Everyone should have the power to speak up on issues that matter to them. After COVID-19, the city made it easier for people to share their opinion on public matters by allowing people to call in and share their opinion. The ability to call in (remote public comment) has given a voice to people who can't easily show up in person to City Hall on a weekday afternoon. The people who have benefited from calling in are people with disabilities, people with daytime jobs, people who are especially susceptible to COVID, parents and caregivers, and many others.

This month in February 2023, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is considering ending the ability of people to call in and speak up on the issues that matter to them. We oppose this because it will take away the ability of residents to speak to city decision makers. Ending remote public comment will increase systemic inequities, make the process less representative, and remove critical voices from important public conversations.

By making sure everyone is heard, we can keep government accountable to the people. We can keep remote public comment and reform the public comment process to keep government meetings functioning efficiently. We ask the Board of Supervisors: don't take our voices away.