‘Too many cooks’: How SF spends millions ineffectively on homelessness commissions

<div class="content-grid article-content"><div class="Metadata_container__fxAzw"><div class="Metadata_metadata__W_0LF">By <a class="" href="https://sfstandard.com/author/david-sjostedt/">David Sjostedt</a><time datetime="2025-10-08T13:00:00.000Z">Published Oct. 08, 2025 • 6:00am</time></div></div><div class="floats">In a blistering review of how government dollars are being spent, a team of city officials is recommending culling five homelessness oversight commissions that collectively cost taxpayers $2 million annually to operate.  The report Friday from five senior staffers at the city administrator and controller’s offices suggested eliminating some of the oversight bodies or condensing them into one, alleging they perform duplicative duties that have slowed efforts to curb the homelessness crisis. Their recommendations were sent for consideration to the Commission Streamlining Task Force, a five-member panel that was created via <a href="https://www.sf.gov/information--proposition-e-creating-task-force-recommend-changing-eliminating-or-combining-city" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Proposition E (opens in new tab)</a>. The November 2024 ballot measure was crafted to study the city’s roughly 130 boards, commissions, and advisory bodies and make recommendations on which should be changed, eliminated, or consolidated in efforts to reduce government bloat. The task force will consider the report’s recommendations at an Oct. 15 meeting. </div><div class="!p-0 !m-0"></div><div class="floats">The report describes a “patchwork of bodies” that it claims have failed to catch corruption while creating unnecessary bureaucracy around one of the city’s most visible emergencies. The report notes that the commissions, which are collectively overseen by 52 politically appointed commissioners, failed to catch “<a data-post-id="1d75c939-2034-47e1-8bab-eabe68dba603" href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/10/05/city-pulls-out-of-drug-rehab-contract-as-nonprofits-beg-for-a-bailout/">several</a> <a data-post-id="0c4ee125-e76e-48bf-8c26-095303f10618" href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/11/22/sf-homeless-nonprofit-status-revoked-fbi/">recent</a> high-profile <a data-post-id="fd432eb8-778d-4681-b880-fec49b3bd38b" href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/04/02/san-francisco-homeless-nonprofit-homerise-report/">cases</a>” in which homelessness nonprofits “either misused funds or mismanaged service delivery.”“It’s not clear that having multiple public bodies overseeing homelessness is making the city’s homelessness work more effective,” the report says. The report suggests either eliminating some of the commissions or combining their responsibilities into the Homelessness Oversight Commission, which oversees the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. The department’s 2026 budget is $786 million, with which it funds nearly 4,000 shelter beds and more than 17,500 permanent housing units through an array of nonprofit contracts. The recommended changes target the Local Homeless Coordinating Board; the Our City, Our Home Oversight Committee; the Shelter Grievance Advisory Committee; and the Shelter Monitoring Committee. Those bodies are tasked with touring city-run facilities, processing allegations of abuse at shelters, and keeping tabs on hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.The Homelessness Oversight Commission, which has seven members and oversees contracts while acting as a liaison between the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing and the public, has an annual operating budget of $1.1 million, making it the most expensive of the five bodies. </div><div class="!p-0 !m-0"></div><figure class="ImageBlock_ImageFigure__ZnquR inset-image mobile-grid-full mobile-grid-full" data-align="none"><div class="relative"><div><img alt="People are gathered outside a building at 1001 Polk St. One rides a bike holding a bag, two are talking, and another sits playing guitar. A person is seen inside." class="block lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="2001" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 1001px) 600px, (min-width: 768px) 700px, 100vw" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S3840x2561-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S640x427-FPNG 640w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S750x500-FPNG 750w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S768x512-FPNG 768w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S828x552-FPNG 828w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S1024x683-FPNG 1024w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S1080x720-FPNG 1080w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S1200x800-FPNG 1200w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S1920x1281-FPNG 1920w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S2048x1366-FPNG 2048w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_13utmo34fl03dfsi2c2794at0v/-S3840x2561-FPNG 3840w" style="color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 3000 2001'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="3000"/></div></div><figcaption class="basis-full mt-[10px] text-xs text-gray-550 font-inter leading-[18px]">A shelter on Polk Street. | Source: Jason Henry for The Standard</figcaption></figure><div class="floats">Some members of the Homelessness Oversight Commission questioned its ability to handle more responsibilities — and whether the additional workload would come at the expense of homeless people, taxpayers, and government accountability. “The amount of grievances that come to those bodies, it wouldn’t be realistic for one commission to take those on,” said Whit Guerrero, a member of the commission. “That’s way too much for one body.” San Francisco’s numerous commissions and task forces have <a data-post-id="29e8860b-90ab-4d8a-b092-664fea9d4ee4" href="https://sfstandard.com/opinion/2025/09/08/prop-e-commission-task-force-lauren-post/">generated criticism of bureaucratic bloat</a> and inefficiency. But supporters contend that they increase oversight of government functions. The task force’s report suggests that because homelessness is a top priority for Mayor Daniel Lurie, there is no need for so many commissions.“One of the key purposes of having a governance body overseeing a department is to provide additional oversight at a level of detail that the mayor cannot provide to all departments,” the report says. “In this case however, the mayor and his staff are deeply involved in focusing on and directing homelessness policy.”Del Seymour, a member of the Local Homeless Coordinating Board, said he would embrace the task force’s recommendations. He argued that a single commission would prove more effective and receive more input from the public.“It would be taking my position away, but I’m willing to sacrifice that for efficiency,” Seymour said. “One board is more powerful than five boards. There’s too many cooks in the kitchen.”</div></div>

1,000 homeless beds short of goal, Lurie abandons signature campaign promise

Daniel Lurie repeatedly promised during his San Francisco mayoral campaign that he would put a massive dent in homelessness by building 1,500 shelter beds in six months.



By most accounts, it was Lurie’s signature policy proposal — and an audacious one that helped him claim victory in the November election. He repeated the 1,500-bed number in a <a href="https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/3.17_Executive_Directive.pdf">March executive order</a>, and while he pushed the deadline back a couple months, he touted the goal again in May after <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/08/lurie-wealthy-donors/">raising almost $40 million</a> from private donors.&nbsp;



Now, six months into the job, Lurie has a new plan: abandon the old plan.



The mayor’s office announced Saturday in the <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/mayor-lurie-abandoned-campaign-promise-20390482.php">San Francisco Chronicle</a> that it was scrapping Lurie’s 1,500 shelter bed goal and shifting its strategy on homelessness. Kunal Modi, the mayor’s top policy chief on homelessness, said the city’s money would be better spent fixing a broken system that fails to properly coordinate agencies and address the root causes of homelessness, such as drug addiction and mental health issues. 



“As the mayor’s point person for the homelessness and behavioral health crises, I have been entrusted with making a range of systemic changes,” Modi wrote in <a href="https://sfstandard.com/opinion/2025/07/07/we-promised-the-city-1500-shelter-beds-heres-what-were-doing-instead/">a Tuesday op-ed for The Standard</a>. “Now, after half a year on the job, I see that the best way to deliver on that mandate is by making our system more effective, not building toward a specific number of beds.”



