Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board orders firefighter retirement age charter amendment submitted to ballot, citing cancer risks
Summary
Supervisors advanced a charter amendment to lower the age factor peak and reduce the retirement age for certain fire department members from 58 to 55; sponsor Supervisor Stephanie framed the change as a public‑health protection after citing higher cancer rates among firefighters.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on July 30 ordered submitted a charter amendment to the November 5, 2024 ballot that would change pension benefit calculations for members of the fire department who joined on or after Jan. 7, 2012, allowing those members to reach maximum service credit at age 55 rather than age 58.
Sponsor Supervisor Stephanie described the measure as a public‑health response to what she called "unacceptable cancer rates" among firefighters, saying that about 300 San Francisco firefighters have died of cancer in the last two decades and that female firefighters in the city have shown particularly elevated breast cancer rates. "A life of service to San Francisco shouldn't end with a battle against cancer," she said, arguing the change would reduce incentives for firefighters to stay on the job longer than necessary and protect their long‑term health.
The board took the item on 'same house, same call' after discussion and ordered the charter amendment submitted to the voters. No formal roll-call vote was recorded on the floor during the reading; the clerk announced the item as ordered submitted.
