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The Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee held a hearing today on the repeal of the Accessible Business Entrance (ABE) Ordinance. Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman has introduced legislation to amend the Building, Administrative, and Public Works Codes, eliminating the local requirement for existing buildings with public accommodations to ensure all primary entrances and pathways are accessible to individuals with disabilities. The amendment also removes the need for a City determination on equivalent facilitation, technical infeasibility, or undue hardship. Additionally, the legislation upholds the Planning Department’s findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
The proposal includes provisions to waive certain annual fees to encourage the installation of accessibility improvements. It also mandates that the Department of Building Inspection hire a certified access specialist to train staff in proactively identifying accessibility issues in the field. Furthermore, the Office of Small Business and the Mayor’s Office on Disability will collaborate with the disability community and small business owners to develop an educational campaign focused on best practices for enhancing accessibility, particularly for individuals with cognitive, visual, and hearing disabilities.
Henry Karnilowicz, President of SOMBA, mobilized representatives from the Bayview Merchants Association, Japantown Merchants Association, Greater Geary Merchants Association, People of Parkside Sunset, and others to submit letters and to testify in support of President Mandelman’s ordinance. We were pleased to see that the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee—comprising Myrna Melgar, Chyanne Chen, and Bilal Mahmood—approved the ordinance, advancing it to the full board for consideration.
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