SF Police Chief Bill Scott steps down


<p>Mayor Daniel Lurie said Wednesday that<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</span>San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott, one of the city&#8217;s longest-serving top lawmen, is leaving after eight years. During his tenure, Scott oversaw major reforms, sparred with a progressive DA, and dealt with a crime spike following the pandemic — all as SFPD ranks thinned.</p>



<p>The announcement comes a month after Scott&#8217;s second-in-command, Assistant Chief David Lazar, said he <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/lazar-police-retirement-20263448.php">plans to retire</a> at the end of May. Sources previously told The Standard that Lurie, who has replaced multiple department heads since taking office in January, had considered firing Scott.</p>



<p>Scott is the longest-serving chief after Thomas Cahill, who led the department from 1958 to 1970. On June 23, he will start <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/07/bill-scott-to-lead-los-angeles-metro-transportation-police/">his new job</a> as chief of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Agency&#8217;s yet-to-be-created police force.</p>



<p>&#8220;This was an incredibly difficult decision, but at the end of the day, I was given an opportunity that I simply could not decline,&#8221; Scott said in an email to SFPD staff that was obtained by The Standard.</p>



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<p>Scott will remain with the SFPD until late June, he said in the email.</p>



<p>While announcing his resignation at a press conference, he became emotional.</p>



<p>&#8220;Never in my wildest dreams — when I told my wife in 1987, shortly after we were married, that I wanted to live in San Francisco —&nbsp;could I have imagined that we would get here by me becoming the chief of police of this great department in this great city,&#8221; Scott said. &#8220;But some things are just meant to be.&#8221;</p>



<p>Paul Yep, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/02/daniel-lurie-paul-yep-chief-public-safety/">Lurie&#8217;s public safety czar</a> and a former SFPD commander, will serve as interim police chief. He said he is not a candidate for the permanent position.</p>



<p>Lurie praised Scott for his work reducing violent and property crime.</p>



<p>&#8220;I want to express my profound gratitude to the chief for his service to our city. And I wish him and his family nothing but the best,&#8221; Lurie said. &#8220;I am committed to building a leadership team in the SFPD that builds on our early progress, strengthens and deepens the ranks of our officers and command staff, and uses all the tools available to continue our comeback.&#8221;</p>



<p>The Police Commission will now be tasked with finding three candidates for Lurie to choose from. With a newly appointed mayoral majority, the options should be to his liking.<br></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap25008789492327.jpg?w=2500" alt="A police chief in uniform speaks with a man in a suit on a city street. Other officers and a young boy in a hoodie are nearby, with buildings in the background." class="wp-image-360279" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap25008789492327.jpg 7836w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap25008789492327.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap25008789492327.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap25008789492327.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap25008789492327.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap25008789492327.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor Daniel Lurie and Scott in the Tenderloin.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Scott, a former Los Angeles police officer, was hired in 2017 by <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/expected-shakeup-of-sfpd-leadership-leaves-most-in-place-but-expands-top-heavy-organization/article_55e12efa-23e3-52a3-b7d9-2ab4b7ef49c9.html">the late Mayor Ed Lee</a>. He led the department through <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/mayor-accepts-damning-federal-review-of-sfpd-as-painfully-accurate/article_01866fd6-8f98-51b9-9d9c-e2121d35c377.html">federal reforms</a> meant to reduce bias and shootings by police, among other initiatives. But soon after he became chief, those reforms were threatened by Donald Trump, whose first presidency led to Scott breaking with federal law enforcement and removing the <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/police-withdraw-from-controversial-fbi-anti-terrorism-task-force/article_eba58ed2-f624-596b-96c8-5066b05e44e7.html">SFPD from a joint terrorism task force.</a></p>



<p>During Scott’s early years as chief, car break-ins were a hot-button crime, for which he set up a special task force. But the pandemic changed the SFPD&#8217;s focus to open-air drug dealing and retail theft, which coincided with progressive <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/elections/article/Chesa-Boudin-wins-San-Francisco-D-A-election-14823180.php">District Attorney Chesa Boudin’s</a> time in office.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Scott’s recent years have focused on a short-staffed department tasked with stamping out the drug dealing that has plagued city streets since the pandemic. He has also led the police through a scandal with the department-affiliated nonprofit SF SAFE, which was dissolved after financial impropriety came to light. While the nonprofit’s head was charged for misusing the organization&#8217;s funds, Scott has said the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/21/sf-safe-sfpd-kyra-worthy-corruption-nonprofit/">department will never find out how</a> millions of its dollars were spent.</p>



<p>Former San Francisco Police Officers Association President <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/06/09/sf-police-union-president-steps-down-amid-claims-of-financial-impropriety/">Tony Montoya</a> criticized Scott.</p>



<p>&#8220;Bill Scott was never committed to San Francisco. His heart and loyalties remained in L.A.,&#8221; Montoya said. &#8220;He always had his eyes on leaving. I was in a one-on-one meeting with him when he got the call from [former L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti] notifying him that he didn&#8217;t get the chief&#8217;s job in L.A. and it was given to Michel Moore.</p>



<p>&#8220;Scott isolated himself from the rank and file and never did anything to endear the cops,&#8221; Montoya added. &#8220;He was a yes man to the politicians and never stood on his own two feet or stood behind the rank and file. He was a nice man but definitely not chief material. He only had one qualification for the job and was a DEI hire.&#8221;</p>