Elizabeth Funk, CEO of the nonprofit DignityMoves and a Lurie campaign adviser on homelessness, previously told The Standard that the mayor’s vow to add 1,500 shelter beds and end unsheltered homelessness in six months was a <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/28/san-francisco-daniel-lurie-homelessness-shelter-promise/">“slip-up.”</a> The mayor’s staff is now admitting his lofty goals were unachievable on all fronts. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&quot;Lurie said his proposal to stand up 1,500 new shelter beds in his first half year…could help &#39;end unsheltered homelessness within six months.&#39; He further promised to expand funding for the Homeward Bound program that sends unhoused people to loved ones outside the city.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xxZZVnm2bX">https://t.co/xxZZVnm2bX</a>&mdash; Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielLurie/status/1806023319810154804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Modi noted that a city review found San Francisco spends more than $1 billion a year to fund 25,000-plus beds. By that accounting, adding1,500 would cost at least $60 million.



Under Lurie, the city has opened — or announced plans for — at least 436 shelter, housing, and treatment beds, according to a review by The Standard. More than 300 of those beds qualify under Lurie&#8217;s expanded definition of a shelter bed, which includes drug and mental health treatment or recovery-focused shelter rather than strictly emergency housing. At least 68 were introduced under former Mayor London Breed.



However, San Francisco also has <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/06/shelter-closing-plan-snagged/">eliminated or marked for closure</a> 241 shelter beds under Lurie’s watch, leaving the mayor with just 195 new or expected shelter beds to tout against his original 1,500-bed goal.



Modi said the city intends to examine services in congregate shelters, which <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/10/shelter-crises-skyrocket-lurie/">are not designed to treat people</a> with <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/07/drug-overdoses-embarcadero-shelter/">acute addiction issues</a>, as well as in <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/17/san-francisco-homeless-housing-drug-overdose-deaths/">permanent supportive housing</a>, where more than a quarter of the city’s overdose deaths occurred last year. Lurie’s administration also wants to update contracts with homeless nonprofit partners to create better accountability measures. In response to the February <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/06/shelter-closing-plan-snagged/">closure of Cova Hotel</a>, a 116-person shelter in the Tenderloin, the mayor’s office said it would no longer throw “millions of dollars” toward “failing initiatives.”



The mayor’s office declined to make Lurie available for an interview.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250207_8432863201_triagecenterfirstday_asdegrazia_3.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a dark coat stands on a sunny street, speaking. In the background, there's a building with a cross, a car, and people near a traffic cone." class="wp-image-365513" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250207_8432863201_triagecenterfirstday_asdegrazia_3.jpg 7353w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250207_8432863201_triagecenterfirstday_asdegrazia_3.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250207_8432863201_triagecenterfirstday_asdegrazia_3.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250207_8432863201_triagecenterfirstday_asdegrazia_3.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250207_8432863201_triagecenterfirstday_asdegrazia_3.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250207_8432863201_triagecenterfirstday_asdegrazia_3.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor Daniel Lurie on Sixth Street, where many San Franciscans are suffering from homelessness and drug addiction.</figcaption></figure>



Whit Guerrero, a member of the city’s Homelessness Oversight Commission, said he agrees with the mayor’s new approach of funding a range of beds but is concerned that Lurie championed an unfeasible benchmark from the start.



“We have to look at why the administration made a goal that was not based in reality,” Guerrero said. “My critique of this administration has been that I&#8217;ve seen very poor collaboration. It just seems like so many missed opportunities he had to get things on the right foot when people were really open to him.”



Margot Kushel, a homelessness researcher at UCSF, commended the administration’s revised approach but stressed that there remains a shortage of shelter beds — even as the city arrests people for repeatedly pitching tents on the street.



“If they can work on flow to get people out of shelters into housing, that obviously is another way to quickly create shelter capacity,” Kushel said. “But the bottom line is there aren&#8217;t enough beds.”



In 2023, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman called for an expansion of 2,000 shelter beds to address the homelessness crisis. Since then, Mandelman, now president of the board, has said his opinion on homelessness strategies has shifted, and he applauded Lurie for similarly changing his approach.



“Fixing what you’ve got before you expand is the right choice,” Mandelman said. “The responses to the addiction crisis are going to be different than an encampment problem on the street, so I’ve done a similar pivot.”



While Lurie&#8217;s pivot has earned some praise, it apparently confirms the long-held opinion of many observers that his campaign promise was a pipe dream. David Latterman, a political analyst in San Francisco, told The Standard it was simply a matter of time until Lurie “met reality” as mayor.



“No one ever took his number seriously. It&#8217;s like the city patted him on the head and said, ‘Good for you, young man,’” Latterman said. “Whether the city is forgiving depends on what he does next.”

Lurie’s vow to end street homelessness in 6 months was ‘slip-up,’ says adviser

Daniel Lurie&#8217;s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/29/san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-wealth-campaign-expensive-levi-strauss/">successful mayoral campaign</a> was precise in its political positioning — hedging neither too far left nor right — but notably vague on certain policy commitments. One big exception, however, was his promise to end unsheltered homelessness in San Francisco within six months of taking office.



The ambition and specificity of the proposal were memorable, which made it all the more striking when Lurie abruptly stopped talking about it after the election. <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=lurie+inaugeratiuon+sfstandard&amp;oq=lurie+inaugeratiuon+sfstandard&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAHSAQg0MjEwajBqN6gCALACAA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">Since being sworn in as mayor</a>, he and his office have repeatedly declined to share details on the six-month pledge, and it was not mentioned in <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/08/daniel-lurie-inauguration-san-francisco-mayor/">his inauguration speech</a>.



Why the reticence? Perhaps because Lurie’s plan to eliminate unsheltered homelessness — first presented at a press conference in May — wasn’t conceived with a six-month end goal, according to people with knowledge of his intentions.



Elizabeth Funk, CEO of the nonprofit DignityMoves, acknowledged in a phone interview that Lurie’s “Home Run” project promised to build 1,500 shelter beds in six months, but the necessary figure to get a “functional zero” of unsheltered people would be 2,500 new units of interim bridge housing — which Lurie’s proposal wouldn’t achieve for two years.



“That was a slip-up,” Funk said of Lurie’s comments at the May press conference. “I’d helped him kind of write the plan, but that was not what the plan says.”



