San Francisco committee advances repeal of city permit requirement for overdose prevention sites

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on Feb. 9 voted 3-0 to send to the full Board of Supervisors an ordinance that would repeal the citys permitting requirement for overdose prevention programs, a move proponents said would speed deployment of supervised consumption sites.

Chair Supervisor Catherine Stephanie led the committee as it heard testimony from dozens of advocates, service providers and neighborhood residents. Tom Polley, who identified himself as a mayors liaison to the Board of Supervisors, described the ordinance as a way to allow a "New York model" approach and urged the committee to act "to accelerate the deployment of these important public health and community safety facilities." He said the city continues to see "people die at an alarming rate as a result of drug overdoses."

The measure drew broad support from harm-reduction organizations and service providers. Andy Stone of the HIV Advocacy Network said the city must respond with "moral urgency". Mary Silla, director of…