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Committee forwards resolution condemning racial profiling and proposes action to curb false 911 calls
Summary
Supervisors unanimously forwarded a resolution condemning increased racial profiling and discriminatory harassment by businesses and individuals. Sponsor Supervisor Shimon Walton cited local incidents and introduced a proposal described in the transcript as the 'Karen caution against racially exploitative non emergencies act' (also referenced as 'the Caring Act') to discourage false, race-based 911 calls.
The Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee on July 9 voted 3-0 to forward to the full Board a resolution condemning an increase in racial profiling and discriminatory harassment by private businesses and individuals.
Supervisor Shimon Walton, who sponsored the measure, said he first introduced the resolution on June 16, 2019 and that public testimony at a prior committee hearing documented an increase in incidents recorded and shared on social media. Walton recounted local episodes he said illustrate the problem, including the widely publicized case referred to in the transcript as “Permit Patty” (a woman who called police on an 8-year-old Black girl selling water near Oracle Park), a Market Street incident involving a Latina vendor, an incident involving a Black owner of Gourmet Lemonade, and a Pacific Heights episode in which a caller reported a homeowner stenciling 'Black Lives Matter' on his own property.
Walton described recent national and local incidents he said show the problem has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he introduced what the transcript calls the “Karen caution against racially exploitative non emergencies act” (also referenced in the discussion as the “Caring Act”) intended to stop false, racially motivated 911 calls. "The Caring Act is in response to the rising incidents of people harassing and calling 911 on black people and people of color doing daily activities all over the country," Walton said.
Several supervisors asked to be added as co-sponsors. Chair Rafael Mandelmann moved to forward the resolution with a positive recommendation; Vice Chair Stephanie and Supervisor Walton voted aye. The committee’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Board of Supervisors.
The resolution as presented reaffirms San Francisco’s commitment to creating a discrimination-free community and calls for actions such as bias-awareness training for businesses and clear complaint procedures. The committee record includes the sponsor’s recitation of examples and a proposed local ordinance intended to discourage false, race-based emergency calls; the committee action was procedural, forwarding the resolution for Board consideration.
