City officials can't explain how new drug drunk tank will work

Good afternoon!

And happy May Day. To celebrate, supervisors Rafael Mandelman and Connie Chan got arrested at SFO, where they were supporting an airport workers’ picket and protesting ICE presence in airports.

When is a chair a bed? Well, maybe when it’s being used for an arrest that’s not an arrest. Eleni Balakrishnan reports on the RESET center, a new $14 million drunk tank opening on Monday where drug users will be detained—or not. Read the contradictory explanations from Mayor Daniel Lurie, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, RESET’s private contractor, and DPH head Daniel Tsai.

For back story, see our piece on a confidential memo the city attorney’s office sent in February warning top officials that the RESET center might contravene state laws and present a “very high legal risk” to the city.

Mission nonprofit MEDA has laid off staff and slashed salaries, just months after the city approved $37.8 million to bail out 89 of its troubled housing units. Sarah Hopkins looks at potential problems in the Small Sites program.

And scroll on down—here’s your Friday cartoon from Neil Ballard!

More soon,

Sara

Three children sit at a table outdoors, making crafts with colorful strings at a community event.

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