The mayor’s office and Lurie’s campaign would not clarify whether he made a mistake in saying he would end unsheltered homelessness in six months, or if he decided to go rogue and make an impromptu promise. But the campaign did nothing to dispel the notion that he would follow through on that promise, <a href="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/press-release_-lurie-announces-emergency-shelter-plan-to-end-unsheltered-homelessness-in-six-months-1.pdf">keeping a press release announcing the plan on its website</a>. Lurie repeated the claim in <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/mayoral-candidates-homeless-shelters-19513231.php">a story published a month later</a> by the San Francisco Chronicle.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a3f440da-0c17-44d7-a6a5-9b7eb85caf3a-1-edited-1.jpeg" alt="A man in a suit speaks at a podium labeled &quot;Lurie for Mayor,&quot; with two people nearby. Modular buildings and outdoor seating are visible in the background." class="wp-image-360410" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a3f440da-0c17-44d7-a6a5-9b7eb85caf3a-1-edited-1.jpeg 3691w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a3f440da-0c17-44d7-a6a5-9b7eb85caf3a-1-edited-1.jpeg?resize=150,150 150w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a3f440da-0c17-44d7-a6a5-9b7eb85caf3a-1-edited-1.jpeg?resize=300,300 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a3f440da-0c17-44d7-a6a5-9b7eb85caf3a-1-edited-1.jpeg?resize=768,768 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a3f440da-0c17-44d7-a6a5-9b7eb85caf3a-1-edited-1.jpeg?resize=2500,2500 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a3f440da-0c17-44d7-a6a5-9b7eb85caf3a-1-edited-1.jpeg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a3f440da-0c17-44d7-a6a5-9b7eb85caf3a-1-edited-1.jpeg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a3f440da-0c17-44d7-a6a5-9b7eb85caf3a-1-edited-1.jpeg?resize=180,180 180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lurie and his office have repeatedly declined to share details on the six-month pledge.</figcaption></figure>



Charles Lutvak, a spokesperson for the mayor, issued a statement that did not address Lurie’s claim that he would end unsheltered homelessness. “As people are dying in our streets, Mayor Lurie set an ambitious goal of adding 1,500 beds over six months,” Lutvak wrote. “The Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance he announced on day one is the urgent action we need to add that capacity, connect people to treatment, and tackle this crisis.”



The mayor’s office did not respond to questions about what plans are in the works for shelter beds and whether funding had been identified for the projects.



Several City Hall sources who work on solutions for homelessness said Lurie’s goal would be nearly impossible without a miraculous infusion of money and property. Another complication: Kunal Modi, a policy chief whom Lurie hired to oversee homelessness, has yet to officially start work.



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San Francisco has 3,647 shelter beds, about 90% of which were occupied at the time of publication. Shelter beds are typically kept below 95% occupancy to make room for emergency admissions from hospitals, jails, and outreach operations. The waitlist for beds Monday had 397 people.



Even with a record budget for addressing homelessness, Mayor London Breed was able to expand the city’s shelter portfolio by 1,450 beds between January 2018 and March 2024, a 60% increase.&nbsp;



Aaron Peskin, a former president of the Board of Supervisors who ran for mayor last year, told The Standard he thought Lurie’s promise was a flight of fancy.



“When Lurie was saying [his shelter bed plan] at countless debates, I attributed it to zealous overpromising, inexperience, and a political gambit that I wasn’t willing to do,” Peskin said. “I didn’t want to make promises I couldn’t keep.”



Whit Guerrero, a member of the city’s Homelessness Oversight Commission who oversaw the opening of a navigation center on Bryant Street in 2022, said he is hopeful that Lurie can follow through with his goal, pointing to the city’s ability to rapidly shelter more than 3,000 people in empty hotels during the pandemic. However, he cautioned that the ambitious timeline could lead to inadequate services for clients, including case managers who haven’t had time to get proper training.



The city’s shelters have seen <a href="https://sfstandard.com/author/david-sjostedt/">a dramatic increase in critical incident reports</a> over the past two years, coinciding with a rising rate of mental illness and chronic health conditions among the homeless population. In the most recent point-in-time count, 51% of 956 homeless people surveyed reported suffering from mental illness.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1667" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fentanylcostslavssfetc-01.jpg?w=2500" alt="A narrow urban alley is lined with colorful tents and graffiti-covered buildings. A person and a dog walk among the parked cars and utility poles overhead." class="wp-image-348859" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fentanylcostslavssfetc-01.jpg 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fentanylcostslavssfetc-01.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fentanylcostslavssfetc-01.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fentanylcostslavssfetc-01.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fentanylcostslavssfetc-01.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The waitlist for shelter beds had 397 people Monday.</figcaption></figure>



“You can&#8217;t treat all different acuity levels of populations with the same one-size-fits-all approach. People are already bouncing off the walls,” Guerrero said. “Lurie ran his campaign on saying politicians have been getting it all wrong. Let’s hope he doesn’t follow suit and accepts the challenge of solving homelessness so it’s no longer a political football.”



Lurie has said his plans involve “semi-private” structures of all sizes, from makeshift operations like those put up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to permanent facilities like the Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center.



During his campaign, Lurie promised to support his homelessness plans with a combination of public and private dollars. The private funding will likely come from <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=how+lurie+family+greschler&amp;oq=how+lurie+family+greschler&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyCggDEAAYgAQYogQyCggEEAAYogQYiQUyCggFEAAYgAQYogQyCggGEAAYgAQYogQyCggHEAAYgAQYogTSAQg1NzQwajBqNKgCALACAQ&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">connections he has made</a> over the years at his nonprofit Tipping Point, which <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/23/daniel-lurie-city-hall-san-francisco-hires-administration/">raised hundreds of millions of dollars</a> from philanthropists and socialites.



&#8220;I am uniquely qualified to leverage the power of the private sector to play an important role in responding to this crisis,&#8221; Lurie wrote in his <a href="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/press-release_-lurie-announces-emergency-shelter-plan-to-end-unsheltered-homelessness-in-six-months-1.pdf">Home Run plan</a>.



David Latterman, a political analyst in San Francisco, said residents likely won’t care about how many shelter beds are built, but they will take notice of Lurie’s progress in improving street conditions over the next year.



“He is finding out the difference between campaign promises and reality. The rubber is going to hit the road now,” Latterman said. “The policy people can care about metrics, but voters just care about what they see on the street.”



He added, “If things aren’t better by summer next year, then people are going to be pretty pissed.”

‘Nobody wants this’: Opposition mounting in Chinatown to sober housing plan

Celebrity chef Kathy Fang, second-generation owner of the popular restaurant House of Nanking, generally is in the know about what’s happening in Chinatown.&nbsp;



But in early February, she received a shock from news reports: The city was planning to open a sober housing project for formerly homeless people with drug abuse issues on the same block as her restaurant.



“We were a little shocked because it is literally two doors down from us,” Fang said. “It&#8217;s mind-boggling and baffling to put something there that could have detrimental impacts and perhaps even kill this iconic place.”



