Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves additional funds to Planned Parenthood for security amid protest activity
Summary
The Board authorized amending a DPH grant to Planned Parenthood Northern California, increasing the not-to-exceed amount by $171,000 to fund security personnel at the San Francisco health center during heightened protest activity, including the 40 Days for Life campaign.
The Board of Supervisors on Oct. 1 approved an amendment to a Department of Public Health (DPH) grant to Planned Parenthood Northern California, increasing the grant’s not-to-exceed amount by $171,000 to fund security personnel at the San Francisco health center.
What was approved: DPH requested an amendment to an existing sole-source grant (term 04/01/2023–03/31/2025) to increase the not-to-exceed amount from $400,000 to $571,000 to cover unanticipated security costs incurred this year and an expected protest campaign running through Nov. 3. The department told the board Planned Parenthood documented 28 security incidents between July 1 and Sept. 26, 2024—18% of which occurred during the first two days of protests this fall—and that existing security funds were exhausted in July.
Use of funds: Planned Parenthood proposed using the additional $171,000 (combined with $108,000 of its own operating funds) to pay for one security officer during normal hours and two on-site officers during peak protest phases.
Department reporting and oversight: DPH said it will expand monitoring beyond the ordinance’s original reporting requirement, with more frequent budget tracking (monthly or quarterly) and inclusion of security-incident summaries in the grant reporting. The ordinance passed on first reading by roll call (10–0 in attendance at vote sequence recorded in the transcript) and will return as required for final action where applicable.
Public comment and city response: Supervisors and speakers emphasized the national and local context for increasing anti-reproductive-health protest activity and urged immediate security support so patients can access care without intimidation. The Department on the Status of Women provided a recent regional landscape analysis that recommended increased funding for security, privacy and legal protections.
Next steps: The grant amendment was adopted on first reading; DPH will monitor expenditures closely and provide the required reporting back to the board and community.
