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Politics & Policy

Supervisors preview: Translation for crime victims, watching CBDs and a tall order for sanitation commissioners

A surveillance camera on 5th Street in San Francisco in October 7, 2020. | Scott Strazzante / The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

In anticipation of the coming budget process, the Board of Supervisors’ meeting this week is yet again mostly light and dry. But it does include some notable items, including trailing legislation for Proposition B, a 2020 ballot measure that created the Sanitation and Streets Department, as well as plans for better language access for crime victims, look into the performance of the city’s community benefit districts, and other matters.

Building a Sanitation Department

The Board is expected to pass an ordinance requiring the Department of Public Works to provide interim administrative support for the gestating Department of Sanitation and Streets, known as SAS for short. The ordinance will also establish financial reporting requirements for members of the new agency’s oversight commission. 

    Speaking of Sanitation: New Commissioners

      Department of Public Works staff work together as they clean the street and sidewalk along Turk Street. | Lea Suzuki / The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

      Community Benefit Districts’ Annual Reports

      The Supervisors are expected to accept and approve annual reports for four of the city’s Community Benefit Districts at this week’s meeting, including the Central Market, North of Market and Tenderloin, Civic Center, and East Cut CBDs. 

            Better Language Access for Crime Victims 

            Also to be voted on: a resolution sponsored by District 4 Supervisor Gordon Mar calling for a Victim Service Language Bank pilot program.

                Budget Process Begins

                Speaking of budget issues, the first budget and salary ordinances were submitted to the board by the mayor last week, and they will be considered by the board’s Budget and Appropriations Committee on May 18. These ordinances cover 12 city departments, including the larger enterprise departments, such as San Francisco International Airport and the Municipal Transportation Agency. Ordinances for the remaining departments will be submitted at the beginning of next month.