(SAN FRANCISCO, CA - 04/10/12)  Today, new legislation will be introduced by lead sponsor Supervisor Jane Kim that is the result of a compromise between community advocates and the mayor's office on the issue of San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) engagement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).  Last week the board passed the Safe San Francisco Civil Rights Ordinance for the second time by a vote of 6-5.

Mayor Ed Lee had threatened to veto the legislation, but after a community campaign aided by the 80 organizations endorsing the Ordinance that included rallies, letter writing campaigns, calls, and other actions, the mayor's office engaged in negotiations with the Coalition for Safe San Francisco, resulting in the compromise legislation that will be introduced later today. Loubna Qutami, Executive Director of the Arab Cultural and Community Center stated, "Mayor Lee stands in support of the community and our concerns through his support of this legislation."

The new legislation accomplishes three of the coalition's major goals.

1.      Bringing JTTF activities by SFPD officers under the control of California constitutional and San Francisco standards;

2.      Requiring that any new agreements or amendments to agreements be subject to public review and discussion before the police commission before they are entered into;

3.      Creating annual reporting requirements on JTTF activities by SFPD officers to the police commission.

"Though the new compromise legislation is not as specific as the Safe San Francisco Civil Rights Ordinance, it does incorporate the police department's general orders, and as a result, should have the same effect.  The lack of specificity will require more careful monitoring on the part of advocates in working to ensure the new legislation is implemented as promised.  The coalition is looking forward to working closely with the mayor's office and the SFPD to ensure proper implementation of the new legislation," said Summer Hararah of the Coalition for Safe San Francisco.

A copy of the legislation can be found here.