<p>The departure of Scott was celebrated inside the Police Officers Association, too.</p>



<p>&#8220;New dawn, new way of life…time to seize the day!&#8221; wrote POA President Tracy McCray Wednesday morning in an email obtained by The Standard.</p>



<p>The message also contained allegations that Scott stood in the way of police officers&#8217; due process in discipline cases. </p>



<p>&#8220;We have toiled over the past eight (8) years in hundreds of cases guarding the due process rights of our union members in so many instances of obstacles from an outside LAPD chief,&#8221; wrote ex-POA President Paul Chignell.</p>



<p>Sheriff Paul Miyamoto said that Scott served with &#8220;humility, fairness, and dedication&#8221; while facing public crises like the fentanyl epidemic.</p>



<p>&#8220;Chief Scott has been an unwavering champion of social reform and change in law enforcement, even amongst dissenting voices, blazing a trail many would not have dared to take,&#8221; Miyamoto said.</p>



<p>Until recently, Scott had suggested he wasn’t going anywhere.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“I have important work to complete here in San Francisco that includes continuing and sustaining our reform efforts, addressing crime, helping our city recover economically, and rebuilding our police force to ensure we have the staff to meet all the city’s challenges for years to come,” <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/01/16/los-angeles-police-chief-search-san-francisco-bill-scott/#">Scott said in January 2024</a> amid speculation that he would try for the chief’s job in Los Angeles.</p>


Daniel Lurie has started pissing people off — and he’s OK with that


<p>Candidates make promises. Mayors have to keep them.</p>



<p>That’s the reality facing Mayor Daniel Lurie in his first 100 days in office, a milestone that will officially pass April 18.</p>



<p>As a candidate, Lurie lacked definition. He was everything to everyone in a way that garnered praise from across the political spectrum, like pro-housing YIMBYs and anti-development NIMBYs. It was <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/06/daniel-lurie-mayoral-campaign-poll-win/">a strategy intended to garner second-place votes</a>, and it worked.</p>



<p>As a mayor, Lurie no longer has that luxury. His choices will inevitably piss people off. And they have.</p>



<p>“I was elected to make hard decisions, and it wasn&#8217;t to make everybody like me,” he said.</p>



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<p>To combat the fentanyl crisis, he placed restrictions on when San Francisco can hand out drug paraphernalia for health reasons. Harm reduction experts called the move “<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/02/moronic-nonprofit-slams-luries-new-rule-on-free-drug-supplies/">moronic</a>.” He tossed progressive Max Carter-Oberstone <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/25/sf-police-commission-ouster/">off the police commission</a>, citing a need for collegiality. Police reformists protested. He built a homeless shelter in the Bayview, over the objections of the neighborhood’s representative, Supervisor Shamann Walton, to ensure that RV dwellers had a safe place to sleep. Walton called Lurie a racist “<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIAF-AhBttm/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1">oligarch</a>.”</p>



<p>Muni-lovers <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DISTQMsRaK4/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1">panned</a> Lurie for granting permission for Waymo vehicles to zoom down a previously car-free Market Street, calling it “dangerous, undemocratic, inequitable, and un-San Franciscan.” In perhaps his most politically dangerous move yet, Lurie backed a plan to build taller homes on the west side. That’s a one-way ticket to ticking off much of his electoral base.</p>



<p>The Standard joined Lurie in his City Hall office, Room 200, to discuss his eventful first 100 days. The mayor made no apologies for taking unpopular stands.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04082025_lurie100days_004.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a suit sits at a wooden desk with hands clasped. Behind him are flags and a large abstract painting. The room has wooden paneling." class="wp-image-387233" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04082025_lurie100days_004.jpg 7461w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04082025_lurie100days_004.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04082025_lurie100days_004.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04082025_lurie100days_004.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04082025_lurie100days_004.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04082025_lurie100days_004.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lurie sits down in Room 200 for an interview on his first months in office.</figcaption></figure>



<p>In fact, a new mayor who’s not eliciting yowls in the first 100 days is probably doing it wrong, said Jane Kim, state director of the California Working Families Party and a former San Francisco supervisor.</p>



<p>It’s during the honeymoon period that a new mayor has the most political capital.</p>



<p>“You start on Day 1 with a certain amount and spend it down,” Kim said. “It&#8217;s the time to prove yourself.”</p>



<p>Lurie has spent his capital with speed. At times that has propelled him into brick walls.</p>



<p>Following his early efforts to tackle the fentanyl crisis on Sixth Street, the drug market sprang anew <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/26/san-francisco-rise-and-fall-harm-reduction/">in other neighborhoods</a>. His effort to advance resources to combat homelessness in the Tenderloin garnered <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/03/tenderloin-shelter-daniel-lurie-london-breed/">instant pushback</a>; his office told advocates he’d reduced a shelter’s planned extension from five years to one. And his directive to city departments to cut 15% of their budgets was <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/05/san-francisco-budget-deficit-departments-daniel-lurie/">met with a shrug of the shoulders by some officials.</a></p>



