Committee OKs forwarding resolution allowing mayor and DPH to solicit donations for safe consumption sites

The San Francisco Budget & Finance Committee on March 15 voted to forward a resolution authorizing the mayor's office and the Department of Public Health (DPH) to solicit private donations to support the opening and operation of safe consumption sites.

Tom Paulino of the mayor's office described the measure as “the second waiver to the behest-of-payments ordinance,” explaining the waiver would permit solicitation of funds from various private entities and contractors to support overdose prevention centers. Paulino said the first such waiver, for the Civic Bridge program, passed the board unanimously in January.

Public commenters and harm-reduction advocates urged urgency. Ally Ann McKinder, a policy associate and coalition member, said supervised consumption sites are life-saving interventions and urged the city to "proceed with the urgency that this moment deserves." She cited evidence and peer-to-peer reversals as contributing to recent declines in some overdose figures.

The committee recorded the motion to forward the resolution to the full board with a positive recommendation and the clerk announced the motion passed at committee.