Last year, Brady United Against Violence released a report exposing concerning practices in law enforcement procurement across California, including here in San Francisco. The report revealed that over 90 law enforcement agencies in California collectively spent more than $20 million on firearms, ammunition, and related equipment from six federally licensed firearms dealers with documented histories of violating firearms regulations. My office quickly took action and inquired about the practices within our law enforcement agencies. We learned that all four agencies (SFPD, SFDA, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Adult Probation Department) had unwittingly purchased weapons and ammunition from bad actors. This disclosure deeply troubled me and emphasizes the urgent need for thorough vetting procedures in our procurement processes for firearms and related gear. As a city that prides itself on gun safety leadership, it is essential for us to ensure that our law enforcement agencies diligently select vendors when making such purchases.

To address this issue, I introduced legislation aimed at establishing stringent vetting procedures for our law enforcement agencies when selecting firearm vendors. We bear a responsibility to thoroughly vet firearms dealers, particularly as evidence indicates that firearms used in crimes often originate from vendors who flout federal firearms laws. My proposed ordinance will safeguard taxpayer funds from inadvertently contributing to our gun violence epidemic.

Hearing on SFPD Recruitment and Retention

It's evident that our community's needs are not being met due to a shortage of both sworn officers and civilian personnel within the San Francisco Police Department. Public safety is a baseline obligation of what a well-functioning city government should do—it is an absolute crisis that we are more than seven hundred positions short of what’s needed to meet the demand for service.

We cannot afford to overlook the urgency of this situation. Therefore, I have called for regular hearings with representatives from the San Francisco Police Department and the Department of Human Resources to provide updates on their recruitment and retention strategies.

At my hearing, we will address critical questions, including current staffing levels, their plan to fill the 300 vacant but funded positions in SFPD right now, hiring barriers, and the impact of absences on patrol staffing. It's imperative that we maintain transparency and keep the public informed about our efforts to tackle these challenges head-on. By fostering open dialogue and accountability, we can work towards meaningful solutions to address the shortage of police officers and reassure the community of our commitment to their safety.

Joint Hearing for Student Safety

I was honored to host a joint hearing between the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee and the Youth Commission’s Civic Engagement and Education Committee to discuss SFUSD’s safety procedures after multiple guns were found on SFUSD campuses in December.

I continue to be inspired by this generation’s courage and tenacity. Prior to our hearing, I joined students in front of City Hall in a rally to support them in their fight for safer learning environments. It’s up to us in positions of power to elevate young voices and do all that we can to ensure that we are addressing their concerns and providing our children a safe space to be themselves.

Included San Francisco as a Supporter of Key State Bills

I had the privilege of authoring multiple resolutions over the past few months in support of key pieces of legislation at the state level. Thank you to all the incredible legislators in Sacramento who are working diligently to ensure our state continues to progress and thrive.

These included :

Senate Bill No. 899 - Introduced by Senators Skinner and Blakespear, SB 899 strengthens California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) laws.

Senate Bill No. 905 - Introduced by Senator Wiener, SB 905 reforms the definition of burglary from a vehicle so that proof of forcible entry is sufficient evidence to prove the crime.

Senate Bill No. 1170 - Introduced by Senator Caroline Menjivar, SB 1170 allows non-incumbent candidates running for office to use campaign funds to pay for candidates’ mental health care costs.

Assembly Bill No. 2319 - Introduced by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, AB 2319 strengthens the training protocols in the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act of 2019 (SB 464) and introduces financial penalties for non-compliance from health care providers.

Assembly Bill No. 2286 - Introduced by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry, Assemblymember Friedman, and Assemblymember Kalra, AB 2286 requires a human safety operator in autonomous vehicles with a gross vehicle weight.

Assembly Bill No. 3073 - Introduced by Assemblymember Haney, AB 3073 mandates local water agencies to collect and analyze wastewater samples for drugs such as fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and xylazine (also known as Tranq).

Assembly Bill No. 1956 - Introduced by Assemblymember Reyes, AB 1956 ensures the continuity and stability of funding dedicated to crime victims services statewide.

2395 Sacramento Housing Project

At the February 6th Board of Supervisor meeting , I rejected an attempt to misuse CEQA to block the creation of new housing in Pacific Heights. The project redesigned an empty historical building to add more than 26 new homes, several of which are designated affordable, while preserving the historical significance of the Lane Medical Library’s facade and interior. This decision also enabled a quicker environmental review process for preservation projects and showed the city's dedication to using Housing Element policies to prevent unnecessary delays in building more units. I have consistently backed efforts to make it easier to get permits and build homes in our district, aligning with the Housing Element.