<p>The mayor is not deterred by those early setbacks.</p>



<p>“This is an artificial number, 100 days. I don&#8217;t measure our success in 100-day increments,” he said. “It took us a long time to get into this crisis that we&#8217;re in, whether it&#8217;s the budget crisis or whether it&#8217;s the fentanyl crisis. And it&#8217;s going to take us a long time to get us out.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8294322590_lifeinsfsdrugmarketunderanewmayor_aar_002-edited.jpg?w=2500" alt="Four men in suits cross a city street, with storefronts and signs, including &quot;ARCADE,&quot; in the background. They appear focused and are walking briskly." class="wp-image-360105" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8294322590_lifeinsfsdrugmarketunderanewmayor_aar_002-edited.jpg 4203w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8294322590_lifeinsfsdrugmarketunderanewmayor_aar_002-edited.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8294322590_lifeinsfsdrugmarketunderanewmayor_aar_002-edited.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8294322590_lifeinsfsdrugmarketunderanewmayor_aar_002-edited.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8294322590_lifeinsfsdrugmarketunderanewmayor_aar_002-edited.jpg?resize=2500,2500 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8294322590_lifeinsfsdrugmarketunderanewmayor_aar_002-edited.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8294322590_lifeinsfsdrugmarketunderanewmayor_aar_002-edited.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8294322590_lifeinsfsdrugmarketunderanewmayor_aar_002-edited.jpg?resize=180,180 180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">After Lurie worked to tackle the fentanyl crisis on Sixth Street, the drug market sprang up in other neighborhoods.</figcaption></figure>



<p>There is no doubt that voters are giving Lurie space to get things done. He has occasionally depended on that goodwill to stretch the English language to accomplish policy goals.</p>



<p>When he found he could not legally declare a fentanyl state of emergency on “Day 1,” a legal mechanism he promised on the campaign trail, he simply introduced a piece of legislation that he named a “<a href="https://www.sf.gov/mayor-lurie-supervisors-celebrate-overwhelming-vote-in-support-of-fentanyl-state-of-emergency-ordinance">fentanyl state of emergency ordinance</a>.” When he wanted to back taller housing in the Sunset and Richmond, he dubbed it “family zoning.” Because who can argue with families?</p>



<p>To achieve his goal of building 1,500 shelter beds in his first six months in office, he stretched the definition of both “six months” (saying the clock didn’t start until he announced his suite of policy initiatives) and <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2025/03/daniel-lurie-1500-homeless-shelter-beds-goal/">what counts as a “bed.”</a></p>



<p>One place Lurie hasn’t been willing to open his metaphorical wallet is national politics, even when the White House’s agenda has domino effects in San Francisco. As President Donald Trump chips away at the rights of immigrants, transgender people, and people of color, you’d be hard-pressed to hear Lurie even utter the word “Trump.”</p>



<p>Sitting in his wood-paneled office, The Standard asked Lurie to make a statement, any statement, describing his position on any policy of the president.</p>



<p>Lurie declined.</p>



<p>Instead, he said, he’s focused on what the mayor of San Francisco can control: making the streets safe, alleviating the fentanyl crisis, housing the homeless, running the buses on time, and closing the city’s $820 million budget deficit.</p>



<p>After all, he argued, if he fails on those fronts, the vulnerable people Trump is targeting are the ones who will feel it the hardest.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1666" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8337154218_ice_aar_0151.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man speaks passionately at a podium outdoors, wearing glasses and a suit. A second man stands beside him, listening intently in a formal setting." class="wp-image-361968" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8337154218_ice_aar_0151.jpg 4667w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8337154218_ice_aar_0151.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8337154218_ice_aar_0151.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8337154218_ice_aar_0151.jpg?resize=2500,1666 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8337154218_ice_aar_0151.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8337154218_ice_aar_0151.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lurie speaks during a press conference at City Hall about the status of immigrants.</figcaption></figure>



<p>The data points already show the city shifting in the right direction, Lurie said: Violent crime is down, car break-ins are down, Union Square is attracting new tenants, and even Sixth Street has seen clearer, cleaner days than at any other time in recent memory.</p>



<p>“I think people are feeling the change. I think they&#8217;re already feeling a little bit better once again. I think the momentum is going in the right direction,” Lurie said.</p>



<p>That’s the trick.</p>



<p>Statistics won’t win over hearts, Lurie said. His success in the next 100 days, and the next four years, will be measured in how San Franciscans feel.</p>


Daniel Lurie’s 100-day progress report


<p>In politics, 100 days can seem like an eternity —&nbsp;has it really been only three months since Trump took office again? —&nbsp;or a blink. Assessing a mayor’s —&nbsp;or president’s —&nbsp;tenure at the 100-day mark is a convention, but an imperfect one,&nbsp;an exercise in judging beginnings without knowledge of the endings.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Even so, Mayor Daniel Lurie hit the pavement with enough vigor and momentum that a recap of his first 14.3 weeks in City Hall offers much for discussion —&nbsp;even if it’s far too early to say whether his efforts will bear the intended fruit.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Here’s what Lurie has accomplished on six key fronts.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-homelessness">Homelessness</h2>



<p>Lurie’s signature campaign promise was to build 1,500 shelter beds and solve street homelessness in just six months after taking office. Since becoming mayor, however, he has backed away from the latter promise; in late January, a campaign adviser told The Standard that <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/28/san-francisco-daniel-lurie-homelessness-shelter-promise/">the promise was a “slip-up</a>.”</p>



