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Public urges Rules Committee not to approve settlement that would end San Francisco's cell-phone "right to know" ordinance; committee moves to closed session
Summary
Dozens of public commenters, including scientists and advocates, urged the Rules Committee to reject a proposed settlement that would terminate the city's cell-phone fact-sheet ordinance; after extensive public comment the committee convened a closed session on litigation items and voted to forward them to the full Board with a recommendation and to withhold disclosure of closed-session proceedings.
Before moving into closed session, the Rules Committee heard extensive public comment about a proposed settlement related to San Francisco's cell-phone "right to know" ordinance.
Members of Environmental Health Trust, medical researchers and residents urged the committee not to approve a settlement that would end the ordinance requiring a health fact sheet to be posted at the point of sale. Harry Liman, a trial lawyer who said he has worked on related cases, urged the committee to continue review given recent peer-reviewed findings. A speaker identifying himself as a representative of Environmental Health Trust said new studies strengthen the scientific case and urged pragmatic exposure-reduction measures such as hands-free devices and texting.
Other commenters, including researchers and advocates, told the committee that San Francisco's action had inspired other jurisdictions and that terminating the ordinance would cede the "right to know" to industry interests. Speakers described personal health concerns, cited World Health Organization/IARC characterization of radiofrequency as a "possible human carcinogen," and urged the committee to preserve city authority to inform consumers.
After public testimony the committee voted to convene in closed session to consider litigation items (Items 5 through 8). Following closed session, the committee moved Items 5 through 8 to the full Board with recommendation and voted not to disclose the closed-session proceedings.
What happens next: the committee forwarded litigation items to the full Board; the public comments opposing the settlement are part of the hearing record. Any further action will be handled at the Board level or through the city's litigation process.
