Board reenacts multiple COVID-era emergency measures, approves hotel contract amendment and telecom settlement

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Aug. 25 enacted several COVID-19 related emergency measures and approved contract and settlement items tied to the public-health response.

Reenactment of emergency employment right (Item 20): The board reenacted an emergency ordinance (previously Ord. 104-20) creating a temporary right to return to work for certain employees laid off because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so that employers rehiring for the same or substantially similar positions must consider laid-off workers first. Under the city charter this matter required a two-thirds vote for final passage on one reading; the transcript records the ordinance passing with 10 ayes and one no (Supervisor Stephanie in dissent).

Grocery/drugstore and on-demand delivery protections (Item 22): The board reenacted an emergency ordinance requiring grocery, drugstore, restaurant and on-demand delivery employers to provide health and scheduling protections to employees during the public-health emergency. That ordinance was adopted unanimously on final passage.

Hotel contract amendment for sheltering (Item 23): The board retroactively approved a third amendment to an emergency agreement between the Human Services Agency and 1231 Market Street Owner LP to continue use of hotel rooms and services for the city's sheltering needs, increasing the contract amount by approximately $25,600,000, according to the clerk’s summary. The resolution was adopted unanimously.

Rent increase prohibition (Item 24): The board reenacted an emergency ordinance temporarily prohibiting rent increases that otherwise would be permitted under the administrative code during the COVID emergency. The measure passed unanimously as an emergency ordinance requiring a two-thirds affirmative vote for final passage.

Telecom False Claims settlement (Item 21): The board passed an ordinance authorizing settlement of litigation brought on behalf of the State of California, the City and County of San Francisco and 189 other California governmental entities against Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility. The clerk summarized combined settlements totaling approximately $2,100,000; the measure passed on first reading unanimously.

What changed and what’s next: The emergency reenactments extend protections for workers and renters during the public-health emergency and authorize use of hotel rooms for sheltering. The transcript records vote tallies and the contract-amount figure for the hotel amendment but does not include the full text of the amended contract or implementation schedules. Departments named in the items (Human Services Agency; Department of Public Health) will be the implementation leads for the hotel use and worker-safety enforcement.

Ending note: The board’s actions consolidate the city’s COVID-era protections for employees and tenants and authorize additional funding for emergency sheltering; staff-level documents and legislative files will contain the operative contract language and next steps.