Public commenters urge action on library fines, labor enforcement, housing and policing at Board special meeting

During the public comment period at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors special meeting on July 15, 2016, members of the public raised multiple concerns including library fines and access, labor compliance enforcement, housing and tenant advocacy, policing and police accountability, and transportation taxation.

Peter Warfield, executive director of Library Users Association, asked the board to place some library funding on reserve until the San Francisco Public Library addresses “serious issues of exclusion.” He told the board that Library Users’ public-records requests show about 157,000 cardholders are unable to use the library’s interlibrary loan service because they owe $1 or more in fines and fees, and more than 57,000 cardholders are barred from borrowing physical items because they owe $10.01 or more. Warfield said those groups include children, teens, adults and seniors and urged noncash payment options and a review of branch hour reductions that he said lacked public input.

Adrian Simi of Carpenters Local 22 urged the board not to politicize the Office of Labor Compliance Enforcement, saying labor compliance is working and does not need an additional layer of government. A separate commenter representing a labor perspective urged stronger enforcement of labor law across the city, including in restaurants and service industries.

A speaker identifying as Ace criticized city leadership and said he supported progressive supervisors who would hold city leaders accountable. A representative of the San Francisco Bay Area Renters Federation described arrests of housing activists as inconsistent with the city’s values and urged the board to prioritize housing production and advocacy ahead of politics.

Another public commenter expressed concern about transportation funding, warning against layering a sales tax on other regressive taxes and urging alternatives that would tax those profiting in the current economy and discourage ride-hailing vehicles from contributing to congestion.

Speakers’ comments were made during the public-comment portion of the meeting and did not trigger formal board action at the July 15 session. Several speakers requested board attention, hearings or policy changes; the clerk proceeded to the scheduled agenda after public comment concluded.