In a surprise to Fang and many others in the neighborhood during Lunar New Year celebration, Mayor London Breed and drug addiction recovery advocates gathered at Hotel North Beach at 935 Kearny St. and announced the plan <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/02/08/san-francisco-chinatown-sober-living-facility-london-breed/">to transform the hotel into a sober living facility, creating 150 rehabilitation housing units</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2324" height="1548" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?w=2324" alt="A bustling city street with historic and modern buildings, pedestrians, and vehicles under a clear sky." class="wp-image-250604" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg 2324w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?resize=1536,1023 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?resize=2048,1364 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2324px) 100vw, 2324px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The proposed sober housing, Hotel North Beach, right, is across from the iconic Sentinel Building.</figcaption></figure>



The private hotel sits between the touristy areas of Chinatown and North Beach and is across the street from the iconic Sentinel Building, a copper-green Flatiron-style structure long known for housing Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope film studio.



In the week since, pushback has only grown, forcing the mayor into damage-control mode.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-transparency">Lack of transparency</h2>



At the Sentinel Building, Lidia Valledor, who works for the Coppola Group and is a manager of the ground-floor restaurant Cafe Zoetrope, slammed the city for its lack of transparency regarding the sober housing project and questioned the selection of the location.



&#8220;We have a lot of people here in the neighborhood that need assistance,” she said. “Why are they bringing people from another neighborhood into here?&#8221; She said she hopes to hear more details about who would be held accountable if the project doesn’t work and causes problems.



<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JAQ__VcxrU7jv7Fm5QQJHGgySsMPJ8iX/view?usp=drive_link">An opposition letter</a>, led by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and signed by other major Chinatown associations, is being circulated and will be sent to Breed to protest the situation.



Like Fang, other business owners in the area say they never heard anything from the city before the Feb. 8 event.&nbsp;



“This is a famous tourist spot. Does the city want the tourists to see this [housing project] here?” asked the owner of Toppu Ramen and Dim Sum House, which is next to the hotel site. She would only identify herself by her surname, Li.&nbsp;



The owner of Mona Lisa Hair Salon, which is also on the same block, said she was unaware of the plan until she saw the news, and no one had reached out to her since then. She declined to be named.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-sober-housing">What is sober housing?</h2>



Transitional housing for drug addiction recovery is not new in San Francisco. But the Hotel North Beach proposal is the first permanent housing project, which means tenants won’t need to move out after a certain period of time.



The city selected Tenderloin Housing Clinic as the nonprofit operator if the project moves forward; it still needs approval from the city’s homelessness oversight commission.



Much of San Francisco’s street drug crisis is concentrated in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods. Addiction experts and advocates have long complained that many of the service providers trying to help drug users are situated in areas that are full of dealers and other negative influences that can make staying sober extremely difficult.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3000" height="2001" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?w=2500" alt="a man walks past an awning and a sign reading Hotel North Beach" class="wp-image-247231" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg 3000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Myron Grant, a formerly homeless resident with drug addiction issues, and other recovery advocates believe the new sober housing plan would help support people&#8217;s recovery from drugs.</figcaption></figure>



Randy Shaw, the director of Tenderloin Housing Clinic, said the whole idea to put the site in the Chinatown and North Beach neighborhoods is “you don&#8217;t want people who want sobriety to be walking out of their hotel and have drug dealers.” He emphasized the site is not a homeless shelter but permanent housing for those who have already been housed for at least a year.



&#8220;This is going to be a completely safe environment,” Shaw said, promising screening for tenants, on-site services and 24-hour security.



Shaw also said the rent for the property was attractive. Including operation costs, the total annual cost for the facility is estimated at $3.7 million.



Richard Beal, director of transitional housing at Tenderloin Housing Clinic, said that the nonprofit has many years of experience running transitional sober housing projects and it has been very successful. He said he expected 80% of the tenants to finish the program.



As for the criticisms about lack of outreach, Shaw said his organization had reached out to some community groups starting last year but received few responses. He also accused Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who represents Chinatown, of knowing about the plan since last year but being silent until now, putting Breed in a dilemma.



Peskin said he objected to the project weeks before Breed’s Feb. 8 meeting. He provided an email to The Standard that he sent to the city’s homeless department expressing his explicit opposition to the project on Jan. 16, about three weeks before Breed’s press conference.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breed-s-tough-sell">Breed’s tough sell</h2>



Since the press conference, Breed has returned to Chinatown repeatedly and apologized to community members for the lack of outreach regarding the plan. She also acknowledged that it was poorly timed, arriving when the community was celebrating the Lunar New Year.



The Mayor’s Office later sent out a Chinese-language press release, saying the mayor has been in talks with many community members and promising adequate community engagement before final decisions are made.



“In most cases, they still don&#8217;t want to see it happen,” Breed told the press on Thursday, acknowledging the challenges. “But they still appreciate the fact that the dialogue is finally starting to happen.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1706" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?w=2500" alt="A woman in a red jacket and blue top stands at a podium, flanked by two men in a formal room with onlookers in the background." class="wp-image-250605" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg 2560w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?resize=2500,1666 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240219-pushbacksobercenter.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor London Breed, left, and Randy Shaw, the director of Tenderloin Housing Clinic, announce the plan to ...

Breed confronted over planned Chinatown sober living facility  

San Francisco is considering opening its first long-term, city-funded sober living community in Chinatown, a proposal that comes as scrutiny mounts over a wave of drug deaths that have hit the city in recent years, though some locals aren&#8217;t happy about its potential opening.



The 150-unit facility would be located at Hotel North Beach on Kearny Street and individuals who have already been sober for a year could move in.&nbsp;Officials said no drug testing will take place at the facility, though residents who repeatedly relapse will be transferred to other housing options.



“We&#8217;re excited about the possibility of a sober living environment for people who have struggled with addiction and are in a situation where it&#8217;s hard to maintain sobriety because of their environment,” said Mayor London Breed at a press conference on Thursday. “And when we were in places like the Tenderloin community—and I met with a number of people there—they were looking for other alternatives, and this site presents a possible alternative.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3000" height="2001" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?w=2500" alt="a group of people stand in the back of a room looking frustrated. " class="wp-image-247230" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg 3000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Edward Siu, chairman of the Chinatown Merchants United Association, complained that the mayor didn&#8217;t consult the community about the proposed facility.</figcaption></figure>



While sober living communities already exist in San Francisco, they’re aimed at transitioning drug or alcohol users into permanent housing over a period of up to 90 days, said Emily Cohen, a spokesperson for the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, which would operate the facility along with the Tenderloin Housing Clinic.



