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Property owners press DBI for due‑process fixes as supervisors amend delinquent‑charges report
Summary
During a Committee of the Whole hearing, dozens of San Francisco property owners and representatives testified about alleged billing errors, access problems, and due‑process concerns with the Department of Building Inspection’s delinquent charges and lien report; the board amended the report and adopted it after DBI removed multiple properties from the list.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors sat as a Committee of the Whole on May 19 to hear the Department of Building Inspection's (DBI) report of delinquent charges and consider imposition of special assessment liens.
DBI Senior Housing Inspector Matt Lewton presented the report and said DBI had noticed listed owners twice and held in‑house hearings. "Previously transmitted to you is the report of delinquent charges dated 04/20/2026," Lewton told the board. "DBI appreciates your support in approving the report of delinquent charges as this is a very important and effective tool for cost recovery."
Public comment ran for more than an hour with multiple property owners and representatives describing protracted disputes over fees, conflicting permit information, tenant access problems, and what they called erroneous assessments. Mahal Emberton (owner, 201 Ashton Avenue) told the board she repaired a fence, added safety lighting and submitted required permits but was later issued violations after a neighbor complaint; she asked that DBI remove her address from the list. "DBI used this music complaint to conduct an unconstitutional search of our property and filed a notice of violation," Emberton said during public comment.
Other speakers — including Noel Carrasco, Darren Winke, and representatives for multiple owners — described court rulings or survey evidence they said proved work was not on their property or that DBI had assessed fees in error. Several asked the board to waive or suspend fees, delay lien recordings, or grant continuances to allow owners to resolve issues with inspectors.
After public comment, DBI staff reentered the chamber and read a list of specific properties to be removed from the report. The board accepted the amendments "without objection," then took roll call on the amended report. The clerk recorded 10 ayes and President Mandelmann announced, "Without objection, item 16 is adopted with the amended report."
The exchange highlighted recurring concerns from property owners about notice, permitting and appeal timelines. DBI staff told the board that owners are welcome to meet with inspectors in the hallway to try to resolve outstanding issues; the transcript records multiple invitations from the clerk to do so. The board’s adoption of an amended list does not resolve the individual claims recorded in public comment; several speakers said they would continue pursuing relief with DBI or in court.
