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Committee backs creation of street-level drug-dealing task force for Tenderloin and Mid‑Market
Summary
The Rules Committee accepted amendments and forwarded an ordinance establishing a city task force to address open-air drug dealing in the Tenderloin, Civic Center, Mid‑Market and South of Market; sponsors said $200,000 was secured to fund the effort and the group will include residents, service providers, law enforcement and formerly incarcerated individuals.
The San Francisco Rules Committee on Sept. 16 accepted amendments and forwarded legislation to establish a street-level drug-dealing task force aimed at addressing harms in the Tenderloin, Civic Center, Mid‑Market and South of Market.
Supervisor Matt Haney, who introduced the measure, said the task force responds to constituent reports of pervasive open-air drug sales and aims to bring residents, business owners, experts and relevant departments together to propose evidence-based solutions. Haney said the task force would examine prevention, enforcement, diversion, economic development, alternatives to incarceration and recidivism, and would produce quarterly reports to the Board and the mayor.
Haney told the committee he had secured $200,000 in the current budget to fund the task force’s work and cited a Budget & Legislative Analyst figure that the city spends an estimated $12,400,000 a year on policing and criminal-justice efforts related to suppressing drug dealing. He said the task force would include up to 12 seats appointed by the Board, with stipends possible for community members and people with lived experience.
Public testimony included residents, neighborhood business representatives and service providers who described daily open-air sales, overdoses and impacts on children and businesses. "During their 10 minute walk to school, they witness dozens of drug sales happening right in front of them," read one constituent email Haney shared. Speakers urged the committee to avoid "knee-jerk" policing-only responses and to include harm-reduction and alternatives in any plan.
Multiple supervisors expressed support and agreed the task force’s recommendations would likely have citywide application even if its focus is concentrated in central city neighborhoods. Supervisor Walton moved to accept the amendments; the committee approved them and forwarded the ordinance with a positive recommendation. The measure will proceed to the full Board for further consideration.
