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Board hears public comment on blight abatement assessments; adopts amended report after DPW waives 33 cases
Summary
A public hearing on assessments for graffiti/blight abatement drew more than two dozen speakers. San Francisco Public Works said it will add unpaid assessments to property tax rolls; the board adopted an amended report after Public Works waived 33 properties and agreed to follow-up outreach.
The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on May 13 to consider objections to a Department of Public Works (DPW) report listing property-specific assessment costs for graffiti and blight abatement under Chapter 80 of the San Francisco Administrative Code.
Alicia Witt, representing San Francisco Public Works' Graffiti Unit, explained the process: inspectors post a notice of violation, attempt outreach by posting at the property, mailing and certified mail, and include date-stamped photos. If a property owner does not abate the graffiti within the allowed period, the city may perform the corrections and recover costs by assessing the property tax roll.
"The code requires public works to inspect graffiti and notify property owners to make corrections," Witt said, describing outreach and the legal process. Dozens of property owners, tenants and small-business representatives addressed the board during public comment, describing repeated tagging, difficulty getting timely responses from DPW, safety concerns, and the cost and logistical burdens of abating tall or inaccessible graffiti.
Why it matters: The hearing raised recurring operational and communication issues for DPW and property owners: property managers said they had provided photos of abatement yet still received notices; small businesses and nonprofits said repeated tagging imposed ongoing costs; several speakers asked for translated notices for monolingual merchants.
Outcome: After public comment and hallway discussions between DPW staff and property owners, DPW returned to the chamber with an amended list and told the board it had waived assessments on 33 properties following review and outreach. The board accepted DPW's amended report and adopted the resolution to add the remaining outstanding assessments to the tax roll by unanimous vote (10 ayes). DPW said liens will be placed for properties that remain unpaid.
Next steps and clarifications: DPW told the board it will collect email addresses and work to improve communications with property owners and managers; several supervisors urged future adjustments such as distinguishing fees based on the location of graffiti (first floor versus roof) and translating notices into multiple languages for Chinatown and other multilingual districts.
Ending: The board closed the hearing and directed DPW to continue outreach; DPW will return with finalized assessments and documentation as required by the administrative process.