<p>While he has stood by the goal of adding 1,500 beds, he’s given himself more time, with staff saying the six-month clock didn’t start until mid-March — more than two months after his inauguration — when Lurie <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/17/daniel-lurie-fentanyl-emergency/">unveiled his “Breaking the Cycle” directive</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1859" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8367759482_homelessoutoftowners_040.jpg?w=2500" alt="People stand and sit on a sidewalk cluttered with belongings and strollers, beside parked cars and buildings, creating a crowded and busy street scene." class="wp-image-370255" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8367759482_homelessoutoftowners_040.jpg 4849w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8367759482_homelessoutoftowners_040.jpg?resize=300,223 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8367759482_homelessoutoftowners_040.jpg?resize=768,571 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8367759482_homelessoutoftowners_040.jpg?resize=2500,1859 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8367759482_homelessoutoftowners_040.jpg?resize=1536,1142 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8367759482_homelessoutoftowners_040.jpg?resize=2048,1523 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">People gather on a sidewalk near Sixth and Natoma streets in February.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Overall, Lurie’s strategy is aimed at improving the current system while adding a variety of facilities — not just shelter beds — that offer such services as mental health treatment, sober living coaching, and interim housing.</p>



<p>Lurie’s most impactful reform in the first 100 days came when he announced an overhaul of the city’s oft-criticized street teams, condensing their efforts into five neighborhood-based squads. The teams previously worked disparately and with overlapping functions, a city audit found in 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crime-and-public-safety">Crime and public safety</h2>



<p>Lurie inherited a city with low levels of violent crime but a major problem with drug use and associated crime. With former police officer Paul Yep as his policy chief on public safety, Lurie has doubled down on the tough-on-crime regime put in place by his predecessor, London Breed, while moving to consolidate control of the Police Commission and the San Francisco Police Department.</p>



<p>Under Lurie and Yep, the SFPD has shifted resources around, transferring cops to a command center in the Tenderloin and prioritizing enforcement of theft and petty crime. The department has <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/27/jefferson-square-park-raid-san-francisco-police-drugs-arrests/">conducted mass arrests</a> of alleged dealers and users for <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/06/drug-dealing-arrests-police-park-raid/">minor infractions such as loitering</a> or possession of paraphernalia —&nbsp;arrests that typically don’t result in charges. Meanwhile, the city’s jails are <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/14/sf-jails-packed-for-the-first-time-in-decades/">the fullest they’ve been</a> in decades.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="864" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1740650785758blob.png?w=1920" alt="A nighttime scene with a group of police officers standing near a brightly lit bus stop. The bus stop displays an ad about parked cars getting hot quickly." class="wp-image-372418" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1740650785758blob.png 1920w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1740650785758blob.png?resize=300,135 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1740650785758blob.png?resize=768,346 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1740650785758blob.png?resize=1536,691 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Police and other city officials carry out a mass sweep and arrests of suspected drug dealers and users at Jefferson Square Park.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Lurie was able to secure support from the Board of Supervisors for his <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/04/san-francisco-mayor-bold-play-remove-sfpd-commissioner/">removal of an independent-minded police commissioner</a>, Max Carter-Oberstone, who had defied Breed and blocked her from appointing her choice of SFPD chief. Mayoral appointees now make up the majority of the commission, which has the role of choosing three candidates in the event Chief Bill Scott retires or is pushed out.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-drug-crisis-nbsp">The drug crisis&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Despite the passage of legislation declaring a “fentanyl emergency,” which gives the mayor special powers to address the crisis, overdose rates remain at startling levels, and visible drug markets continue to plague some street corners —&nbsp;but <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/21/the-mission-is-the-new-tenderloin/">the addresses have changed</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>SFPD’s high-profile raids on the notorious late-night gatherings of drug users, dealers, and illegal vendors have so far accomplished little more than moving them around the city.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In his approach to helping drug users, Lurie has accelerated his predecessor’s shift away from so-called harm reduction policies, introducing <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/02/moronic-nonprofit-slams-luries-new-rule-on-free-drug-supplies/">a controversial mandate</a> to pair distribution of smoking supplies with counseling.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1046" height="697" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/dsc07539.jpg?w=1046" alt="An alley with white tents covering tables, where a few people sit and stand. Tall buildings and trees are visible in the background." class="wp-image-365308" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/dsc07539.jpg 1046w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/dsc07539.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/dsc07539.jpg?resize=768,512 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1046px) 100vw, 1046px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Police opened a triage center in a parking lot in February.</figcaption></figure>



<p>The city <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/04/sixth-street-drug-market-triage-center-police/">opened a triage center</a> on Sixth Street, a corridor known for drug activity, connecting more than 1,000 people to medical or behavioral health treatment and directing more than 275 into shelter or housing, according to city data. Lurie is using his new emergency powers to open <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/12/lurie-will-use-emergency-fentanyl-powers-to-speed-crisis-center-opening/">a crisis center</a> at 822 Geary St. that will serve as an alternative landing spot for people suffering from overdoses and mental health crises.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-business">Business</h2>



<p>“San Francisco is open for business” has been a refrain of Lurie’s as he has attempted to pull off a feat that eluded Breed: breathing life back into downtown. Office vacancy rates remain high, foot traffic is still depressed, and tourism levels are wobbly, but some economic indicators, including sales tax revenue and population flows, are trending positively after steep pandemic declines.</p>



<p>Lurie’s policy program has included expanded public-drinking “entertainment zones,” slashed red tape on development, and an order to bring city workers back to the office.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8566320600_metastrava08.jpg?w=2000" alt="A man in a suit speaks into a microphone on a small stage, with an audience of diverse people standing and observing. A large screen is next to him displaying &quot;Strava.&quot;" class="wp-image-374947" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8566320600_metastrava08.jpg 2000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8566320600_metastrava08.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8566320600_metastrava08.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8566320600_metastrava08.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lurie speaks with Strava employees at the fitness app company&#8217;s new headquarters in downtown San Francisco.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Assisting him is Ned Segal, the mayor’s policy chief for housing and economic development, who came to government after a long career in the private sector, including in investment banking and technology.</p>