The city’s proposal would be the first time it is devoting its own funds to a facility that will house people indefinitely with abstinence in mind and supportive services attached. About 8,000 people live in permanent supportive housing in San Francisco—and <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/10/17/san-francisco-homeless-housing-drug-overdose-deaths/">drug overdoses are very common inside the facilities</a>—a crisis that some attribute to a loneliness epidemic that the community-centered approach of sober living wants to counter, said officials on Thursday.&nbsp;



An existing law prevents using state funding for housing needs if eligibility is contingent on participation in an on-site program, like sobriety. The city is getting around this by using its own general fund dollars. Cohen said it will cost the city $750,000 to get the program up and running —and about $3.7 million per year to operate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chinatown-locals-say-they-weren-t-consulted">Chinatown locals say they weren&#8217;t consulted </h2>



But the plans are already facing pushback from some in the Chinatown community.&nbsp;



Edward Siu, chairman of the Chinatown Merchants United Association, attended Thursday’s press conference with a scowl on his face and his arms crossed. He said the city hadn’t consulted with him and others in the community, though he didn’t outright say he was against the sobriety model of housing.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls loop muted poster="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/sfs_2023videosizzle-00_24_35_20-still018.jpg" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240209-soberliving.mp4" playsinline></video><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor London Breed spars with members of the Chinatown community on Thursday over a proposed sober, permanent supportive housing site, the first of its kind for the city. </figcaption></figure>



“Why did you not reach out to us before the press conference?” Siu asked the mayor before a scrum of reporters.&nbsp;



Breed said she would be happy to speak with Siu but in a private setting, and admitted making “a mistake” by not consulting him and a handful of other critics who stood around the business leader.



Others, including homeless advocate Sara Shortt from the Treatment on Demand Coalition, are skeptical about what sort of impact it could have on those who relapse inside the proposed facility.&nbsp;



“I absolutely support extending resources through every range of the (housing) spectrum,” Shortt said. “This could be very helpful for our city at this time. I just would want to have some airtight assurances that we’re not going to see a revolving door when (residents) do start to use again. And that this isn’t a counterproductive and poor use of our resources.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3000" height="2001" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?w=2500" alt="a man walks past an awning and a sign reading Hotel North Beach" class="wp-image-247231" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg 3000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240209-soberliving_007.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Myron Grant, a formerly homeless resident who is part of the substance abuse treatment program Positive Directions, said the facility would help support people&#8217;s recovery from drugs.</figcaption></figure>



The plan still needs the approval of the Homelessness Oversight Commission, which will meet on March 7.&nbsp;



Those recovering from drugs say the facility could do wonders for those seeking a better life.



Myron Grant, a member of the drug treatment program Positive Directions who was formerly homeless, said he was using prescription pills and overdosed about a year ago. Standing outside the Chinatown hotel, Grant said staying away from drugs—and having a group of people around him who support his goal—has been crucial.



“It’s reestablished my relationship with my family,” said Grant, 35. “It’s a great support system.”

San Francisco drug crisis commission doing nothing for lack of members

A commission in charge of holding San Francisco accountable for its response to the drug and mental health crises hasn’t been able to hold a proper meeting for more than seven months as the city’s elected leaders neglect to fill its seats.&nbsp;



There are currently only six active members on the 17-person Behavioral Health Commission, an oversight body with the power to draft policy and conduct reviews of programs run by the city’s Behavioral Health Department. The department has a $592 million annual budget and is responsible for providing mental health and drug treatment services.&nbsp;



Because there are fewer than nine active members, the commission lacks a quorum and hasn’t been able to wield much of its power or hold meetings since February.



The term of the commission&#8217;s co-chair, Balham Vigil, expired 10 months ago, but Vigil continues to serve; the city has failed to appoint a replacement. The commission is required by state law, and 16 of its 17 members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors.&nbsp;



A 17th seat is reserved for a member of the Board of Supervisors. But that seat has sat empty since January 2022. Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, who championed the creation of <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/03/28/can-you-fight-bureaucracy-with-bureaucracy-this-new-commission-is-optimistic/">the Homelessness Oversight Commission</a>, was the last Board of Supervisors member to fill the seat before Behavioral Health Commission members said he abruptly stopped attending. Safaí didn’t respond to a request for comment.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2350" height="1567" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1SupervisorsChambersPhotos07062023-23.jpg?w=2350" alt="" class="wp-image-185328" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1SupervisorsChambersPhotos07062023-23.jpg 2350w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1SupervisorsChambersPhotos07062023-23.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1SupervisorsChambersPhotos07062023-23.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1SupervisorsChambersPhotos07062023-23.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1SupervisorsChambersPhotos07062023-23.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2350px) 100vw, 2350px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai during the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Meeting at City Hall in San Francisco on July 11.</figcaption></figure>



“The supervisors are just not appointing people,” said former commission member Geoffrey Grier. “You’ve got a lot of folks who want to be on the commission but they’ve got to wait a year? Nine months?”



Victor Young, a clerk for the Board of Supervisors, told The Standard there are eight people who have pending applications to serve on the commission. However, he said it’s difficult to find qualified members for the commission due to the types of experience needed for each seat.&nbsp;



Each of the 11 supervisors gets one appointee to the commission. The six other seats are appointed by the full Board of Supervisors, including the one seat designated for a member of the Board of Supervisors.



On top of that, there are other complicated rules. At least nine of the 17 commissioners are supposed to be mental health patients or family members of mental health patients. Two commissioners are supposed to be mental health “advocates,” two seats are designated for mental health professionals, and one seat is to be held by a person “serving the public interest.”&nbsp;



The commission currently has three seats occupied by mental health patients or their family members, two mental health professionals and one advocate.



The Behavioral Health Department is part of the Department of Public Health, the largest department in the city with a $3 billion budget. The Department of Public Health has at least four commissions overseeing its work.&nbsp;



Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who is chair of the rules committee, which evaluates commission applicants, said he’s working on legislation that would shrink the commission from 17 members to 11. He told The Standard the commission’s stringent eligibility requirements have imposed barriers for him and other supervisors to appoint commissioners.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1708" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-scaled.jpg?w=2500" alt="" class="wp-image-178021" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-2500x1668.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-650x434.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-370x247.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-800x534.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-450x300.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-20x13.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-185x123.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-740x494.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-400x267.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-1600x1067.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-225x150.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-900x600.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BreedPressConf062923_20-72x48.jpg 72w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Supervisor Matt Dorsey speaks at a press conference in San Francisco on June 29. | Jeremy Chen/The Standard</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-oversight-bodies-work-some-supervisors-are-skeptical-nbsp">Do Oversight Bodies Work? Some Supervisors Are Skeptical&nbsp;</h2>



In July, The Standard reported <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/07/06/only-1-person-at-sf-city-hall-knows-the-answer-to-this-simple-question/">only one person working in City Hall</a> was able to figure out how many departments, boards, commissions and advisory bodies the city has. A representative from the City Attorney’s Office eventually counted 53 departments, 56 boards and commissions, and 74 more advisory bodies, bringing the grand total to 183 different entities.&nbsp;



The revelation frustrated many who said the city is plagued by too many overlapping bureaucracies.&nbsp;



Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who is one of five supervisors with active appointees on the Behavioral Health Commission, said the city should fill the vacant seats but was skeptical whether it would move the needle on solving city issues.



“If oversight bodies led to good government, we would have the best government in the world,” Mandelman said.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-scaled.jpg?w=2500" alt="" class="wp-image-161645" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-2500x1667.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-650x433.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-370x247.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-800x533.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-450x300.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-20x13.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-185x123.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-740x493.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-400x267.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-1600x1067.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/05162023BOSRoundup-071-225x150.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-conte...

Where do San Francisco mayoral candidates stand on drugs and homelessness?

