The Sunshine Ordinance Task Force ensures compliance with San Francisco's open government laws. It advises on public access to meetings and records, addressing complaints about transparency violations. It provides expertise on the interpretation and application of the Sunshine Ordinance.

Sunshine Ordinance Task Force

‘Hiding something’: Lurie broke records law over PG&E blackout texts, commission rules

<p>Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office violated San Francisco’s public records laws by not fully disclosing text messages he exchanged with a Pacific Gas & Electric executive during the December 2025 blackout, a commission ruled Wednesday in an 8-1 vote.  The Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, which enforces the city’s public records laws, ordered Lurie to hand over his entire late-December correspondence with Jake Zigelman, PG&E’s Bay Area VP, in response to a complaint filed by The Standard.  “They’re deliberately hiding something,” task force member Ankita Mukhopadhyay Kumar said during Wednesday’s meeting. Others warned of legal danger: “I think the city runs a great risk of exposure to litigation if this matter doesn’t get resolved in a more amicable way than perhaps we’re at right now,” said member David Pilpel. Bruce Wolfe said, “I’m left curious, very curious, to the point of … suspicious about what is really going on here.” The ruling stems from a months-long dispute over Lurie’s communication with PG&E about restoring power to the War Memorial Opera House on Dec. 21, a day after a citywide blackout began. This followed public comments from an executive at the utility,  who said the mayor intervened on the venue’s behalf  while thousands of San Franciscans remained without electricity. Lurie has denied any involvement, and The Standard has sought the full text exchange to determine what role, if any, the mayor played during the outage. In February, PG&E CEO Sumeet Singh said during a public hearing at City Hall that Lurie had personally directed the utility company to provide power to the opera house. PG&E immediately retracted the statement after The Standard reached out for comment on the remarks, and Singh later said his remarks were the result of a “misunderstanding.”  The mayor’s office has denied that Lurie, whose daughter was set to perform in the ballet “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 21 at the opera house, was involved in requesting that power to the venue be prioritized. Photos from Dec. 21  posted by PG&E on X  show trucks outside of the performance center.  It’s the second time the task force has found Lurie to be in violation of public records law. The body  voted unanimously in January  that the mayor’s office was improperly withholding documents related to an October phone call he had with President Donald Trump about the White House’s efforts to deploy federal agents in San Francisco. In that case, the mayor’s office said that no records exist other than undisclosable legal advice. Whether the mayor’s office will turn over any records in response to the two violations remains to be seen. The task force has limited powers and can’t force public agencies to hand over documents, as a judge can. Lurie’s predecessor, Mayor London Breed,  was accused of deleting her text messages . Politicians' text messages are public record under a 2017 California Supreme Court decision, San Jose vs. Ted Smith. Correspondence that is not about city business is not disclosable.  The Standard’s complaint to the task force, filed in April by reporter Gabriel Greschler, centers on a screenshot of a text message obtained through a public records request in which Zigelman updates Lurie on the status of PG&E restoring power at the opera house.  “Opera house update,” Zigelman wrote to the mayor. “Our team is onsite and has been in touch with the opera folks. We’ve been told they have enough natural light and emergency backup power to move ahead with 2 p.m. performance. We have a vendor mobilized to support temporary generation for the 7pm show. Not 100% on timing but working feverishly to make that happen.”  The Dec. 21 message shows correspondence — visible but not fully legible — above and below Zigelman’s update. The Standard has sent requests for all messages exchanged between Lurie and Zigelman on Dec. 21 and on Dec. 20, the day the blackout began.  In response, the mayor’s office, represented by its legislative and ethics secretary, Dexter Darmali, has asserted that it has turned over all records in its possession.  During Wednesday’s hearing, however, Darmali said that there are some messages between Lurie and Zigelman that the office had decided did not apply to The Standard’s requests.  The mayor’s spokesperson, Charles Lutvak, declined to answer whether the office would turn over more records following the ruling Wednesday. “I’m sure [Darmali] addressed all of this thoroughly last night,” he said in an email. Task force members pushed back during Wednesday’s session on Darmali’s contention that everything disclosable had been turned over. “It is inconceivable to me that there were no texts between Lurie and Zigelman for two entire days following the blackout, and then suddenly they’re talking about current status of the blackout,” said Dean Schmidt.  Wolfe concurred: “I think this one [Dec. 21] text message is clear that there was a message before that, and there was a message after that, and I think that that is enough beyond speculation that there is more information and records to be disclosed, and anything to continue to hide it, to me, is a violation.” Members also criticized Darmali’s explanations, with task force Chair Matthew Yankee calling them “scripted” and “nonforthcoming.” However, some members, including Saul Sugarman, pushed back on the idea that the mayor’s office was concealing important documents. “I don’t think that this case is quite the smoking gun that some of the members have made it out to be,” he said. “I am all for having the mayor’s office cooperate — we have experienced struggles with this office in the past, and that makes us very wary of how they’re behaving now.” The task force voted 8-1 on an additional violation finding that the mayor’s office had not provided a representative — in this case, Darmali — who could explain the basis for withholding the records. Yankee voted against the first violation, while Schmidt voted no on the additional one. Months into Lurie’s tenure in 2025, The Standard  reported  that the mayor’s office was refusing to hand over his text messages in response to records requests, suggesting that they were being deleted or hidden. Weeks later, Lurie’s office  clarified  its position that the mayor’s texts would be released.</p>

