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San Francisco health board won't drop virtual public comment; asks staff and counsel to report back
Summary
President Scott said she will not unilaterally end virtual public comment after the Board of Supervisors'restrictions; the board asked the executive director to report usage and costs for the past six months and requested written legal guidance on handling hateful or disruptive speech before deciding in February.
President Scott said the Health Service Board will not immediately discontinue virtual public comment and asked staff and legal counsel to prepare materials before the board considers any change.
At the board's December meeting, Scott described recent actions by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors that ended virtual public comment after what she called incidents of "hate speech." She told the Health Service Board she has the authority to end virtual comment but will instead request a written review and legal guidance: "I'm not going to do that," she said, referring to discontinuing virtual comment, and asked the executive director to "review the usage and cost for virtual public comment for the last 6 months." The board scheduled the item as an action in February to decide how to proceed.
Supervisor Dorsey and commissioners urged balancing accessibility and the risk of high-profile disruption. Commissioner Zavansky emphasized that many retirees and members live off the peninsula and statewide and said remote comment is "essential" for that constituency. Several board members asked the board secretary to gather comparative practices from other commissions and for counsel to provide written guidance on responding to hateful or out-of-order remarks while protecting free-speech rights and disability accommodations.
The board did not take a formal vote on policy at the meeting; rather, members directed staff to return with a usage-and-cost report, input from other board secretaries on current practice across city commissions, and written legal guidance so the board can consider a formal action in February.
