The Chapter 12X ordinance, was initially passed in the wake of the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, to include states that passed anti-LGBTQ legislation, in 2016. It was amended twice in 2019 and 2021 to add additional states, who passed restrictive abortion and voting rights legislation. The number of conservative states, who are included as restricted, has grown now to 30.
Largely seen as a boycott, to pressure other states, by prevent the city from engaging in business with those whose values it deemed antithetical to its own, the ordinance has backfired. Apparently, other states do not care about doing business with San Francisco. A new report has found the law to be costly and ineffective.
According to a new report from City Administrator Carmen Chu’s office, on Feb. 10, the law has been found to be costly and ineffective, with only one state being removed from the boycott list. Reportedly, it also found the contracting ban itself has raised San Francisco’s contracting costs by roughly 10-20%. This could grow even higher if more states are added to the list.
The report states-
"Since 12X became operative, the number of banned states has grown from 8 states in 2017 to 30 in 2022. This increase suggests that the City's threat of boycott may not serve as a compelling deterrent to states considering restrictive policies,"
-Report By, San Francisco, City Administrator - Carmen Chu’s Office
Proposing several alternatives, the report includes repealing the ordinance entirely or repealing the contracting ban, but keeping the travel ban in place. Effectively, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, could soon likely repeal, all or parts of a law, that prohibited city-funded travel and contracting with the 30 conservative states, that have passed laws to restrict LGBTQ rights, abortion access and voting rights.
Sometimes, money just talks loudest. Clearly San Francisco has been living with a self-imposed restriction, that these conservative states don’t really care about. That’s how living by principle works. For San Francisco, though it is hitting them in their wallet. Money and the loss of it, is driving their change – not principle.
Introducing legislation at the Feb. 13 committee hearing, Supervisor Ahsha Safaí proposed to to exempt construction contracts from the ordinance. Additionally. fellow Supervisor Rafael Mandelmanm told the San Francisco Chronicle, he plans on introducing legislation to repeal the ordinance entirely.
Mandelman said-
"It’s an ineffective policy that complicates the business of San Francisco government and makes it very likely that we pay more than we should for goods and services,"
- S.F. Supervisor Rafael Mandelmanm
“Principles don't change, people do.”… “A noble soul predicates its living charter upon leading a principled existence. Without personal integrity, a person leads a feckless and meaningless life.”… “More is accomplished in life by a person who is guided by principles than by one who relies on their will.
-Principles Of Life Quotes - Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com