The Standard wins initial ruling in fight for Mayor’s PG&E blackout records

<p>It’s been months since PG&E CEO  Sumeet Singh  said during astonishing public testimony at a Board of Supervisors hearing that Mayor  Daniel Lurie  personally directed the utility to prioritize  restoring power at the War Memorial Opera House  during the December blackout, which plunged a large swath of the city into darkness for days. Singh quickly recanted his statement as The Standard reported on his testimony, chalking it up to a “misunderstanding,”  and the mayor’s office denied the remarks.   But questions remain about how that memorable (not in a good way)  holiday weekend  unfolded. As a reminder: Lurie received an “ opera house update ” text message from  Jake Zigelman , PG&E’s Bay Region vice president, on Dec. 21 — the same day the mayor’s daughter was set to perform as Clara in “The Nutcracker” at the venue. Through a public records request, The Standard obtained that iMessage, which shows undisclosed correspondence above and below the text. The Standard has repeatedly pushed the mayor’s office to provide those additional messages, but Lurie’s team maintains that it has disclosed everything in its possession.  Power Play’s  Gabriel Lorenzo Greschler  filed a complaint in April with the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, a local body that enforces the city’s open-government laws, seeking those records.  During a hearing Tuesday, a subcommittee of the task force ruled in favor of The Standard in a 4-0 vote after Greschler, who came to the meeting with a large poster board showing the Dec. 21 text, argued that the public has a right to know what fully “happened between the mayor and the utility while the city sat without power.”  “In addition to requesting all messages from Dec. 21 based on this thread you see, we have also asked for text messages from Dec. 20, the day the blackout first began,” Greschler told the task force. “It is hard to believe that the mayor and a VP at PG&E were not in conversation on this date, too, when one of the biggest blackouts in decades hit San Francisco.” In a response to the complaint, the mayor’s office said Greschler was “using both the complaint and the Task Force to promote the false narrative” that Lurie was directly involved in getting PG&E to prioritize power at the opera house.  Dexter Darmali , the legislative and ethics secretary at the mayor’s office, repeatedly said throughout the hearing that it had produced all responsive documents. But task force members remained skeptical.  “[Greschler] has been continuously asking for PG&E records, and he’s been very clear about what he wants, and then he had to file the request again, but it sort of seems like [the mayor’s office is] deliberately hiding some information and not sharing it with the petitioner,” said member  Ankita Kumar .  Another member,  Saul Sugarman , said the ordeal “seems slightly fishy.”  Task force members did acknowledge that Lurie has at least been disclosing texts — a marked departure from his predecessor,  London Breed ,  who was accused of hiding such correspondence. The complaint will now move to a vote before the full task force, which has limited enforcement powers. It can rule that agencies or public officials violated public records law, order the disclosure of documents, and refer especially egregious cases to the Ethics Commission for potential discipline.  The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment about the ruling.  “The mayor’s office is claiming we want to ‘promote a false narrative,’” Greschler said. “Let’s get these documents released and clear up whatever truth arises.”  — Hannah Wiley Got tips? Send to us at  powerplay@sfstandard.com . BIG TECH BECERRA? : Critics of former Health and Human Services Secretary  Xavier Becerra  blasted a  $950,000 donation  from Meta to an independent committee supporting his gubernatorial bid. The funding came Tuesday, a day before the company  laid off thousands of workers , and comes amid the legislative fight to crack down on the industry amid concerns over AI and youth social media use.  Becerra appears increasingly likely to  survive the June 2 primary  over fellow Democrats such as billionaire climate activist  Tom Steyer  and former Orange County Rep.  Katie Porter  — and interest groups have noticed his rise. “Meta is laying off thousands of workers while investing nearly $1 million in Xavier Becerra, and that’s because Becerra is their best bet to protect their profits regardless of the human cost,” Steyer spokesperson  Kevin Liao  said in a statement.  Campaign mudslinging aside, the donation has generated alarm within parent advocacy groups pushing for greater oversight of tech products.  “I’m incredibly disappointed and afraid of what this means and what Meta thinks it’s going to get out of this,” said  Julianna Arnold , who founded the group Parents Rise after her teenage daughter fatally overdosed on a  counterfeit fentanyl pill purchased on Instagram .  