Board Passes Two-Year Budget, Bans Unsafe Batteries, Honors Departing Icons

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors moved swiftly through a packed legislative agenda Tuesday, unanimously approving a two-year interim budget, enacting a citywide ban on uncertified lithium-ion batteries, and renewing a controversial waiver letting homeless services officials solicit private donations. But the meeting's emotional center was a 90-minute stretch of commendations — including farewells to two women who together represent nearly seven decades of public service at the intersection of planning and criminal justice.

• Two-year interim budget and salary ordinances pass 10-0, keeping all city departments funded and staffed through fiscal year 2027-2028

• Uncertified lithium-ion batteries banned under an updated fire code with new enforcement tools for the fire department and city attorney

• Retiring Public Defender Patty Lee honored for 49 years of service, warns supervisors: "Please don't defund pretrial diversion"

• Planning Commissioner Kathrin Moore commended after 20 years, says the housing crisis is "just as serious as it was 20 years ago"

• Supervisor Wong introduces resolution opposing federal veterans benefit cuts, calls disability compensation "an earned benefit, not a handout"

• Supervisor Chan commemorates the Coors Boycott, marking the historic labor-LGBTQ alliance that forced corporate non-discrimination policies

49 Years in the Trenches: Public Defender Patty Lee Gets a Standing Ovation — and a Warning for the Board

Why it matters: Patty Lee's retirement from the San Francisco Public Defender's Office marks the departure of one of the most influential juvenile justice reformers in the country — someone who helped reduce the number of youth locked up in San Francisco from 130 to roughly 30 over the course of her career.

Where things stand: Supervisor, District 10 Shamann Walton led the recognition, tracing Lee's rise from the downtown office to leading the Youth Defender Unit for more than 30 years as managing attorney, then becoming assistant chief public defender. Under her leadership, San Francisco nearly eliminated state institutional commitments for youth. She served on President Obama's Science Advisory Board and co-directed the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center.

"Today we thank Patty Lee, the 49er fan, for 49 years of fighting for the people this city too often forgets," said Supervisor Walton.

Supervisor, District 1 Connie Chan praised Lee from personal experience as a former case manager. Public Defender Manohar Raju described how Lee's holistic defense approach — treating every client like family — influenced public defender offices nationwide. "What kind of representation would you want for your loved one if they were in the system? That's what we should provide. But for Patty, that's not an exercise because she really does consider everyone she represents as part of her," Raju said.

Lee herself was direct about the stakes. "We had more than 130 youth locked up. It's a 150-bed facility, but staffed for 130. We had kids that were double bunked. We had kids that were sleeping on the concrete floors," she said, describing conditions when she started. The numbers have since dropped dramatically.

Decisions: Lee received a standing ovation. But her farewell carried an unmistakable policy message aimed squarely at the supervisors in front of her: "Please don't defund pretrial diversion." At a time of tightening budgets across city government, that plea landed as both a capstone to a career and a challenge to the Board's upcoming spending decisions.

Kathrin Moore Leaves Planning Commission After 20 Years — With a Warning About the Housing Crisis

Why it matters: Planning Commission Vice President Kathrin Moore's departure removes two decades of institutional knowledge from one of the city's most consequential land use bodies — at a moment when San Francisco faces state-mandated housing production targets and major decisions on the waterfront, downtown conversions, and neighborhood plans.

Where things stand: Board President Rafael Mandelman detailed Moore's path from SOM's Urban Design Studio to appointments on the Treasure Island Citizens Advisory Board, the Port's Waterfront Design Advisory Committee, and the Planning Commission itself since 2006. Multiple supervisors praised her for translating technical planning concepts into accessible language.

"You have consistently been a champion for community voices and residents, ensuring that concerns, needs, and aspirations of neighborhoods remained at the center of important planning decisions," said Supervisor Walton.

Supervisor, District 7 Myrna Melgar praised both Moore's expertise and her passion. "It's not just the technical knowledge. It was the passion and love that you bring to it and always finding new things to zero in on, focus and clearly articulate and then convey to others so that we could understand that point of view," Supervisor Melgar said.

Supervisor Chan offered perhaps the sharpest assessment of what comes next, warning that Moore's transition to private citizen may be more consequential than her time as commissioner. "I think many are going to see a different you as you no longer serve as our planning commissioner and you're actually able to be outside as a community advocate. City hall better watch out," Supervisor Chan said.

Moore, visibly emotional, cited 936 meetings and 5,869 project approvals over her tenure. She said neighborhood voices had the most profound impact on her work, then delivered a sobering assessment: "20 years of pressing housing issues, the significant lack of affordable housing, the threat of gentrification, rising income gaps, and the displacement of vulnerable communities. It is just as serious as it was 20 years ago."

Decisions: The Board adopted the commendation resolution 10-0, with Supervisor, District 9 Jackie Fielder absent.

Wong Takes Aim at Federal Veterans Benefit Cuts

The basics: The Take Care of America's Veterans Act (HR 9237 and SB 4744) would change how the VA rates tinnitus and sleep apnea — conditions that affect sleep, concentration, and mental health — potentially reducing or eliminating disability compensation for future claims.

