San Francisco – San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lully carved an early victory in the Crusade against the twin crisis in a homeless and fentanyl addiction city, slowing the expansion of shelter capabilities and treatment programs from a committee of supervisors I signed off for the hurdle. And more room to pursue private funds to help fund these initiatives.
The measure, known as the Fentanyl Emergency Ordinance, will make homeless encampments and outdoor drug use visible within six months of office by adding 1,500 shelter beds and expanding its actions and spirit. It takes Lurie’s first big step towards fulfilling the campaign’s promise of reducing. Medical services. The pledge accused moderate Democrat and political newcomer Lurie of allowing fellow homelessness, addiction, retail and property crimes to the incumbent London breed and three other city halls. helped Lurie win the November election against veterans.
At a city hall press conference Wednesday before signing the law, Lurie said the new authorities would allow his administration to “act quickly and effectively.”
“The fentanyl crisis is not a 9-5 business,” Lurie said. “We don’t take a break and we don’t.”
Lurie introduced the ordinance shortly after taking office in January, and last month negotiated with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for passage. The supervisor gave the ordinance a final approval by 10-1 vote on Tuesday.
That overwhelming support illustrates a dramatic shift in the dynamics of power between the mayor and the board of directors. The board frequently and frequently challenged her harsh criminal efforts to crack down on drug dealers and strengthen police powers.
The November election brought board sales as voters tired of vast homeless camps and brave drug use seemed to shake up local governance. The newly constructed board has five new members, with a more moderate bend.
“Progressive has been declining significantly on the board, and what used to be progressive is now heading towards the center,” said Jason McDaniel, a professor of political science in San Francisco. “I think the board and mayor have a common goal of trying to solve some of these issues that voters still seem to be pretty upset.”
Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who was appointed president of the board last month, has worked with Lurie to reduce ordinances in a way that softens more liberal members of the board and narrows the ordinance in a way that secures a majority vote. did. Mandelman is one of the supervisors who have moved towards the Political Centre in recent years after being elected as a progressive representative of the Castro district in 2018.
The ordinance will involve the city’s response to homelessness and drug use by temporarily strengthening the mayor’s authority and reducing the role of the board in approving city contracts related to homelessness, addiction and mental health. Reduce the deficit. It promotes procedures for hiring outreach workers and public safety employees who are tasked with sheltering staff. It will also exempt such contracts from the city’s strict competitive bidding process until 2026.
The board has the opportunity to weigh contracts between $10 million and $25 million, but the ordinance requires supervisors to act within 45 days of the contract proposal.
A key element of the ordinance has led Lurie and certain members of his administration to seek personal donations of up to $10 million for these efforts from the city’s previous businesses over the next six months, and to “interested parties.” You can waive any prohibition on payments from. “A wide range of categories including contractors, lobbyists and businesses.
The allowance was a wealthy connection in the field of technology and business that has been accumulated through his own experience as a nonprofit executive in Levi Strauss’ family estate. Gives the opportunity to take advantage of Rorodex. External funding will help betray the projected budget deficit of around $1 billion, avoiding the cuts in homelessness and treatment services that could undermine Lurie’s efforts.
Lurie quickly sets up a 24/7 “stabilization centre” in the heart of the Tenderloin district, where relaxed rules replace prisons and emergency rooms, police can remove people in need of medical care. He said it would help to do so.
The exemption raised concerns among a small number of supervisors, advised Lurie to use his new powers carefully, and referenced an embarrassing series of scandals that have rocked City Hall in recent years. This includes the 2022 federal prosecution of the former director of the San Francisco Public Works Department for long-term plans that include bribery and kickbacks. That same year, San Francisco voters approved a voting measure that would restrict city officials from soliciting private donations from people who do business with the city.
“In today’s vote, I will use these extraordinary powers to carry out the will of voters, and provide housing, shelters and care to the most vulnerable people, and to do so. To use it, he has a great faith in Mayor Lurie’s administration. After a freshman member, superintendent Jackie Fielder, voted in support of the ordinance at the February 4 meeting, he said: It states.
Supervisor Shaman Walton is a progressive and expressed concern about the weakening of government checks and balances and the lack of details of Lurie’s plan before throwing the only “no” vote against the ordinance.
Lurie pledged on Wednesday “full transparency” about who is contributing to funding for the enhanced services. “The public will know who we are talking to and who is donating,” he said.
Despite Lurie’s early victory, political observers said there was almost certain policy discrepancies between the board and the mayor’s office. While tackling fentanyl abuse is a common issue, Democrat political consultant Jim Ross hires Lurie’s recent city hall freeze to debate over the looming budget crisis, with more tensions. He said it is likely to cause the
“This is his first legislative issue,” Ross said.
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