<p>Lurie has leaned on his connections to bring private funds to bear on the downtown problem. New civic and business groups, including the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/08/lurie-downtown-development-corp-nonprofit-david-stiepleman/">San Francisco Downtown Development Corp.</a> and the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/17/lurie-creates-powerful-partnership/">Partnership for San Francisco</a>, have been created for this purpose, both stocked with billionaires and CEOs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-education-nbsp">Education&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Lurie campaigned on a vision of a more “family-friendly” San Francisco, with a stronger public school system at the heart of that promise. Though he’s a private-school parent and holds no direct authority over the San Francisco Unified School District — which operates independently from City Hall — he retains indirect influence. About a quarter of the district’s budget comes from the city, and as mayor, Lurie has the power to appoint Board of Education members.</p>



<p>Since taking office, Lurie has mostly taken on a symbolic and supportive role when it comes to the SFUSD. He’s been present at school events, applauded rising enrollment numbers, and backed initiatives like college savings account programs. Both SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su and school board President Phil Kim have expressed gratitude for his involvement. Still, Lurie has generally refrained from commenting on specific issues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-budget">The budget</h2>



<p>The city faces an $820 million deficit that President Donald Trump could make worse in a variety of ways, from yanking federal funds to triggering a recession that would decimate the tax base. Lurie estimated that the budget hole could grow <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/10/san-francisco-lurie-budget-trump-2-billion/">as large as $2 billion</a>.</p>



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<p><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/06/san-francisco-layoffs-daniel-lurie-budget-deficit/">Layoffs</a> are on the table, his office said. If they occur, it will be the first time City Hall has laid off employees to meet a budget need since Gavin Newsom was mayor. In the meantime, Lurie has instructed city departments to reduce their budgets by 15%, specifying that cuts should not be “politically untenable.” The proposals have rolled in: <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/18/san-francisco-city-hall-street-cleaning-services-department-of-public-works/">scaling back</a> street cleaning, charging more for parking meters, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/18/bussing-downtown-good-luck-muni-to-snip-routes-to-save-money/">snipping</a> Muni routes, closing art museums <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/04/fine-arts-museums-may-slash-staff-close-on-tuesdays/">on additional days,</a> and cutting back on nonprofits. Still, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/opinion/2025/03/10/daniel-lurie-is-getting-budget-rolled-by-his-own-bureaucrats/">not all departments have complied</a> with the 15% mandate: 22 city agencies <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/05/san-francisco-budget-deficit-departments-daniel-lurie/">blew it off.</a></p>



<p>Whatever happens next, the Board of Supervisors and Lurie must agree on the budget by July 1, a process mandated by city law.</p>


Lurie picks gun violence activist to replace ousted police commissioner


<p>A gun violence prevention advocate is Mayor Daniel Lurie’s choice to replace <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/25/sf-police-commission-ouster/">a recently ousted police commissioner</a>, The Standard has learned.</p>



<p>Mattie Scott, whose son George C. Scott was shot and killed in 1996 at a San Francisco high school graduation party, would sit on the commission tasked with setting policy for the San Francisco Police Department and holding disciplinary hearings for officer misconduct.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Lurie’s nomination comes after he ejected <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/04/san-francisco-mayor-bold-play-remove-sfpd-commissioner/">Max Carter-Oberstone</a>, a strong supporter of police reform, from the commission. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 9-2 in favor of ousting Carter-Oberstone. While Lurie indicated that the move was related to Carter-Oberstone&#8217;s relationships with City Hall officials, the former commissioner and criminal justice reform activists claimed the mayor’s intention was to tighten control on the commission.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The mayor’s office declined to comment. The Board of Supervisors must confirm Scott’s nomination. On Tuesday, the board approved former federal prosecutor Wilson Leung for another vacant seat on the commission.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Stefani-14.jpg" alt="Three people stand outside an ornate, arched building entrance, having a conversation. One wears a Brady campaign shirt, another a suit, and the third a sweater." class="wp-image-15428" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Stefani-14.jpg 1200w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Stefani-14.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Stefani-14.jpg?resize=768,512 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scott, left, intends to push for police reform but acknowledges the need for more officers.</figcaption></figure>



<p>In an interview, Scott, 72, said she has “been in this work for justice” since childhood, having grown up in the South and learning of her father’s experience being targeted by police. A San Francisco resident since 1965, Scott is the founder of Healing 4 Our Families &amp; Our Nation, which supports victims of gun violence. She has worked with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi on matters related to gun violence prevention.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While Scott said she intends to push for police reform while on the commission, she acknowledged the city’s need for more officers. This echoes Lurie, who ran on hiring officers and formed an independent committee <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/01/22/london-breed-prop-e-san-francisco-police-fundraising/">to raise money for a ballot measure initiative</a> that would increase the powers of law enforcement.</p>



<p>“We need law enforcement,” Scott said. “When we lost George Floyd, people wanted to defund the police. Defunding the police is not the answer. We need more police who are trained well.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>One of her goals is to push for more officers to be embedded in the communities they serve. “You need to understand the demographics of the people you’re policing,” she said.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>The nomination comes amid speculation that Lurie intends to replace SFPD Chief Bill Scott (no relation). If he is fired, the commissioners would submit to Lurie three candidates for chief.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Rev. Amos C. Brown of Third Baptist Church described Mattie Scott as “a people’s person,” adding that she has “experienced the pain of having lost her son, whom I baptized at Third Baptist Church.” When asked whether Scott would support Carter-Oberstone’s push for police reform, Brown said she strongly supports “commonsense community policing.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>“She’s tops,” he added.</p>



