Exclusive: Mayor Lurie's fentanyl ordinance to face first political test
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San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie holds a press conference on the city's efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis. Photo: Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Mayor Daniel Lurie's proposed fentanyl ordinance to combat the widespread use of the deadly opioid could face its first political test during a key committee hearing next week, according to an internal draft document obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday marks the proposal's first legislative hurdle.
- The extent to which the legislation's core policy initiatives may change will be a crucial indicator of how receptive the full board will be toward Lurie's moderate policy agenda.
How it works: Lurie wants to cut some regulations to speed up the city's response to the crisis by:
- Expediting hiring and city contracts for mental health, addiction and shelter services.
- Allowing the city to solicit private funding for behavioral health, homelessness and public safety projects.
- Directing more police to downtown near Sixth Street to address drug-dealing.
Between the lines: Already, some supervisors have voiced concerns with critical aspects of the ordinance, including the provision that weakens board oversight of some city contracts.
What they're saying: District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey tells Axios he expects committee chair Connie Chan to suggest changes.
- While Dorsey has yet to take a stance on those amendments, he says he's hopeful that the three committee members can reach a consensus before issuing a recommendation to the board.
- "My sense of Mayor Lurie is that he wants to work with the Board of Supervisors as a full partner in the issues that we're facing. He's going to have my support on this, but if my colleagues have ideas for how this can be improved, I'm all ears," Dorsey says.
Catch up quick: Lurie's proposal comes amid a challenging time for San Francisco as he contends with solving a converging homelessness crisis, affordable housing crunch and severe budget deficit.
- On the campaign trail, Lurie promised to declare a fentanyl state of emergency, fight corruption in City Hall and streamline the city's bureaucratic processes.
What's next: The ordinance must obtain a recommendation from the budget committee and needs the votes of at least two of the three members.
- It's likely to be sent to the board with a positive recommendation, given that Dorsey and Supervisor Joel Engardio are co-sponsors.
What we're watching: The ordinance could be up for a final vote as soon as Feb. 11, according to a spokesperson from the mayor's office.