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Public commenters press commission on sit/lie, private security oversight and taxi enforcement; commissioners set follow-up items
Summary
Multiple public speakers urged action on sit/lie enforcement, local oversight of private security companies and taxi-community safety; commissioners placed Department General Order 3.01 and sit/lie on future agendas and accepted a motion to adjourn.
Members of the public used the community-meeting public-comment period to press the commission on several local issues.
Daniel Landry, a Western Addition resident, asked the commission to explore local oversight of private security companies after what he described as repeated problems and a recent incident in which an unlicensed security guard allegedly used a baton against his son. "We need some local oversight of these private security companies," Landry said, asking to meet with a commissioner.
Frank Cannata, representing the Middlepope Neighborhood Association, urged the commission to balance civil-rights protections for unhoused people with neighborhood safety when the sit/lie ordinance is considered, noting community concerns about public defecation and aggressive panhandling. "The civil rights of the average citizen should be considered as much as the rights of the people who are living on the streets," he said.
Taxi industry representative Bud Hazelcorn told commissioners the city's former taxi detail had been disbanded, reducing driver protections, and alleged a newly assigned inspector handling taxi affairs "moonlights for Yellow Cab," a claim he presented as a conflict of interest. He said cab drivers are being issued parking tickets more frequently and asked the commission to examine enforcement practices.
Commissioners used the administrative portion of the meeting to request agenda items and follow-ups: Commissioner Pan asked that Department General Order 3.01 (which governs DGOs and department bulletins) be placed on a future agenda for clarification; other commissioners asked for a status report on patrol specials and to schedule a sit/lie hearing. The commission accepted a motion to adjourn; the meeting concluded at about 7:51 p.m.
No formal binding vote on the sit/lie ordinance or a bond took place at this meeting; commissioners asked staff to return with reports and scheduling options.