<p>Brian Hofer, a police reform advocate who led a rally in support of former commissioner Carter-Oberstone, wrote in a statement that Scott “appears qualified” for the oversight board role. <br><br>“I hope that she will act in an independent manner and be unafraid to hold the police accountable if they stray outside the lines,” he wrote. </p>



<p><em>Jonah Owen Lamb contributed reporting.</em></p>


‘A lack of respect’: Ousted police commissioner blasts Lurie


<p>A nearly monthlong dust-up over a police commissioner’s seat ended with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voting to remove Max Carter-Oberstone, an ardent advocate of law enforcement reform, from his role on the oversight body.</p>



<p>In a 9-2 vote Tuesday — with supervisors Myrna Melgar and Jackie Fielder opposing — the board removed Carter-Oberstone just weeks after <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/04/san-francisco-mayor-bold-play-remove-sfpd-commissioner/">Mayor Daniel Lurie&#8217;s Feb. 4 request for the commissioner&#8217;s ouster</a>. In a subsequent vote, supervisors unanimously appointed Lurie&#8217;s nominee, <a href="https://www.sf.gov/mayor-lurie-makes-first-round-of-new-appointments-wilson-leung-to-police-commission-jean-fraser-to-prop-e-commission-alicia-john-baptiste-to-mtc-tessie-guillermo-and-dr-laurie-green-reappointed-to-health-commission" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">former federal prosecutor Wilson Leung</a>, for a separate vacant seat.</p>



<p>Carter-Oberstone, whom former Mayor London Breed nominated in late 2021, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/09/23/whats-really-behind-the-mayors-spat-with-her-appointee-influence-over-sfpds-future-leadership/">fell out of her favor</a> by refusing to push for her policy recommendations and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/02/07/supervisors-fix-breeds-resignation-gate-get-earful-on-delayed-reparations-hearing/">revealing her practice of forcing appointees to sign undated resignation letters</a>. While on the commission, Carter-Oberstone called for tackling police misconduct and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/02/21/san-francisco-police-commission-final-vote-to-limit-pretext-stops/">racial profiling</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The commissioner’s critical perspective of the San Francisco Police Department contrasts with Lurie’s call for more law enforcement. Additionally, Lurie created a committee during last year’s March primary to support Proposition E, a voter-approved measure <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/01/22/london-breed-prop-e-san-francisco-police-fundraising/">that loosened rules surrounding vehicle pursuits and surveillance technology</a> and drew the ire of police reform advocates.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap2500878949232711.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a suit and a police officer in uniform are walking and talking. They are surrounded by other uniformed officers on a city street." class="wp-image-360281" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap2500878949232711.jpg 5958w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap2500878949232711.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap2500878949232711.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap2500878949232711.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap2500878949232711.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap2500878949232711.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor Daniel Lurie has the power to remove SFPD Chief Bill Scott, though candidates for a replacement are chosen by the police commission.</figcaption></figure>



<p>In an interview Tuesday, Carter-Oberstone blasted Lurie for trying to make commissioners “do as they&#8217;re told.” During his time on the police oversight body, Carter-Oberstone often disagreed with his moderate colleagues and the mayor’s office.</p>



<p>&#8220;It indicates a lack of respect for our city&#8217;s founding [charter] and for our city&#8217;s system of government,” he said. Carter-Oberstone also said the lack of explanation for his removal flies in the face of the promises of transparency Lurie made while on the campaign trail.</p>



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<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a big difference between campaigning and governing, and Daniel Lurie doesn&#8217;t have a track record in public life, in public office, and so the public&#8217;s getting to see what kind of leader he is,” Carter-Oberstone said.</p>



<p>The former commissioner delivered a 10-minute speech at Tuesday’s hearing, saying his job is &#8220;not to become popular with the agency I&#8217;m supposed to be overseeing [but to] protect and defend the rule of law.&#8221;</p>



<p>Dozens of public commenters at the hearing defended Carter-Oberstone, including representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union and organizations advocating for criminal justice reform.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1668" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8565060456_maxoberstone_007.jpg?w=2500" alt="A person sits at a desk with laptops and microphones, surrounded by others in a formal room. American, California, and San Francisco flags are on display." class="wp-image-371884" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8565060456_maxoberstone_007.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8565060456_maxoberstone_007.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8565060456_maxoberstone_007.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8565060456_maxoberstone_007.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8565060456_maxoberstone_007.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8565060456_maxoberstone_007.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, center, supported Carter-Oberstone&#8217;s ouster.</figcaption></figure>



<p>&#8220;Why would a police commissioner be a road block to Mayor Daniel Lurie&#8217;s plans?&#8221; one commenter asked. &#8220;Public safety is Max Carter-Oberstone. He has stopped the violence coming from within our own halls of justice.&#8221;</p>



<p>Some defended Lurie&#8217;s move to unseat Carter-Oberstone.</p>



<p>&#8220;The mayor has the right to have his picks,&#8221; said Marie Hurabiell, executive director of ConnectedSF. &#8220;No mayor has to honor the previous administration. It is completely procedural and completely within the bounds of the law.&#8221;</p>



