Commission on the Status of Women Regular September Meeting

Opening remarks and statement provided by President Jones Lowrey.

Action

The Commission will review and possibly approve minutes from the regular Commission meeting on August 26, 2026.

Action: To approve the August, 2026, meeting minutes.

Discussion

Commissioners may provide updates on topics related to COSW’s priorities.

Discussion

The Commission may discuss items from past meetings, listed below, that may need to be revisited or further discussion.

Priority Topics:

• Safety & Well-Being of Women and Girls (Commissioner Miry)
  • Impacts of immigration policies on women’s and children’s safety (VP Rivera)
  • Safety of girls in San Francisco parks, on public transit, and in schools (Commissioner Miry)
• Economic Empowerment
  • Hearing from the Small Business Commission
  • Economic Empowerment – Women owned business initiatives (VP Rivera)
• Gender Equity in Sports
  • Women’s sports and equity (Commissioner Miry)
  • Public-Private Partnerships (President Diane Jones Lowrey)

A. DRAFT LETTER REGARDING THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT OVERSIGHT BOARD

Discussion and Possible Action

The Commission will review and discuss a draft letter to the Board of Supervisors regarding William M. Palmer II, President of the Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board, and may take possible action.

Explanatory Document: Draft Letter

Possible Action: To approve the draft letter and next steps.

B. UPDATE ON SPECIAL HEARING REGARDING SFPD’S SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (SVU)

Discussion

President Diane Jones Lowrey will provide an update on the upcoming joint hearing between the Commission on the Status of Women and the Board of Supervisors’ Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on October 8. The October 8th hearing will discuss SFPD’s policies and procedures regarding sexual assault and SVU cases. SFPD Chief Derrick Liu, SFPD staff, and the Mayor’s Office of Victims’ Rights will present and take questions during the October 8th hearing.

Discussion

Executive Director Diana Aroche may discuss grant programs; core service area activities; meetings involving City leaders, agencies, and stakeholders; Department staff; past/upcoming events; and/or Department operations.

This item is to allow members of the public to address the Commission on matters that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission and that do not appear on the agenda, as well as to suggest new agenda items for future meetings.