie Sorns (Calle 24 / Mission Verde) advocated for stronger protections against tree removal and highlighted the role of community watering groups.
• Ellen Sotou (Mid-Market CBD) showed photos of dead trees and argued for protective infrastructure (ledges, fences) to improve tree survival rates.

Discussion Items

Item 4: Hearing on Tree Canopy Equity and Resource Allocation in District 6. Supervisor Dorsey led the hearing, framing it as a constructive review of the gap between policy and practice regarding tree planting in environmental justice communities like SoMa. Superintendent David Moore (Bureau of Urban Forestry) provided a detailed report:

• BUF maintains 125,000 street trees. A record 1,880 were planted last year, with a goal of 2,500 trees this year.
• Funding and Staffing: Moore stated the primary barrier is a lack of consistent, dedicated funding (estimated $13 million annually needed for 5,000 trees). Staffing is severely strained (e.g., 5 of 9 inspector positions filled).
• Equity vs. Logistics: Moore described the tension between following environmental justice (EJ) maps and the operational realities of where funding grants can be applied and where community partners exist to maintain trees. He noted that 87 of 250 trees planted under a CNRA grant were vandalized or lost, highlighting the need for community stewardship.
• Data and Policy: Moore explained the department's challenges with an outdated work order system that cannot produce required reports on tree replacement. He clarified that the narrow sidewalk rule (Director's Order 1872) allows for case-by-case exceptions.
• Supervisor Sauter questioned the lack of a reliable funding stream and staffing vacancies. Moore acknowledged the need for a five-year planting strategy and better technology.
• Supervisor Mahmood inquired about tracking in-lieu fees and ensuring spending on equity geographies.
• Supervisor Wong asked about resident notification, language access, and addressing resident concerns about sidewalk damage from roots.

Key Outcomes

• Items 1, 2, 3: Approved unanimously and forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors with positive recommendations.
• Item 4: The hearing was continued to the call of the chair by a unanimous vote, keeping the file open for further discussion and action. No final action was taken on specific policy changes or targets, but Supervisor Sauter and Dorsey committed to continued collaboration with BUF on funding and data system improvements. A separate hearing on tree maintenance is scheduled for later in the fall.