The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened a special meeting on January 19, 2021, to address several key issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on local businesses and residents. The board considered and approved an ordinance to allocate $1.9 million in aid to restaurants and food service businesses in Chinatown. Several emergency ordinances were introduced, including one concerning public health emergency leave for employees of larger companies and another to protect tenants from eviction due to non-payment of rent during the pandemic. Other legislative actions included resolutions supporting the "Caravan for the Children" immigration reform effort and SB 110, the Recovery Incentives Act, aimed at combating substance use disorder. The board also discussed the appointment of Carmen Chu as City Administrator and addressed public concerns regarding police conduct and the treatment of vulnerable populations.
Clerk Angela Calvillo explained COVID-19 protocols for the meeting, emphasizing remote participation and public comment procedures. She outlined how the public could provide live comments via telephone and submit written comments by email or mail, as well as ensuring ADA requests for accommodations were met.
Zach Karnazes spoke on public corruption, Mayor's text messages regarding homeless services, and racism in public safety departments.
The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing as a Committee of the Whole to consider an ordinance appropriating $1,900,000 from the COVID Contingency Reserve to the Human Services Agency for restaurant and food service businesses in Chinatown for FY2020-2021. The ordinance also authorized the Controller to reduce appropriations and return funds to the COVID Contingency Reserve if state or federal funds became available for reimbursement. Speakers including Malcolm Young, Chiffon Yu, and Larry Yee spoke in favor.
President Walton closed public comment, declared the hearing heard and filed, adjourned as the Committee of the Whole, and reconvened as the Board of Supervisors.
The Budget and Finance Committee recommended appropriating $1,900,000 from the COVID Contingency Reserve to the Human Services Agency to provide assistance to restaurant and food service businesses in Chinatown in Fiscal Year 2020-2021. The Controller was authorized to reduce appropriations and return funds to the COVID Contingency Reserve if State/Federal funds became available. Supervisors Chan, Preston, Mandelman, Ronen, and Melgar requested to be added as co-sponsors. Peskin moved to amend, adding 'for the program or are appropriated by the Board to permit other local funds to be reprogrammed for this purpose'. The motion carried by 11-0. The ordinance passed on first reading as amended by a vote of 11-0.
Magick Altman expressed concerns regarding possible police department issues. A speaker expressed concerns regarding newly introduced legislation regarding Senate Bill 110 and the need to focus on local policy. Max voiced concerns regarding making San Francisco safer for the disenfranchised and the treatment of clients at methadone clinics. Matthew Sutter highlighted the plight of taxi medallion holders.
Supervisor Mar introduced an emergency ordinance to reenact a temporary requirement for private employers with 500 or more employees to provide public health emergency leave during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and was assigned to Government Audit and Oversight Committee.
Supervisor Preston introduced an emergency ordinance to temporarily restrict landlords from evicting residential tenants for non-payment of rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prohibit landlords from imposing late fees, and make findings as required by the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019, was assigned to Land Use and Transportation Committee.
Supervisor Mandelman introduced a resolution celebrating the life of Margo St. James and declaring February 14, 2021, as Margo St. James Day in San Francisco, was referred for adoption without committee reference agenda at the next board meeting.
Supervisor Ronen introduced a resolution urging support for Caravan for the Children: Uncage, ReUnify, and Heal, demanding the Biden-Harris administration use executive action to undue cruel and destructive policies and for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, was referred for adoption without committee reference agenda at the next board meeting.
Supervisor Safai introduced a resolution supporting California State Senate Bill (SB) 110, also known as the Recovery Incentives Act, which would legalize the substance use disorder treatment known as contingency management, was received and assigned to Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee.
Supervisor Walton introduced a motion concurring in actions taken by the Mayor in the Thirty-Third Supplement to the Proclamation of Emergency to meet the ongoing local emergency related to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic by authorizing the City to borrow up to $6,000,000 in funds from deactivated Medical Reimbursement Accounts to make payments under the City’s Right to Recover Program, was referred for adoption without committee reference agenda at the next board meeting.
A motion was introduced amending the Rules of Order of the Board of Supervisors by amending Rule 3.31 to extend the Joint City, School District, and City College Select Committee until January 1, 2023, and authorizing the Clerk of the Board to update the Rules of Order when changes to the committee structure are made by the President, was referred for adoption without committee reference agenda at the next board meeting.
A motion confirming the Mayoral appointment of Carmen Chu as City Administrator, for a five-year term beginning February 1, 2021, was received and assigned to Rules Committee.
A motion that the Board of Supervisors convene in closed session on February 2, 2021, pursuant to California Government Code, Section 54956.9(a), and San Francisco Administrative Code, Section 67.10(d)(1), for the purpose of conferring with, or receiving advice from, the City Attorney regarding existing litigation with Pacific Gas & Electric Company.
A hearing to consider the annual review and adoption of the Proposed Draft Fiscal Years (FYs) 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Budgets for the Board of Supervisors/Office of the Clerk of the Board and requesting the Office of the Clerk of the Board to report, was received and assigned to Budget and Finance Committee.
Supervisor Mar requested the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to codify certain recommendations included in the fourth Public Integrity Report from the Controller’s Office.
The Board held a moment of silence in memory of Ken Jones and Margo St. James, and Supervisor Peskin remembered Sally Gould.