The Board of Supervisors Pass Historic Grocery Protection Act
The Ordinance Will Require 6 Months Notice, Community Input, and Exploration of Replacement Options Prior to Closing a Major Grocery Store in San Francisco
Earlier today, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Supervisor Preston’s Neighborhood Grocery Protection Act. Supervisor Preston’s Grocery Protection Act mirrors legislation from 1984, passed by the Board of Supervisors but vetoed by then-Mayor Feinstein , that would have required notification and community involvement when a neighborhood-serving grocery store closes.
“It shouldn’t have taken 40 years for this to become law, but I’m glad we were able to bring everyone together to get it across the finish line,” said Supervisor Preston. “Now when a major grocery store closes, our communities will have 6-months notice, an opportunity to be heard at a community meeting, and time for the City and community to work on a transition plan, including the possibility of a new grocery store, to meet the food security needs of our seniors and families. I am proud to have partnered with so many community leaders and stakeholders to pass this historic ordinance.”
The legislation specifically requires:
Six-months notice prior to the close of a neighborhood-serving grocery store;
Requirement to meet with community members prior to closure;
Requirement to explore a replacement supermarket.
Preston introduced the legislation after Safeway gave the community a mere two months' notice back in January, 2024 that it would be closing Fillmore’s only grocery store in March. Preston immediately objected to the abrupt closure, rallied with hundreds of neighborhood residents against the closure, and passed a resolution at the Board of Supervisors calling on Safety to abandon the March closure plan. Safeway relented, committing to keep the store open until January 2025. Safeway still has not met with the community about the plans or about options to continue having a grocery store at this location.
After doing extensive research to help push back on the imminent closure, Supervisor Preston’s team found a 1984 law written in response to an abrupt closure of a Safeway at Bush and Larkin Streets, where residents were given only one week's notice of the closure. The law was passed by the Board but ultimately vetoed by then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein.
“Food insecurity is on the rise, especially for seniors and families, as food prices skyrocket and food programs face major cuts,” said Erris Edgerly, Founder of the Fillmore Alliance. “We need to be doing everything in our power to maintain access to groceries in our neighborhoods.”
In a letter submitted to Supervisor Preston, Dr. Emily Murase, Executive Director of the Japantown Taskforce, wrote “JTF has been working closely with our Fillmore and Western Addition neighbors to address the challenges posed by the sudden announcement earlier this year of the sale and closure of the Fillmore Street Safeway, which Japantown residents and workers rely on for groceries, banking, and pharmacy services. Thank you for advocating on behalf of the residents and workers in Japantown, the Fillmore District, and the Western Addition generally, on this and so many other issues.”
