Board rejects last-minute amendment to reserve disability-access funds for homeless services; ordinance passes on first reading

Supervisor Daley proposed an amendment to restore a prior funding plan and use reserve funds to cover services facing cuts, including Buster's Place, mental-health clinic funding and a chronic home-care nursing program. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Mercarimi and failed in a roll-call vote, 4–6. The ordinance as introduced remained on the calendar and passed on first reading by a 6–4 vote.

The amendment, described by Daley as an effort to "make whole" several vulnerable programs, sought to reallocate money from a disability-access appropriation for the Board of Supervisors chambers and the City Administrator's office back to a package of general fund protections for social services. Daley told the board that Buster's Place was "slated to close on Monday," and warned the closure would leave dozens of people with nowhere to go. He urged a yes vote on the amendment as a final attempt to keep the service open.

Supervisor Mercarimi seconded the amendment and joined several speakers pressing to protect the services. Other supervisors, including Supervisor Amiano and Supervisor Dufty, questioned whether the proposed reallocation was the correct approach and said alternative funding paths should be explored. Supervisor Dufty, speaking as chair of the committee, urged the board to allow time for the finance committee to return in 30 to 60 days with options that might avoid larger, more expensive changes such as a costly new ramp project for the chamber.

After debate the board voted on the amendment. The roll-call vote on the amendment recorded 4 ayes (Mercarimi; Peskin; Sandoval; Daley) and 6 nos (Ellsburn; Maxwell; McGoldrick; Ammiano; Chiu; Dufty). With the amendment defeated, the board then proceeded to a roll call on the ordinance as introduced. The ordinance passed on first reading by a 6–4 vote with the following recorded: Ellsburn, aye; Maxwell, aye; McGoldrick, aye; Mercarimi, no; Peskin, aye; Sandoval, aye; Ammiano, no; Chu, aye; Daley, no; Dufty, no.

The debate highlighted competing priorities amid a larger projected budget shortfall repeatedly referenced in the meeting; speakers noted a joint report estimating a roughly $338 million deficit and urged the board to consider both short-term protections for vulnerable services and longer-term structural choices.

Moving forward, the ordinance will return for subsequent readings as required. The motion to amend was explicit about directing funds to specific human services programs, but because it failed no reallocation was adopted and the disability-access appropriation remained intact pending further board action or committee review.

Clarifying details gleaned from the record: the amendment was made by Supervisor Daley and seconded by Supervisor Mercarimi; the amendment vote was 4 ayes and 6 nos; the ordinance passed on first reading with 6 ayes and 4 nos; speakers emphasized a $338,000,000 joint-report shortfall mentioned during debate.