Arnold said she was particularly concerned that the donation coincides with California’s legal battles against social media companies over claims that their products are designed to  addict children .  “Unfortunately, I think that they are doing this so they can turn the tides on the state’s direction of being the enforcers of this,” she said.  Becerra spokesperson  Jonathan Underland  said the candidate “has never been bought by a check” and pointed to his experience leading California in “a  multistate antitrust action against Facebook  over its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.”  “That’s who Xavier Becerra is — someone who doesn’t ask how powerful an interest is, or how big their check was, before deciding to hold them accountable,” Underland said.  — H.W. SNOOZIN’:  San Francisco voters are clutching their ballots close to their vests.  Turnout data  shows just 7% of ballots returned so far in battleground districts 4 and 2, where incumbent Supervisors  Alan Wong  and  Stephen Sherrill , respectively, are vying to hold onto their seats. One can almost see the tumbleweeds rollin’ through the Department of Elections.  While each district shows roughly 3,500 ballots returned out of 47,000, Sherrill has less to worry about, insiders said. Lower turnout is “a problem for Alan,” one insider told Power Play, mostly because the mountain of cash in third-party spending (including from San Francisco Standard chairman  Michael Moritz ) is most likely to sway low-information voters. But in a low-turnout scenario, only the most dedicated, frequent voters show up.  In the Sunset, part of District 4, those are voters who followed every twist and turn of the recall of Supervisor  Joel Engardio  and could tell you off-hand which candidates back the Great Highway reopening. Insiders said that helps candidates who either have strong local roots, like recall leader  Albert Chow,  or those with strong ground game, like legislative aide  Natalie Gee , who is known to exhaustively door-knock and has strong support from labor groups, whose members also are known for hitting the streets in support of favored candidates. —  Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez PELOSI, PUH-LEAZE:  Speaker Emerita  Nancy Pelosi’ s endorsement of Supervisor  Connie Chan  in the congressional race had heads spinning — some doubted the day would ever come. But few had a reaction like that of techbro political influencer and Y Combinator CEO  Garry Tan. Tan  openly wondered  on X why Chan never followed through after he asked her to resign. (You know, after publicly  including her on the list of politicians  he thought should “die slow.”)  “Last year I asked Connie Chan to resign for her role in making San Francisco unsafe for Asian Americans. This year she somehow got the endorsement from Pelosi,” he posted. “Make it make sense. You can’t.” While Tan tries to figure out why one of the most powerful Democrats in the U.S. doesn’t give two wits about what he says about Chan, or about anything, the betting website  Kalshi is showing an upswing  for the progressive supervisor in at least  two distinct markets . With $94,560 on the line, the first betting pool shows that Chan’s chance of a win rose from 6% to 36% in just two days after Pelosi’s announcement. Her rival  Saikat Chakrabarti  saw confidence drop from 20% to 8% — more than a hundred people threw down bets after Pelosi’s endorsement. A second pool, asking which of the two would advance alongside state Sen.  Scott Wiener,  showed Chan leap to more than 73% and Chakrabarti drop to roughly 26%, when days before they were roughly 50/50. Pollster guru  Paul Mitchell , vice president of Political Data Inc., told Power Play that while he thinks the prediction market stuff is generally “stupid,” this particular case “is actually an instance where Kalshi is able to respond to an event rapidly, where a poll won’t catch that for another week or more.”  In this case, he said, “yeah, it can be used as a data point” — one that measures the weight of Pelosi’s influence.  — J. F. R. THE STANDARD AT MANNY’S : With less than two weeks until the June 2 primary, enormous sums of money continue to pour into what’s shaping up to be a historically expensive election cycle. On Wednesday, for example, Google cofounder  Sergey Brin  chucked in a cool half million to one of the city’s business-backed ballot measures, Proposition C.  Breaking this all down for you are The Standard reporters  Hannah Wiley  and  Emily Shugerman , who will talk money in politics with “Pacific Standard Time” podcast host  Emily Dreyfuss  on May 27 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Manny’s. The group will hash out the contest to succeed Pelosi, the California Billionaire Tax Act, and the governor’s race. University of San Francisco politics professor  Keally McBride  will also offer her analysis.  Get tickets here .  — Gabriel Greschler</p>