The race to become San Francisco’s next mayor is still in its early stages, but that hasn’t stopped candidates from trading barbs over their plans to solve the city’s most pressing issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;



On the same day last week, Levi Strauss heir and nonprofit founder Daniel Lurie <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/09/26/qa-daniel-lurie-cites-crisis-of-leadership-in-run-for-san-francisco-mayor/">announced his run for mayor</a> as Mayor London Breed publicly proposed a <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/09/29/mayor-london-breeds-plan-to-require-drug-treatment-on-san-franciscos-poorest-has-a-potential-poison-pill/">controversial policy</a> that would <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/09/26/mayor-halts-cash-for-drug-users/">force people on welfare</a> to undergo drug screenings.&nbsp;



The dueling conferences marked the beginning of a 2024 race that’s likely to be hyper-focused on the city’s <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/09/18/san-francisco-ties-record-for-most-overdose-deaths-in-a-month/">drug</a> and <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/09/18/homeless-shelter-data/">homelessness crises</a>. And in a subsequent press release, Lurie accused Breed’s office of “headline chasing&#8221;; Breed’s office hit back in a statement to The Standard saying, “Let’s hear the ideas.”&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3000" height="2001" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LurieForMayor09262023__0556-1.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a white shirt and tie gestures while speaking at a podium labeled &quot;FOR MAYOR.&quot;" class="wp-image-204927" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LurieForMayor09262023__0556-1.jpg 3000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LurieForMayor09262023__0556-1.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LurieForMayor09262023__0556-1.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LurieForMayor09262023__0556-1.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LurieForMayor09262023__0556-1.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LurieForMayor09262023__0556-1.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Daniel Lurie holds a press conference at the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House in September after filing paperwork officially announcing his candidacy for the November 2024 election.</figcaption></figure>



Each candidate has their own history of trying to tackle the issues. Breed ran her <a href="https://londonbreed.medium.com/a-bold-approach-to-homelessness-a42121dc586c">2018 mayoral campaign </a>on ending long-term street encampments and providing safe spaces to inject drugs. Lurie founded a nonprofit with a focus on addressing homelessness. Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, another mayoral challenger, drafted legislation last year that led to the creation of the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/03/28/can-you-fight-bureaucracy-with-bureaucracy-this-new-commission-is-optimistic/">city’s Homelessness Oversight Commission</a>.



But where do the city’s most prominent mayoral candidates—Lurie, Breed and Safaí—stand on drug and homelessness policies?&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safe-consumption-sites">Safe-Consumption Sites</h2>



San Francisco has long toyed with the idea of creating facilities that would allow people to use drugs under the supervision of people trained to reverse overdoses. Many drug policy experts have touted the benefits of such sites, asserting <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/11/17/city-funded-survey-says-the-tenderloin-center-improved-the-neighborhood-others-arent-convinced/">they reduce public drug use</a> and overdoses. It’s unclear whether the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/05/11/sf-voters-lean-away-from-progressive-policies-as-homelessness-and-public-safety-shape-opinions/">general public is convinced</a>, however.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4773" height="3182" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SRO-CityFederal-092823_JY_024.jpg?w=2500" alt="A person is speaking into a microphone, wearing a bright blue top, with a blurry background." class="wp-image-207017" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SRO-CityFederal-092823_JY_024.jpg 4773w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SRO-CityFederal-092823_JY_024.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SRO-CityFederal-092823_JY_024.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SRO-CityFederal-092823_JY_024.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SRO-CityFederal-092823_JY_024.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SRO-CityFederal-092823_JY_024.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 4773px) 100vw, 4773px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor London Breed speaks at a press conference in Portsmouth Square in Chinatown.</figcaption></figure>



Breed advocated for safe-consumption sites during her 2018 mayoral campaign, but amid legal uncertainty, she has shied away from allowing the city to fund the facilities. In a statement, Breed’s campaign said she would allow a nonprofit to fund and open a safe-consumption site independently, but she is awaiting guidance from the federal government before allowing the city to finance such a facility.&nbsp;



Safaí told The Standard he supports opening safe-consumption sites, but he envisions them working in coordination with sober living facilities and other treatment options. He pointed to his work with the Adult Probation Department to create <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/06/02/drug-free-rehab-facility-in-soma-aims-to-transform-lives-and-the-surrounding-community-alike/">sober living programs</a> for people leaving jail.&nbsp;



Lurie differed from the other candidates on the issue, telling The Standard that <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/10/06/san-francisco-mayor-candidate-lurie-opposes-drug-sites/">he wouldn’t support opening such sites.</a> In a statement, Lurie suggested they would lure “drug tourism” to the city and said he would instead focus on “shutting down open air drug markets and getting everyone sheltered.”&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1667" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1.jpg?w=2500" alt="Two adults stand with a dog; a woman sleeps on the pavement nearby, with bags and a cone visible." class="wp-image-55723" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-650x433.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-370x247.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-450x300.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-20x13.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-185x123.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-740x493.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-1600x1067.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-225x150.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-900x600.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tenderloinLinkageCenter_FEATURED1-72x48.jpg 72w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shawn and Melissa Holbrook, who’ve been married 17 years, wait in line for services outside a safe-consumption site and service triage that operated in San Francisco for 11 months. </figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-encampment-clearings">Encampment Clearings</h2>



In December, a local advocacy nonprofit called the Coalition on Homelessness brought a lawsuit accusing San Francisco of violating the constitutional rights of homeless people by destroying their property without offering shelter. U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu, the judge in the case, sided with the coalition and issued a preliminary injunction restricting the city from enforcing laws prohibiting people from sitting, lying or camping in public spaces.&nbsp;



The issue of whether or not the city should clear encampments has since taken center stage. Advocates decry the adverse impact encamp...

After delay, supervisors to review reparations plan

This week, the Board of Supervisors will finally take a look at the city’s reparations proposal for Black residents, which attracted more heat than light when it was initially unveiled. The board will also hear an update on police reform efforts ahead of initial committee hearings on Mayor London Breed’s <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/political-turbulence-ahead-for-breeds-27m-police-overtime-bill/">police overtime funding proposal</a>.&nbsp;



As always, wonks can check out the rest in this week’s <a href="https://sfbos.org/event/2023/bag031423_agenda">agenda</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-homelessness-commission-takes-shape">Homelessness Commission Takes Shape</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1719" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-2500x1719.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-137375" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-2500x1719.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-300x206.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-768x528.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-1536x1056.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-2048x1408.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-650x447.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-370x254.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-800x550.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-450x309.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-185x127.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-740x509.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-20x14.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-400x275.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-1600x1100.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-225x155.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-900x619.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED1_0313BOSPreview-70x48.jpg 70w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tech executive Vikrum D. Aiyer has withdrawn his application for a seta on the Homelessness Oversight Commission. | Yalonda M. James/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



On Monday, the board’s <a href="https://sfbos.org/event/2023/agenda/rls031323_agenda">Rules Committee</a> evaluates nominations for the new Homelessness Oversight Commission created by <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/public-health/homelessness/wanting-more-from-tax-dollars-voters-poised-to-add-oversight-to-homelessness-department/">Proposition C</a>, approved by voters last November. Seven people need to be appointed to the body—four by Mayor London Breed, which are approved by the board, and three directly by the board.



