San Francisco foot patrol law awaits Mayoral assent

By Emmett Berg, Bay City News Service

October 24, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - Mayor Gavin Newsom has 10 days to decide whether to veto or go along with a Board of Supervisors dictum passed today specifying police department deployment in crime-ridden San Francisco neighborhoods.

The 7-3 vote affirming mandatory foot patrols in eight police districts occurred without board members commenting, and with no input from uniformed officers present today at the meeting. San Francisco police Chief Heather Fong has said previously that the department supports increasing foot patrols and can comply, but also is reluctant to see policing decisions made by the supervisors.

Under prevailing rules, the mayor has 10 days to sign, veto or let the foot patrol legislation pass into law without his signature.

The Board of Supervisors can override any veto with the support of eight members of the 11-seat board. The law now appears to have the support of eight members.

Opposed to the law were supervisors Aaron Peskin, Sean Elsbernd and Michela Alioto Pier. Supervisor Jake McGoldrick supported the legislation in its initial vote last week but was absent this week.

"Now that the legislation on foot patrols has reached the desk of the mayor, the mayor will review it and make a decision before the deadline of 10 days lapses," said Joe Arellano, spokesperson for Mayor Newsom.

As currently envisioned, at least one officer will walk a foot patrol beat in the eight districts twice a day under the plan, to take effect in January and lasting for a year.

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