Lurie taps SF Democratic Party chair Nancy Tung for Airport Commission

<div class="content-grid article-content"><div class="Metadata_container__fxAzw"><div class="Metadata_metadata__W_0LF"><span>By <a class="" href="https://sfstandard.com/author/han-li/">Han Li</a></span><time datetime="2025-09-26T21:29:19.169Z">Updated Sep. 26, 2025 • 2:29pm</time><time datetime="2025-09-26T20:24:48.115Z">Published Sep. 26, 2025 • 1:24pm</time></div></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Mayor Daniel Lurie appointed San Francisco Democratic Party Chair Nancy Tung to the Airport Commission on Friday, elevating a key ally to a prominent post on one of the city’s most important governing bodies. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“It’s an honor to be appointed to this important position,” Tung said in an interview. “San Francisco’s recovery relies heavily on our tourism economy, and SFO is a critical part of that.”</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The Airport Commission serves as the governing body for SFO, the nation’s 12th-largest airport, and oversees an operating budget of more than $1.6 billion.</p></div><div class="!p-0 !m-0"></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">A career prosecutor, Tung leads the Vulnerable Victims Unit at the San Francisco district attorney’s office. She was elected <u><a data-post-id="66a35392-9bae-45af-81a2-bb36a4ffb069" href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/04/19/nancy-tung-democratic-party-chair-dccc/">chair of the local Democratic County Central Committee</a></u> last year after moderates swept the local party’s elections and, through that role, has worked to pull San Francisco politics back toward the center.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Tung will replace Jane Natoli, an appointee of former Mayor London Breed and San Francisco organizing director for YIMBY Action, on the commission. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Natoli said in an interview that she respects Lurie’s decision but “would have wanted to continue serving.”</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Tung’s appointment underscores her alliance with Lurie, whom she endorsed as her second choice in the 2024 mayoral election. That decision distinguished her from many of her moderate colleagues on the DCCC, who <u><a data-post-id="538a622f-7a80-4cc6-9c08-7d299246293b" href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/24/san-francisco-democratic-party-london-breed-endorsement/">solely backed Breed</a></u>. After he won the election, Lurie <u><a data-post-id="dc6463a3-0d0f-4101-a035-4efdfb8ad7f0" href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/18/sam-altman-mayor-daniel-lurie-san-francisco/">tapped Tung for his transition team</a></u>.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The post could boost any political ambitions Tung might have beyond the DCCC. She unsuccessfully ran for district attorney in 2019 against Chesa Boudin, who was then recalled as DA in 2022 over voters’ concerns about crime. Tung was later <u><a data-post-id="eec7e44b-2660-44b9-9908-0ba5857d7b16" href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/07/15/nancy-tung-returns-to-sf-district-attorneys-office-for-new-senior-position/">on Breed’s appointment shortlist to replace Boudin</a></u>.</p></div><div class="!p-0 !m-0"></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Lurie made the announcement in a press release that also named appointees to the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force and the Arts Commission. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“These new appointees bring decades of experience and a commitment to public service, leadership in their communities, and effective government,” Lurie said. “Their expertise will help us strengthen city government and drive San Francisco’s economic comeback.”</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left"><i>Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Tung’s appointment was subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors.</i></p></div></div>

