Four days after the City of San Francisco declared a health emergency in conjunction with the spread of COVID-19, city supervisors on Tuesday put forward legislation aimed at tempering the economic fallout for local businesses and residents.
The declaration of a health emergency last week came after the Mayor declared a local emergency and two cases of COVID-19 were reported with no known avenue of transmission. According to the city's Department of Public Health, there are now 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in San Francisco and zero reported deaths.
“No one should have to choose between their health and their job,” said District 1 Supervisor Mar in a statement issued today. “Workers are worried, and we must ensure they know the rights they already have, we’re enforcing their rights when they’re infringed, and we’re expanding their rights to meet the urgency of this moment.”
The legislation package proposes five new measures intended to cushion the negative effects of COVID-19 on the local economy:
- A housing law introduced by District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston "to ban specified nonpayment evictions during the state of emergency"
- A business ordinance introduced by District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen, "to create a small business rent stabilization loan to stop the irreversible loss of the city’s small businesses"
- A resolution by District 11 Sup. Ahsha Safaí and Sup. Ronen asking banks to suspend foreclosures, fines and penalties against small businesses
- Legislation by District 1 Sup. Eric Mar that would establish a new category of paid leave for public health emergencies
- Legislation by District 5 Sup. Matt Haney to establish financial support for city workers whose income is impacted by furloughs or layoffs
"We also have to protect people economically," Sup. Haney said in the statement released by the supervisors: "small businesses, low wage workers, and people who work in the service industry are especially vulnerable."
The city's current recommendations for healthy practice under COVID-19 shutdown include closing all large events in city owned buildings, limiting outings for vulnerable residents, minimizing exposure and practicing social distancing for work and social gatherings.
