Supervisors amend UASI resolution, urge Alameda County to pause Urban Shield funding

San Francisco's Budget and Finance Committee on Thursday amended a resolution related to the Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant and urged Alameda County to suspend funding for the Urban Shield weapons expo and SWAT training program while a task force reviews the exercise.

The committee heard a presentation from Mike Dayton, deputy director of the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), who described San Francisco's role as UASI fiscal agent and outlined permitted grant uses — planning, training, equipment and exercises — and said the city currently funds 39 positions with UASI money. Dayton said the UASI grant requires at least 20 percent of some funds be used for law enforcement training but that San Francisco seeks a broad set of preparedness outcomes.

Dozens of public commenters urged supervisors to withhold money or to renegotiate the UASI memorandum of understanding (MOU). "Counterterrorism programs like Urban Shield are meant to do nothing more than to further demonize our communities," said Sharif of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center. Multiple speakers argued the Urban Shield exposition normalizes military-grade tactics and sold equipment, and urged city leaders to redirect funds to community resilience, public health and recovery.

Deputy City Attorney John Givner told the committee that the city's legal authority is limited: as fiscal agent and a voting member of the UASI authority San Francisco can impose administrative and auditing conditions but generally cannot unilaterally bar other counties from using grant-authorized activities. Givner noted the authority has a multi-jurisdictional governance structure and that any substantive changes to allowed uses would require amendments by the regional authority and, in some cases, by the grant funder.

Chair Supervisor Malia Cohen introduced amendments that urge Alameda County to suspend funding to Urban Shield and to prioritize other UASI priorities such as planning, medical and recovery. The amendments also require DEM to report back to the Board after receiving UASI funds and ask Alameda County's newly formed task force evaluating Urban Shield to include San Francisco representation. Supervisor Tang moved the amendments and, after discussion, the committee voted to forward the resolution to the full Board without a recommendation.

The committee's action stops short of a formal prohibition. The committee record shows DEM committed to providing detailed information on the 39 grant-funded positions, the planned uses of funds for the coming grant cycle and participation details for San Francisco personnel in UASI activities. The committee also noted that Alameda County has convened a temporary task force to evaluate Urban Shield and requested updates on that effort.

Next steps: the amended resolution will go to the full Board of Supervisors; DEM will provide the line-item staffing and spending details requested by supervisors, and the committee asked city staff to continue conversations with Alameda County and with the regional authority about possible procedural and governance changes.