The four mayoral appointees include:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sharky Laguana, former Small Business Commission president</li>



<li>Jonathan Butler, a researcher in family community medicine at UCSF</li>



<li>Katie Albright, the CEO of Safe and Sound, a national children and families advocacy group&nbsp;</li>



<li>Vikrum Aiyer, a tech executive and former Obama Administration official who <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/mayors-homeless-commission-vikrum-aiyer-unethical-behavior/">withdrew his name from consideration</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



Aiyer’s nomination drew scrutiny due to <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/mayor-breed-homeless-commission-vikrum-aiyer-expenses-education-history/">ethical missteps he made while at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office</a>, filing false expense reports and <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/mayors-homelessness-pick-vikrum-aiyer-burned-bridges-federal-agency/">misrepresenting his academic credentials</a>. After initially defending himself, pinning the missteps on being a young government official, Aiyer withdrew Friday, outlining his position <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/vikrum-aiyer-san-francisco-homelessness-commission-17832713.php">in a San Francisco Chronicle column</a>. 



On Monday, the committee voted to recommend Laguana, Butler and Albright to the full board. A replacement nomination for Aiyer is forthcoming from the mayor&#8217;s office.



The committee also recommended BART Director and former Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Booksmith proprietor and activist Cristin Evans, and Joaquin Whit Guerrero, a Conflict Navigator at the California State Bar, to fill the remaining seats.



The full board will vote on the recommendations later this month.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-supervisors-hear-reparations-plan">Supervisors Hear Reparations Plan&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="8192" height="5464" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/INLINED01_reparations02032023.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-122154" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/INLINED01_reparations02032023.jpg 8192w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/INLINED01_reparations02032023.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/INLINED01_reparations02032023.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/INLINED01_reparations02032023.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/INLINED01_reparations02032023.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/INLINED01_reparations02032023.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 8192px) 100vw, 8192px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Supervisor Shamann Walton speaks at the opening of the new Lucky Bayview grocery store in San Francisco on Oct. 26, 2022. | Mike Kuba/The Standard</figcaption></figure>



The top-line item at Tuesday’s full board meeting is a special order hearing on the draft <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/video/san-franciscos-reparations-proposal-explained/">San Francisco Reparations Plan</a> at 3:00 p.m.&nbsp;



Produced by the African American Reparations Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Commission, the <a href="https://sf.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/HRC%20Reparations%20Report.pdf">draft plan</a> includes multiple proposals of compensation for Black San Franciscans who meet specific criteria.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Recommendations range from debt relief to affordable housing assistance to a $5 million lump-sum payment for each qualifying Black resident. That last proposal sparked significant controversy in the national press.&nbsp;



The $5 million payments idea is just one option and has been described as <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/will-san-franciscos-case-for-reparations-light-the-match/">an anchor in negotiations</a> over more realistic plans to provide relevant investments and services to reverse the effects of historical inequality and discrimination against Black residents.&nbsp;



A reparations policy <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/san-francisco-supervisors-to-hear-reparations-plan-feb-7-black-residents/">enacted in Evanston, Illinois, in 2019</a>, the first in the nation to be implemented, set aside $10 million to be spent over 10 years on a number of initiatives, beginning with $25,000 grants for housing assistance.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The board’s hearing was postponed for a month when its chief sponsor, District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, experienced travel delays on his return from <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/supervisors-fix-breeds-resignation-gate-get-earful-on-delayed-reparations-hearing/">a birthday trip to Colombia</a>. The postponement was criticized by stakeholders <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/supervisors-fix-breeds-resignation-gate-get-earful-on-delayed-reparations-hearing/">at a Feb. 7 board meeting</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sex-work-resolution-up-again-maybe">Sex Work Resolution Up Again, Maybe</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1667" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED2_0313BOSPreview.jpg-2500x1667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-137400" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED2_0313BOSPreview.jpg-2500x1667.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED2_0313BOSPreview.jpg-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED2_0313BOSPreview.jpg-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED2_0313BOSPreview.jpg-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED2_0313BOSPreview.jpg-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED2_0313BOSPreview.jpg-650x433.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED2_0313BOSPreview.jpg-370x247.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/INLINED2_0313BOSPreview.jpg...

Mayor Breed’s homeless commission nominee to face pushback after lying about federal expenses, education history

Few local government bodies will be more closely scrutinized in the months to come than San Francisco’s newly created <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/public-health/homelessness/wanting-more-from-tax-dollars-voters-poised-to-add-oversight-to-homelessness-department/">Homelessness Oversight Commission</a>.&nbsp;



At last count, the city had <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/public-health/homelessness/california-homelessness-where-are-the-states-billions-going-heres-the-new-best-answer/">roughly 7,700 people sleeping on city streets</a>, with little visible progress when it comes to sheltering the city’s most vulnerable residents despite spending hundreds of millions dollars. That’s why voters signed off on Proposition C last fall to create the new commission, which will oversee the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) by approving budgets, reviewing contracts and providing policy oversight.



Mayor London Breed, who <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/S-F-Mayor-Breed-opposes-homelessness-oversight-17458055.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">opposed Prop. C and the creation of the commission</a>, announced <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23687577-22123-press-release-mayor-breed-announces-nominees-for-san-franciscos-new-homelessness-oversight-commission" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">four nominees</a> Tuesday, and the selections include: a doctor whose work focuses on the Black community, which suffers from homelessness at a disproportional rate; a longtime nonprofit leader who focused on child abuse prevention; and a politically connected small business owner.&nbsp;



However, one nominee’s history has raised serious concerns.



Vikrum Aiyer is a tech executive whose resume includes stops with Postmates, the American Civil Liberties Union and a stint as a senior adviser on technology in the Obama White House. He lives in the South of Market area and played a role in helping small businesses during the city’s pandemic response. He now serves as a commissioner on San Francisco’s workforce investment board.



Aiyer is also someone who repeatedly lied about his misuse of government funds over the course of two years, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/01/10/a-high-ranking-obama-commerce-official-commuted-by-taxi-and-billed-the-government/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a Washington Post report published in 2018</a>.



During his time as chief of staff at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from 2014 to 2017, Aiyer reportedly lied on more than 130 occasions about commuting and personal expenses, including charges at bars, restaurants, coffee shops and dry cleaners. He also impersonated current and former high-level agency officials on receipts and vouchers to avoid being caught, according to <a href="https://www.oig.doc.gov/OIGPublications/16-1036_Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a report by the Office of Inspector General</a>.



Last but not least, Aiyer reportedly <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/sf-power-couple-gave-george-santos-thousands-now-they-feel-cheated/">pulled a George Santos</a> by lying on his resume about receiving a postgraduate degree.



