Community Update: New, Compromise Ordinance Introduced!

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA – 04/11/12)  Yesterday, new legislation was introduced by lead sponsor Supervisor Jane Kim that is the result of a compromise between community advocates and the mayor’s office on the issue of San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) engagement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).  Last week the board passed the Safe San Francisco Civil Rights Ordinance for the second time by a vote of 6-5.

Mayor Ed Lee had threatened to veto the legislation, but after a community campaign aided by the 80 organizations endorsing the Ordinance that included rallies, letter writing campaigns, calls, and other actions, the mayor’s office engaged in negotiations with the Coalition for Safe San Francisco, resulting in the compromise legislation that was introduced.

Due to the community’s commitment, pressure, and hard work, Mayor Lee engaged in negotiations to achieve a compromise, and the Ordinance was introduced with eight cosponsors, ensuring a veto-proof majority!

The new legislation accomplishes three of the coalition’s major goals:

1.      Bringing JTTF activities by SFPD officers under the control of California

constitutional and San Francisco standards;

2.      Requiring that any new agreements or amendments to agreements be subject

to public review and discussion before the police commission before they are

entered into;

Mayor Lee stands in support of the community and our concerns through his support of this legislation.  Though the new compromise legislation is not as specific as the Safe San Francisco Civil Rights Ordinance, it does incorporate the Police Department’s general orders, and as a result, should have the same effect.  The lack of specificity will require more careful monitoring on the part of advocates in working to ensure the new legislation is implemented as promised.

This is a victory for civil rights in San Francisco and shows the power of community organizing!

Read full post here: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs013/1103244704062/archive/1109751207573.html

A copy of the legislation can be found here.

For additional information, visit: www.safesf.org or www.aclunc.org/jttf