Imperium

San Francisco County

Special Board Meeting Regarding Neighborhood Commercial Districts

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened for a special meeting on January 21, 2020. The primary agenda item was File No. 191260, an ordinance amending the Planning Code to establish 12 new Neighborhood Commercial Districts (NCDs) throughout the city, which ultimately passed. Public comment was heard, addressing concerns about public participation, the Ethics Commission, and reparations for the African American community. Supervisor Ronen was excused from voting due to a conflict of interest related to her residence.

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Unfinished Business

The board voted on amending the Planning Code to establish 12 named Neighborhood Commercial Districts.

Supervisor Ronen recused herself from voting on File No. 191260, due to a conflict of interest (residence within 500 feet of one of the neighborhood commercial districts). Supervisors Safai and Walton moved to excuse her, which passed with a vote of 10 ayes. The ordinance to amend the Planning Code to establish 12 named Neighborhood Commercial Districts (NCDs) was FINALLY PASSED by a vote of 10 ayes, 1 excused. The NCDs include: 1) Inner Balboa Street, 2) Outer Balboa Street, 3) Bayview, 4) Cortland Avenue, 5) Geary Boulevard, 6) Mission Bernal, 7) San Bruno Avenue, 8) Cole Valley, 9) Lakeside Village, 10) Lower Haight Street, 11) Lower Polk Street, and 12) Inner Taraval.

Public Testimony

Members of the public spoke on public participation concerns and reparations to the African American community.

Ray Hartz spoke on concerns regarding public participation and determinations made by the Ethics Commission. He referenced Clerk of the Board, Angela Calvillo's testimony before the Ethics Commission on January 17, 2020. Hartz quotes Calvillo, who expressed concerns about managing a large volume of public comments potentially influenced by media outlets like Fox News. He perceived this as hindering his First Amendment rights. Dr. Amos C. Brown spoke on issues of reparations to the African American community.