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Board refers proposed handbill ban back to committee after enforcement concerns
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to refer an ordinance that would ban distributing handbills on private property back to the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee after members and stakeholders raised enforcement and language-access questions.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to refer to committee an ordinance that would ban distribution of handbills on private premises unless the handbills are securely placed or attached so as not to damage the property.
The measure, which had been prepared to proceed, drew questions from supervisors and members of the public about enforcement, language access and practical impacts. Board President David Chiu moved to re-refer the item to the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee for further work; colleagues agreed and the motion carried without objection.
The ordinance text recorded in the meeting described an amendment to the public works code to ban handbills on private premises “unless the handbills are securely placed upon or attached to the do not damage and do not damage the premises.” Supervisors and staff said the language and enforcement approach needed clarification before the board acted.
Chiu said he had convened meetings with stakeholders and department staff, and that further work could address concerns including whether the rule should require notice in languages other than English. He thanked the Department of Public Works and a citywide task force for their work and asked the board to send the item back to committee to resolve enforcement questions.
No formal vote on the ordinance text was taken; the board’s action was procedural — to send the item back to committee for additional study and possible revision. The committee will consider stakeholder input, enforcement mechanisms and any suggested edits before the item returns to the full board.
The item will be scheduled for further review in the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee; a return date was not specified on the floor.
Ending: The board’s procedural referral keeps the measure alive but delays a final decision while staff and supervisors work to clarify language and enforcement, and to consider language-access changes proposed during the meeting.
