SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is set to grant newly elected Mayor Daniel Lurie expanded powers to speed up the city’s critical response to the escalating fentanyl crisis, which has turned public spaces into sites of rampant drug use and homelessness.
The proposed legislation, scheduled for a vote on Tuesday, seeks to eliminate competitive bidding processes for certain contracts and permits the administration to solicit private donations. This initiative aims to rapidly create 1,500 additional shelter beds and bolster hiring for public safety and behavioral health specialists. This marks Lurie’s first major legislative effort since his surprise victory over Mayor London Breed in the last election.
The proposal has already secured the six votes required for passage and is expected to gain further support during the upcoming vote.
The willingness of the 11-member board to relax oversight powers underscores the urgency felt among supervisors to find effective solutions. This action reflects their temporary embrace of a political outsider who has pledged to foster collaborative efforts for practical solutions.
Supervisor Connie Chan emphasized last week the importance of board oversight in ensuring responsible and transparent spending of taxpayer dollars. However, she acknowledged that the current crisis necessitates unconventional approaches and expressed her appreciation for the mayor’s cooperative spirit, contrasting it with the prior administration’s more contentious relationship with progressive board members.
San Francisco’s reputation for liberal politics has faced challenges, with homelessness and public drug use surging during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to record overdose deaths exceeding 800 in 2023 attributed to potent fentanyl.
In light of the crisis, residents expressed frustration, voting to enhance police powers and support actions against street homelessness while opting for more moderate representation on the board.
Lurie’s proposal would allow the city to bypass the traditional procurement processes for contracts related to addiction management, homelessness, and public safety hiring. It also seeks to establish a 24-hour drop-off center designed to be supportive of law enforcement as an alternative to incarceration.
Supervisors would be required to vote on contracts up to $25 million within 45 days, significantly reducing the original proposed threshold of $50 million, or forfeit their oversight role. The expedited contracting measure is set to expire in one year, down from a previously proposed five years.
Experts from local nonprofit organizations, including the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, have expressed concerns about the proposal’s lack of specific metrics and accountability measures, particularly regarding its effectiveness in reducing fentanyl consumption.
Critics acknowledge the need for increased housing and treatment options but caution against policies that may coerce individuals into treatment, which have historically proven to be ineffective.
Concerns were raised about the implications of waiving competitive bidding, as it may lead to higher service costs and possible inefficiencies. The overall financial impact remains uncertain, yet the budget for affected city departments exceeds $1 billion.
Legislative analysts have cautioned that substantial oversight is being relinquished in this process.
Despite the cautionary notes, the proposal passed through the committee unanimously, and Lurie emphasized that the ordinance signifies a new commitment to address the fentanyl crisis with the seriousness it demands, indicating a transformative period for the city.