So why would the mayor nominate someone with a checkered past—especially in light of a <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/san-francisco-city-hall-corruption-scandal-nuru/">City Hall corruption scandal</a> and rock-bottom <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/san-francisco-standard-voter-poll-fall-2022/">confidence in city government</a>?



“In speaking with Vikrum about these issues raised in the Washington Post article, he explained that he didn’t properly file the expense reports due to a grave misunderstanding of the proper procedures,” the Mayor’s Office said in a statement. “He has acknowledged his errors and he previously paid the government back for his mistakes, and he has learned from them.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1306" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-2500x1306.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-129734" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-2500x1306.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-300x157.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-768x401.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-1536x802.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-2048x1070.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-650x340.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-370x193.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-800x418.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-450x235.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-185x97.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-740x387.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-20x10.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-400x209.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-1600x836.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-225x118.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-900x470.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SOCIAL2_MayorOversight02232023-92x48.jpg 92w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor London Breed talks with a homeless man. | Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



That’s certainly one narrative of events. The Post found that Aiyer knew he was lying when filing his taxi receipts and he told investigators he was simply doing as he was told.



In the newspaper’s review of the federal government probe, Aiyer apparently told investigators “he thought it was permissible to provide incorrect trip origin or destination information because this was the ‘protocol that was imparted to [him] by [his] bosses at the time.’” Officials told the Post that he was never instructed to lie about his expenses.



Aiyer acknowledged the report’s findings in an emailed statement Wednesday



“There is no better teacher than lived experience, and as one of the youngest chiefs of staff of a federal agency in my 20s, I made a grave mistake, took full responsibility, learned from it, and ensured it would never happen again,” he said. “While my lesson was certainly public &amp; humbling, it also gave me first hand appreciation for the importance of government oversight.”



The Mayor’s Office told The Standard that Breed and Aiyer had a direct discussion about the falsified reports, and enough time has passed since the 2018 story that Breed felt comfortable nominating him.



“[Breed] accepted that he owned his mistakes and has learned from them,” the Mayor’s Office said. “She believes people who are dedicated to San Francisco should be allowed to serve their communities and bring their experiences to that service. She also had conversations with community leaders who strongly advocated for him and his dedication to communities that are too often ignored in conversations around homelessness in San Francisco.”



One of those individuals is Randy Shaw, executive director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, a low-income tenant advocacy organization. Shaw emailed The Standard an unsolicited statement in support of Aiyer before the Mayor’s Office offered its own defense.



“We need a commissioner who can look at a multi-million dollar HSH budget and make independent assessments of whether HSH funds are being most efficiently and wisely spent,” Shaw said. “We also need a commissioner who understands program accountability and who will not be a mere rubber stamp for the staff. Vikrum Aiyer is an ideal fit for both needs.”



Aiyer’s appointment still requires confirmation, and multiple members of the Board of Supervisors told The Standard they were not pleased to see him selected by the mayor.



“The reason Proposition C requires all appointments to be reviewed and approved in a public hearing at the Board of Supervisors is so we can ensure they have the proper qualifications and are the right fit,” said Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, who sponsored Prop. C. “As a member of the Rules Committee, I look forward to finding out more about each of the candidates prior to making a decision on whether to confirm.”



The Board of Supervisors appoints the three remaining seats on the commission. Individuals will need two out of three votes in favor by the Rules Committee, and then a majority vote in support by all supervisors. The mayor’s nominations must be approved by the board within 60 days, or they are approved if no action is taken in that time.

The Homelessness Oversight Commission monitors and evaluates homelessness initiatives in San Francisco. It ensures accountability in the use of funds and assesses program effectiveness. The commission makes strategic decisions to address homelessness and advises on policy improvements.

Homelessness Oversight Commission

Homelessness Oversight Commission Commissioner 1

Homelessness Oversight Commission Commissioner 2

Homelessness Oversight Commission Commissioner 3

Homelessness Oversight Commission Commissioner 4

Homelessness Oversight Commission Commissioner 5

Homelessness Oversight Commission Commissioner 6

Homelessness Oversight Commission Commissioner 7

Asian Art Museum

Office of the City Administrator

Adult Probation Department

Airport

Arts Commission

Office of the Assessor-Recorder

Board of Appeals

Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

Office of the City Attorney

Department of Children, Youth and Their Families

Controller's Office

Planning Department

Civil Service Commission

District Attorney's Office

Department of Building Inspection

Department of Early Childhood

Department of Emergency Management

Department of Police Accountability

Department of Public Health

Department of Public Works

Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Environment Department

Ethics Commission

Fine Arts Museums

Fire Department

Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing

Human Rights Commission

Department of Human Resources

Human Services Agency

Health Service System

Juvenile Probation Department

Public Library

Municipal Transportation Agency

Office of the Mayor

Public Defender's Office

Police Department

Port

Public Utilities Commission

Recreation and Park Department

Department of Elections

Retirement System

Rent Board

Sheriff's Department Office of Inspector General

Sheriff's Department

Department of Technology

Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector

War Memorial

Department on the Status of Women

General City Responsibilities

General Administration & Finance

Culture & Recreation

Community Health

Human Welfare & Neighborhood Development

Public Works, Transportation & Commerce

Public Protection

SF Civil Grand Jury

The Abatement Appeals Board provides a final review process for City permitting decisions. It ensures fair and efficient adjudication of permit-related disputes before an impartial panel. The board holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals concerning notices of abatement.

Abatement Appeals Board

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 1

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 2

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 3

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 4

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 5

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 6

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 7

The Access Appeals Commission provides final reviews for a wide range of City permitting decisions. It ensures an efficient, fair, and expeditious permit issuance process through an impartial panel. The commission holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals related to City permits.

Access Appeals Commission

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 1

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 2

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 3

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 4

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 5

The Adult Day Health Care Planning Council advises on the development and improvement of adult day health care services. It provides expertise in healthcare planning, policy recommendations, and program evaluation. Key responsibilities include assessing community needs and advising on service delivery enhancements.

Adult Day Health Care Planning Council

Adult Probation Department supervises individuals on probation and facilitates their reintegration into the community. It provides reentry and rehabilitative services, including victim restitution and financial assistance for crime victims. The department values public safety, offender rehabilitation, and community partnerships.

Cristel Tullock

The Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners evaluates arts and crafts applicants and monitors program compliance. It conducts studio visits and public screenings to ensure adherence to established criteria. Members also revise program criteria and undertake additional tasks as needed.

Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners

The Advisory Council on Human Rights advises on anti-discrimination laws and racial equity initiatives. It provides expertise on reparations and public policy impacts on Black communities. It guides efforts to establish partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in San Francisco.

Advisory Council on Human Rights

San Francisco Airport manages air traffic operations and ensures safe aircraft movement. It provides parking facilities and maintains airport infrastructure to accommodate travelers and staff. The department oversees ground transportation and coordinates with airlines for efficient passenger services.

Mike Nakornkhet

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.