Why it matters: Supervisor, District 4 Alan Wong, who identified himself as a National Guard soldier, introduced a resolution opposing the legislation and supporting the VFW's position. He framed the proposal as funding one group of veterans' benefits by cutting earned benefits for others.

"Disability compensation is not a handout. It is an earned benefit. It is part of the promise this country makes to veterans who have borne the cost of service," said Supervisor Wong. He added that "funding one set of veterans benefits by reducing earned benefits for other disabled veterans is the wrong approach."

The resolution also urges Congress to protect the VA workforce. The item was introduced and will move through committee.

Chan Commemorates Historic Coors Boycott That United Labor and LGBTQ Movements

Why it matters: The 1977 Coors Boycott — launched in San Francisco by Teamsters Local 921 leaders Alan Baird and Andy Serkulis alongside LGBTQ activists Harvey Milk and Howard Wallace — forced the brewing company to abandon discriminatory hiring practices, including mandatory polygraph tests that screened out Black, Chicano, and LGBTQ workers. The boycott slashed Coors' California market share from 40% to 14%.

Supervisor Chan introduced a resolution commemorating the boycott, calling the labor-LGBTQ alliance a model that remains urgent. "The Coors Boycott reminds us that the struggle for labor rights is inseparable from the struggle for civil rights," she said.

Several members of the Coors Boycott Commemoration Committee and the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District spoke during public comment. Stephen Torres, program manager of the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, connected the history to present-day budget fights: "We are still fighting for those things," he said, arguing that current budget cuts are hitting the most vulnerable communities. Tiso Carenas, a Teamsters Local 853 steward and co-founder of the commemoration committee, praised the Board for recognizing the history.

What's next: A commemorative pour-out event is planned for June 26 at the Twin Peaks Tavern.

Behested Payment Waiver Renewed — but Transparency Questions Mount

The basics: Behested payments are donations that government officials solicit from private entities, which normally trigger ethics reporting requirements. The waiver allows officials to solicit these contributions without those restrictions.

Why it matters: The Board adopted a resolution authorizing the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing's executive director, chief deputies, deputy directors, and program directors to solicit private donations for temporary shelter and homeless services — sidestepping the city's behested payment ordinance. The resolution passed without objection.

But during public comment, Liam McGeever pushed back on the practice, questioning the transparency of multiple behested payment waivers granted over the past year. He cited a San Francisco Chronicle article about Mayor Lurie raising $7 million in private funds as public budgets shrink, and asked where past behested payment funds have actually gone. The Board did not respond during the meeting.

Pride and Immigrant Heritage: Three Commendations Spotlight Community Pillars

The Board held three commendations for Pride and Immigrant Heritage Month:

Supervisor, District 3 Danny Sauter honored Shang Chi Chen, who founded the Out Museum in Chinatown — described as the world's first Chinese LGBTQ museum — a project she conceived during the pandemic while in Shanghai.

Supervisor Wong recognized Amos Lim, a Singaporean immigrant who co-founded Out for Immigration and fought against Proposition 8 through Chinese for Affirmative Action, building coalitions at the intersection of immigrant rights and LGBTQ advocacy.

Board President Mandelman honored Cliff's Variety on its 90th anniversary, tracing the family-owned Castro hardware store's history from 1936 through the AIDS crisis. The store was the first straight-owned business on the block to hire openly gay employees. Owner Terry Asten Bennett noted that Harvey Milk was the only political candidate the store ever endorsed.

Minor Items

• Interim budget and salary ordinances for FYs 2026-2028 passed 10-0 on final reading, authorizing all city departmental spending and employee pay schedules until the full annual budget is adopted. (Fielder absent.)

• Uncertified lithium-ion battery ban passed on final reading without objection, giving the fire department and city attorney new enforcement tools including injunctive and monetary relief against non-certified batteries in e-bikes and scooters.

• Domestic violence shelter fund ordinance amended on the floor after the county clerk flagged that no fee exists for "filing a certificate of marriage." Board President Mandelman introduced the amendment to clarify the $23 fee is collected only at marriage license issuance. Passed on first reading.

• Tad's restaurant lease at 44 Ellis Street shifted from fixed rent to 8% of gross revenues under an amended and restated lease, retroactive. Adopted without objection.

• Budget and Legislative Analyst contract received a 4.5% cost-of-living adjustment to $3,544,900 for FY 2026-27.

• Tony Stefani Way — commemorative street name designation for a Falmouth Street segment honoring the retired fire captain. Adopted without objection.

• Behavioral Health Council — Athena Bing-Ying Ng and Raymond Deng appointed. Approved without objection.

• Entertainment Commission — Maria Davis reappointed through 2030. Approved without objection.

• Street use permits and closures — updated rules across transportation, administrative, and fire codes. Passed on final reading.

• Mary Cervantes honored on her 100th birthday by resolution adopted 10-0.

• Supervisor Wong introduced a hearing request on staffing at Taraval Station, which covers the city's largest police district by geography. "When staffing is stretched thin in a district that large, it affects more than just numbers on the chart. It affects response times. It affects neighbor patrols," he said.

• Supervisor Wong also introduced a hearing on street tree maintenance, citing root damage to sidewalks and infrastructure as among his most common constituent complaints.