SF’s new mayor, like its old one, doesn’t want you to read his texts


<p>New mayor, same obfuscation.</p>



<p>Late last year, former San Francisco Mayor London Breed <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2024/09/mayor-breed-is-deleting-texts-legal-experts-say-thats-a-problem/">drew condemnation</a> for her office’s habit of deleting text messages, a public record that citizens have the right to scrutinize under California and the city’s open government laws.</p>



<p>It seems Mayor Daniel Lurie is following in Breed’s footsteps.</p>



<p>New public records requests suggest Lurie is deleting or otherwise concealing his text messages.</p>



<p>“Boy, that sounds depressingly familiar,” said Karl Olson, a media law attorney whose litigation helped shape access to public records in California. “Access to public records is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state.”</p>



<p>The Standard requested all text messages between Lurie and constituents, and Lurie and government officials, from his first few days in office. The mayor’s office claimed no such records existed.</p>



<p>When The Standard asked the mayor&#8217;s office point blank if the mayor deletes his texts, spokesperson Charles Lutvak responded with a statement.</p>



<p>&#8220;The mayor complies with all records retention laws. We continue to review current policies to ensure they are up to date as communications technology evolves,” Lutvak said.</p>



<p>The Standard learned of Lurie’s missing texts when a tipster, William Fisher, tried to replicate the same records snafu that last year showed Breed was deleting her messages.</p>



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<p>In June, Hazel Williams, who frequently files for public records, asked for text messages between Breed and Public Works Director Carla Short, making requests to both Public Works and the mayor’s office. Public Works produced text messages between the pair, but the mayor’s office said it had none.</p>



<p>Last month, Fisher requested Short’s text messages to Lurie, and vice versa, and received them from Public Works. On Feb. 10, Lurie texted Short a complaint about a sidewalk that needed cleaning. “From the supervisor. Let’s please work to get this cleaned up,” the mayor wrote. Short replied, “I spoke with him, we are sending a crew over.” The following day, Lurie directed Short to clean “a number of tents” near Mission and Howard, and at 196 Valencia St., across from the bar Zeitgeist. The disclosure also features street cleaning directives for other neighborhoods, like North Beach.</p>



<p>When Fisher requested text messages from the mayor’s office, staffers there told him they had no records to provide. This suggests that Lurie is deleting his text messages, advocates of open records say.</p>