<p>Carter-Oberstone said he met with Lurie’s chief of staff, Staci Slaughter, in late January and asked about rumors of his removal. He said Slaughter told him a decision had not yet been made.</p>



<p>Lurie has not provided a reason for the ouster other than emailing the city clerk: “I look forward to nominating a new commissioner in the near future who will work collaboratively to make our city safer.”&nbsp;</p>



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<p>The move has raised questions about whether Lurie is trying to get a firmer grip on naming an eventual replacement for SFPD Chief Bill Scott. Lurie has already replaced multiple department heads, including the fire chief and director of the Department of Public Health. The mayor has the power to remove the chief; commissioners would pick three nominees from whom Lurie would choose a replacement.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Many have speculated that he needs more commissioners who will put whatever name he wants on that list of three,” Carter-Oberstone said.</p>



<p>The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment about the board’s decision Tuesday.&nbsp;In an emailed statement, Lurie touted Leung as an important asset for advancing his agenda at City Hall. </p>



<p>“Throughout the government, we are appointing leaders who will work with fellow commissioners and departments to deliver better services for our city,&#8221; Lurie wrote, &#8220;and Wilson’s decades of work in compliance and oversight will make him an asset as we work together to protect San Franciscans.&#8221;</p>



<p><em>Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez</em> <em>contributed reporting.</em></p>


Lurie makes bold play to cut controversial police commissioner


<p>Mayor Daniel Lurie is taking steps to remove a police commissioner who <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/09/23/whats-really-behind-the-mayors-spat-with-her-appointee-influence-over-sfpds-future-leadership/">proved to be a thorn in the side of the previous mayor</a> and has consistently called attention to issues of police misconduct and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/02/21/san-francisco-police-commission-final-vote-to-limit-pretext-stops/">racial profiling</a>.</p>



<p>Max Carter-Oberstone, an attorney who was appointed to the Police Commission in late 2021, received an email Tuesday from Staci Slaughter, the mayor’s chief of staff, informing him that he would no longer be needed.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In an email informing the city clerk, Lurie wrote: “I appreciate Commissioner Carter-Oberstone’s service to the city. I look forward to nominating a new commissioner in the near future who will work collaboratively to make our city safer.”</p>



<p>Reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, Carter-Oberstone said he was surprised to receive the email informing him of his potential ouster. He said he met with Slaughter last week and mentioned that he had been hearing rumors he could be asked to resign, but Slaughter replied that no decision had been made. Carter-Oberstone then told her he would not resign if asked to do so.</p>



<p>“I don’t know any more details than you do right now,” he told The Standard. “What I can just say is that I’m very proud of my record with the Police Commission. I think I’ve always acted with integrity and done what’s in the best interest of the public without regard to politics.”</p>



<p>Quickly into his term, Carter-Oberstone enraged former Mayor London Breed by refusing to go along with her preferred policies, as well as outing her practice of <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/02/07/supervisors-fix-breeds-resignation-gate-get-earful-on-delayed-reparations-hearing/">forcing appointees to sign undated resignation letters</a>. The practice ended after first being reported by The Standard.</p>



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<p>Lurie&#8217;s bold political play will need to be approved by a majority of the Board of Supervisors after going to the rules committee. However, President Rafael Mandelman has the ability to sidestep the committee and take it directly to the full board.</p>



<p>Sources close to the situation said the mayor’s office is confident it has the votes, and Mandelman confirmed to The Standard that he supports the decision to remove Carter-Oberstone.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“I plan on making the case to the board and the public on why I deserve to finish my term,” Carter-Oberstone said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Lurie’s reasons for removing Carter-Oberstone could be two-fold. In one respect, the commissioner has routinely sparred with the mayor’s office and more moderate-leaning colleagues. Carter-Oberstone also could be seen as an impediment to Lurie taking control of the commission and enacting changes across the San Francisco Police Department.</p>



<p>Sources have told The Standard that Lurie has considered firing SFPD Chief Bill Scott. City rules allow the mayor to make that decision unilaterally, but only the Police Commission has the authority to put forward three candidates as permanent replacements, which would give Lurie the final call on who to hire.</p>



<p>Carter-Oberstone’s ouster would potentially pave the way for Lurie to have greater control to dictate who the police commission would submit as Scott’s permanent successor. A police spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.</p>



<p>Mandelman told The Standard he supports Carter-Oberstone’s removal but would like to see Scott remain on as chief.</p>



<p>“Being the chief of police in the city and county of San Francisco means you&#8217;re going to be blamed by half the people for doing too much and by half the people for not doing enough,” Mandelman said. “[Scott] is an extraordinary public servant.”</p>


SF’s new public safety czar was accused of driving drunk, abusing authority in 2016 crash


<p>Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie’s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/02/daniel-lurie-paul-yep-chief-public-safety/">new chief of public safety</a>, Paul Yep, was a rising star in the San Francisco Police Department in 2017 after becoming captain of Central Station, overseeing Chinatown and downtown.</p>



<p>But in December 2018, Yep was abruptly reassigned from the prominent position to an internal police headquarters job.</p>



<p>Yep was a popular captain, and the shift <a href="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/chinese-press.pdf">caused an uproar</a> in the Chinese community. Even then-Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer rallied in support of him.</p>



