Board adopts revised blight assessment list after Department of Public Works hearing

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on a Department of Public Works report listing properties for abatement and assessment for graffiti and other blight, heard contested comments from property representatives, and adopted a revised assessment resolution.

Tim Hines of the Department of Public Works' graffiti unit explained the city code requirement that property owners maintain premises free of graffiti and blight and that the department may perform corrections and assess costs through the tax roll when owners do not comply. "It is the obligation of the property owner to maintain the property free of graffiti and blight," Hines said.

Two property representatives spoke in opposition or to explain hardship. Anne Wong, representing owners of 600 Kearny Street, said her family has owned the building for nearly 40 years and has struggled to maintain upper floors that are difficult to reach amid high vacancy and limited rental income. She said the family sought and received a hardship hearing.

Peter Parashas spoke for a property owner at 1813 Fulton Street and said the owner had moved and was unaware of the graffiti; he provided photographs and said the owner normally keeps properties clean. Following public comment, DPW staff and commenters met outside the chamber to try to resolve individual cases.

Hines reported that the department had removed four properties from the assessment list after they completed abatement work: 213 Ninth Street, 1305 Cap Street, 1751 Fulton and Number 10 Loyola Terrace. The board then adopted the resolution containing the revised report by roll call (10 ayes; Supervisor Wiener absent). The board had earlier approved a motion to sit as a committee of the whole to hold a public hearing on DPW's assessment report.

Action taken: The board set a committee-of-the-whole hearing on June 26, 2012 at 3 p.m. for DPW's report, held the public hearing on assessments (items 43 and 44), accepted DPW's revised list and adopted the assessment resolution by roll call (10-0 with one member absent).

Context: San Francisco Municipal Code chapter 80 requires property owners to abate graffiti and blight; when owners do not comply DPW performs abatement and seeks to recover costs via assessments on the tax roll. Property owners may contest assessments during the public hearing process.

Quotes used in this story are from Tim Hines and public commenters who spoke during the hearing.