San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has proposed his first major law since taking office. It aims to address the city’s worsening fentanyl crisis. The “Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance,” unveiled last Wednesday, aims to speed up responses to the city’s growing public health and safety issues. It seeks to cut through red tape and expedite resources.

If passed, the ordinance would let the mayor’s office seek private donations. It would also improve resource use to tackle critical issues. These include homelessness, fentanyl overdoses, and public safety.

Key Measures of the Ordinance

The ordinance aims to speed up the city’s response to urgent crises. It’s set up to remove barriers that slow it down, including some regulations. Mayor Lurie’s office says the ordinance will speed up hiring and contracts. It will also help nonprofits deliver behavioral health services.

“We need to stand up more mental health beds, more drug treatment beds. And that’s what this ordinance is going to help us do and it will help us move more quickly,” Lurie said at a press conference with public safety leaders and city supervisors.

City contracts can take months to approve due to regulations. Lurie’s ordinance would loosen regulations for six months. This would help the city respond to the fentanyl crisis. However, as it stands, his proposal lacks a formal declaration of an emergency.

“This package is a way for us to commit to make sure that bureaucracy does not get in the way of saving lives on our streets, does not get in the way of shutting down the illegal selling of goods that we see,” said Supervisor Danny Sauder of District 10, voicing support for the measure.

The proposal reflects Lurie’s campaign promise to act on fentanyl addiction. It has devastated San Francisco communities. On the campaign trail, Lurie vowed to declare a state of emergency on his first day in office.

But the ordinance sidesteps legal challenges from 2021. That year, former Mayor London Breed tried a similar move and ultimately failed.

Fentanyl Addiction in San Francisco: A Growing Crisis

In 2023, 810 San Francisco residents died from accidental drug overdoses, with the majority of deaths involving fentanyl. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 times more potent than heroin. It drives many overdose deaths in the U.S. In San Francisco, fentanyl is a crisis. It causes thousands of overdose deaths each year. The drug’s potency makes it highly dangerous, as even a tiny amount can lead to death.

Fentanyl often enters the drug supply. It’s laced into counterfeit pills or mixed with cocaine or meth. This catches unsuspecting users off guard. Its rapid onset and high potency increase overdose risk. Using opioids alone or without naloxone (the overdose reversal drug) is risky. It can lead to fatal overdoses. Many people are simply unaware of the presence of the drug or its dangers.

The fentanyl crisis is hitting marginalized communities hard, especially the homeless. They have the fewest resources to get help. It worsens public health issues. California needs more addiction resources. Behavioral health, addiction, and harm reduction programs can’t keep up with the epidemic.

Pushback and Calls for Clarity

Despite some supervisors’ support, Lurie’s ordinance lacks specificity. Supervisor Shamann Walton noted that emergency measures usually include plans. They must justify waiving policies and granting extraordinary powers.

“Typically, when you’re asked to provide emergency powers, there’s a plan that accompanies it,” Walton said. “‘We’re going to do A, B, C, and D, and this is why we need these emergency powers.’ There’s nothing in place. I need more details.”

Waiving certain checks and balances to hire contractors is always a risky proposition. There is always a risk of corruption or businesses going under when awarding lucrative contracts. With an emergency measure, there is the possibility of less vigilance.

Some supervisors are cautiously optimistic. They stress the need for checks and balances.

“I am open to providing the mayor and his city departments the tools necessary to tackle the fentanyl crisis,” one supervisor said. “But he and I both agree that we must move this forward while maintaining the checks and balances of the legislative branch.”

Lurie has the support of five supervisors for his ordinance. He needs at least six of the eleven board members to move it forward.

The Human Toll in San Francisco and the Urgent Need for Action

San Francisco’s streets are a stark reminder of the fentanyl epidemic’s impact. The drug’s easy availability and deadly effects have overwhelmed the city’s social services. The crisis is a public health emergency and a moral imperative. Many people lost their lives – people who were family, friends, and community members.

Lurie’s ordinance proposes to expand access to treatment beds and mental health services. It could help reduce some of the harm. Experts consider evidence-based treatments the best for opioid use disorder (OUD). These include medication-assisted treatment (MAT) using buprenorphine or methadone. Harm reduction strategies can prevent overdoses and save lives. These include supervised consumption sites and widespread naloxone distribution.

Looking Ahead

The fentanyl crisis in San Francisco warrants immediate action to save lives. Many people believe that Lurie’s ordinance is a key step forward. Yet, it’s got a lot of moving parts. Its success depends ultimately on effective implementation. There must be enough resources and funding. This requires collaboration among city leaders, nonprofits, and the private sector.

As the Board of Supervisors debates the measure, one thing is clear: we must save lives by addressing the fentanyl crisis. It’s not just a public policy issue, it’s an urgent public health issue that has been set aside for too long.

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