<p>“I will say with 100% certainty, yes, that&#8217;s a public record, and should be turned over upon request and should be preserved as an official public record,” UC Irvine School of Law adjunct professor Susan Seager said, citing the California Public Records Act.</p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="1153" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0458-png.jpg?w=1153" alt="The image shows a text conversation about a burnt-out car on Pine Street. A reply confirms Shawn from MTA is sending someone to handle it." class="wp-image-384341" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0458-png.jpg 1179w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0458-png.jpg?resize=138,300 138w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0458-png.jpg?resize=768,1665 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0458-png.jpg?resize=1153,2500 1153w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0458-png.jpg?resize=709,1536 709w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0458-png.jpg?resize=945,2048 945w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1153px) 100vw, 1153px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Text messages between Mayor Daniel Lurie and Public Works Director Carla Short were obtained in a public records request.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="1153" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0456-png.jpg?w=1153" alt="Text messages discuss overflowing trash cans at North Beach and a broken trash can at Grove and Gough, with plans to address these issues." class="wp-image-384343" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0456-png.jpg 1179w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0456-png.jpg?resize=138,300 138w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0456-png.jpg?resize=768,1665 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0456-png.jpg?resize=1153,2500 1153w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0456-png.jpg?resize=709,1536 709w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_0456-png.jpg?resize=945,2048 945w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1153px) 100vw, 1153px" /></figure>
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<p>The mayor’s texts offer a window into how tax dollars are used and are a chief way for the public to provide a check on the government. Olson and Seager point to the 2017 State Supreme Court decision in San Jose vs. Ted Smith, which found that <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/california-supreme-court-no-you-cant-hide-public-records-on-a-private-account/">discussions of government business on private devices</a> were subject to the California Public Records Act.</p>



<p>Lurie may be looking to keep his communications shrouded in other ways, too.</p>



<p>The mayor has turned to the encrypted messaging app Signal for some communications, sources tell The Standard. This reporter contacted Lurie on Signal; the mayor didn’t reply, but the message was marked as “read.”</p>



<p>Government use of Signal is under a public microscope after President Donald Trump’s administration accidentally texted <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/trump-administration-accidentally-texted-me-its-war-plans/682151/">plans to bomb Yemen</a> to the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic using the encrypted messaging app. Local politicians have long used Signal for its timed-deletion features, seen as a way to bypass the city’s Sunshine Ordinance, which gives public access to most records produced by government officials.</p>



<p>The city attorney’s office declined to comment. However, in September, the city attorney wrote a memo to the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force outlining the city’s “Record Retention and Destruction Policy.” The policy states that not all text messages need to be kept by government officials and may be deleted.</p>



<p>“Some electronic records fit the definition of ‘records’ in the retention context. But most do not,” the policy memo said.</p>



<p>Olson litigated the landmark San Jose case that showed text messages are subject to open records laws — and based on that experience, he believes San Francisco’s policy relies on outdated state guidance.</p>



<p>“I disagree with them,” he said.</p>



<p>Seager, the law professor, reviewed the city attorney’s retention policy for The Standard. She said state law trumps the city ordinances cited in the policy.</p>



<p>“The city attorney is flatly wrong,” she said.</p>


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The Airport Commission oversees policy and strategic planning for San Francisco International Airport. It makes key decisions on airport development projects and financial management. It ensures compliance with regulations and collaborates on initiatives like terminal naming.

Airport Commission

Airport Commission Commissioner 1

Malcolm Yeung

Jose F. Almanza

Mark Buell

Susan Leal

Airport Director

Animal Care and Control Department manages animal sheltering, adoption, and emergency response services. It enforces animal-related laws and regulations, ensuring the humane treatment and safety of animals. The department also provides public education on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

Animal Care and Control Department

Virginia Donohue

Animal Care and Control Department, Director

The San Francisco Arts Commission oversees the integration of arts into city life and ensures public access to cultural experiences. It makes decisions on public art programs and allocates grants to support local artists and performances. The commission actively shapes policies affecting the arts ecosystem in San Francisco.

