Dear Friends,
I hope you continue to be well as we adjust to the new normal -- living with COVID-19.
Recently, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed legislation
that directs the Sheriff’s Office to close County Jail #4 by November 1, 2020.
Thanks to the public's advocacy and support, Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer listened to our concerns and amended her original legislation to ensure the Sheriff’s Office will have the flexibility to accommodate any future fluctuations in the jail population.
As elected officials, it is our responsibility to listen to everyone and make thoughtful and measured decisions and plans. Please continue to share your concerns with me and other elected representatives. You are making a difference..
Before the global pandemic set in, San Francisco already had one of the lowest incarceration rates in the nation. The decision to reduce the jail population further has broadened the conditions under which people may be released and requires us to maintain a delicate balance between public safety and public health.
The increase in our responsibility to monitor and supervise justice-involved persons who are not incarcerated is challenging. I want to reassure all of you that we remain committed to keeping everyone safe.
As we move forward, we will look to you to provide input on how these decisions impact our neighborhoods and City.