Arts Commission Commissioner 1

Arts Commission Commissioner 2

Arts Commission Commissioner 3

Arts Commission Commissioner 4

Debra Walker

Suzanne Ferras

Jessica Rothschild

Seth Brenzel

JD Beltran

Marcus Shelby

J Riccardo Benavides

Nabiel Musleh

Charles (Chuck) Collins

Lydia So

Arts Commission Commissioner 15

San Francisco Arts Commission invests in a vibrant arts community and shapes cultural policy. It enlivens the urban environment through public art programs and supports diverse artistic expressions. The commission facilitates meetings and discussions to engage the community in cultural development.

Ralph Remington

Arts Commission, Director of Cultural Affairs

The Asian Art Commission determines policy and administers the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. It oversees museum operations and collaborates with the Asian Art Museum Foundation on fundraising efforts. Commissioners ensure the museum's strategic direction and financial sustainability.

Asian Art Commission

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 1

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 2

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 3

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 4

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 5

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 6

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 7

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 8

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 9

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 10

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 11

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 12

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 13

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 14

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 15

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 16

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 17

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 18

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 19

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 20

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 21

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 22

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 23

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 24

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 25

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 26

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 27

Asian Art Museum showcases Asian art and culture through exhibitions and educational programs. It offers diverse collections and hosts special events to engage the community. The museum fosters cultural appreciation and understanding by providing access to its extensive art collections.

Dr. Soyoung Lee

Asian Art Museum, Director

The Assessment Appeals Board #1 hears property tax assessment appeals in San Francisco. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine property values. The Board has the authority to make final decisions on assessments regardless of property type or value.

Assessment Appeals Board #1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 2

Richard Lee

Stephen Wasserman

Adena Gilbert

Paul Bellar

Quirina Mitchell

Hilary Winslow

The Assessment Appeals Board #2 adjudicates property tax assessment appeals for San Francisco taxpayers. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine accurate property values. The Board exercises authority to render final decisions on residential properties and specific real estate assessments.

Assessment Appeals Board #2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 3

Claire Ervin Lee

Louisa Mendoza

Joyce Lewis

Nicholas Goldman

Michelle Domingo

The Assessment Appeals Board #3 provides a platform for San Francisco taxpayers to contest property tax assessments. It conducts hearings where evidence from both taxpayers and the Assessor is evaluated. The Board makes binding decisions on property assessments based on presented evidence.

Assessment Appeals Board #3

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 3

Marc Dickow

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 5

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 6

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 7

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 8

Assesses property, applies exemptions, collects transfer taxes, and records official documents.

Assessor-Recorder

Joaquín Torres

The Ballot Simplification Committee ensures voter materials are clear and understandable. It reviews and revises ballot language to accurately reflect propositions and measures. The committee advises on simplifying complex legal and technical terms for voter comprehension.

Ballot Simplification Committee

The Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee provides policy advice on planning and land use matters in Zone 2 of Bayview Hunter's Point. It offers expertise in land use policies, zoning issues, and urban development. The committee advises the Board of Supervisors, City Boards, and commissions on relevant projects and initiatives.

Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee

The Behavioral Health Commission advises on mental health policy implementation and quality service delivery. It reviews and advocates for effective mental health services, ensuring policies meet community needs. It educates stakeholders to integrate mental health considerations into broader health strategies.

Behavioral Health Commission

The Bicycle Advisory Committee advises on making bicycling safer and more accessible in San Francisco. It provides recommendations to city agencies to address traffic violence and climate change. The committee advocates for cyclists and addresses biking-related complaints.

Bicycle Advisory Committee

The Board of Appeals provides final review for a wide range of City permitting decisions. It ensures an efficient and fair permit issuance process through an impartial panel. The Board exercises authority to make binding decisions on appeals.

Jefferson Robert Eppler

John Trasviña

Jose Lopez

Rick Swig