<p>However, the timing of Yep’s reassignment may not have been a coincidence, The Standard has learned. Just three months earlier, he was accused in a civil lawsuit of driving under the influence in a city-owned vehicle, rear-ending a car in Burlingame, then attempting to intimidate the other motorist.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Police records show that Yep, a San Mateo resident, was driving eastbound on Trousdale Drive on Nov. 12, 2016, when another vehicle stopped 100 feet ahead of him. He attempted to stop but rear-ended it.</p>



<p>According to a lawsuit filed by Timothy Hansen, the other driver, Yep was “evasive” when confronted about the collision.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Hansen said in the suit that when he asked Yep for identification, the police captain replied, “Don’t worry about that,” adding,&nbsp;“When my people get here, you’ll get what you need.” Hansen said Yep then told him, “You know I’m a police officer, right?”&nbsp;</p>



<p>In a deposition, Hansen testified that Yep smelled of alcohol at the time of the collision. In his own deposition, Yep denied drinking alcohol that night. Yep was not cited, arrested, or prosecuted for drunk driving related to the incident.</p>



<p>Hansen also alleged in the complaint that Yep drove past his house after the incident and “stared” at him “in a menacing fashion.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>Hansen’s suit, initially filed in San Mateo County but later transferred to San Francisco, cited physical and emotional harm.</p>



<p>The civil case resulted in a settlement in 2020. A source with knowledge of the situation said Yep’s mysterious reassignment in 2018 was related to the collision in Burlingame.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1667" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap243137668255291.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a suit speaks at a podium with microphones, surrounded by a diverse crowd, including a woman in sunglasses and a man in a black suit." class="wp-image-351308" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap243137668255291.jpg 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap243137668255291.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap243137668255291.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap243137668255291.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ap243137668255291.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie speaks at a news conference alongside Yep.</figcaption></figure>



<p>In an <a href="https://www.sohu.com/a/282371788_100031220">official response to Chinese media in 2018</a>, the department said Yep’s job change was a “periodical rotation among district captains and command staff positions,” with the goal of giving them more comprehensive and diverse experience.</p>



<p>In a statement, Police Chief Bill Scott denied that Yep was reassigned for disciplinary reasons: “Retired commander Paul Yep served our department honorably and with distinction,” he said. “Seeing this attempt to smear his reputation with unsubstantiated rumors and innuendo is frankly pathetic.”</p>



<p>Max Carter-Oberstone, who serves on the city’s police commission, said the civil complaint should raise alarm bells.</p>



<p>“The complaint — which alleges that Paul misused his powers as a police officer to intimidate the victims of his own crimes — raises serious questions about whether he is fit to serve the public in any capacity,” Carter-Oberstone said in a statement to The Standard. </p>



<p>Yep stated in the November 2016 police report that neither party was injured and both vehicles sustained “minor” damage. The report states that Yep admitted to causing the collision by driving at an unsafe speed.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Hansen did not respond to a request for comment. An attorney who represented Hansen declined to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement. Lurie’s transition team spokesperson, Max Szabo, told The Standard, “We have nothing to add. The court records speak for themselves.”</p>



<p>Yep chose to early retire from the SFPD in 2023. Wind Newspaper <a href="https://www.windnewspaper.com/article/2-high-ranking-chinese-american-officers-retire-early-from-sfpd-the-community-shocked-and-worried">cited sources</a> claiming he had been bypassed for a promotion.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>Josh Koehn and Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez contributed to this report.</em></p>


Sam Altman tapped for Lurie’s transition team


<p>San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie named OpenAI boss Sam Altman on Monday to his transition team, pledging to build a government rooted in accountability and change.</p>



<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m excited to introduce this talented and diverse team who will help guide our transition and lay the groundwork for the change San Franciscans demand,&#8221; Lurie said.</p>



<p>The transition team will counsel Lurie and his advisors as they build relationships with city agencies, develop partnerships, assemble leadership, and create 100-day plans with accountability metrics. The first mayor to have no governmental experience in more than a century, Lurie has promised to bring a &#8220;world-class&#8221; slate of leaders into City Hall.  </p>



<p>Altman previously ran Y Combinator, a tech startup incubator, and lives in San Francisco. The campaign told The Standard that it hopes Altman contributes to the city&#8217;s downtown recovery and helps implement artificial intelligence technology at City Hall. </p>



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<p>Earlier this year, Altman declined a pitch from <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/26/san-francisco-pandas-china-zoo-sam-altman-marc-benioff-london-breed/">sitting Mayor London Breed to help fund</a> the city&#8217;s $25 million project to bring pandas from China.</p>



<p>Other co-chairs on the team have governmental and private-sector experience.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20240130-asianvotemayorrace-43_cd2148.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a white shirt stands on a bustling street decorated with red lanterns, likely in a Chinatown. People walk by, and signs advertise gifts and Shanghai." class="wp-image-331533" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20240130-asianvotemayorrace-43_cd2148.jpg 4000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20240130-asianvotemayorrace-43_cd2148.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20240130-asianvotemayorrace-43_cd2148.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20240130-asianvotemayorrace-43_cd2148.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20240130-asianvotemayorrace-43_cd2148.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20240130-asianvotemayorrace-43_cd2148.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie announced a transition team on Monday that includes OpenAI chief Sam Altman.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Joanne Hayes-White was San Francisco&#8217;s first female fire chief, from 2004 to 2019. She increased diversity, improved community safety programs, and served on national public safety boards.</p>



<p>José A. Quiñonez, Mission Asset Fund&#8217;s founding CEO, who has been recognized with a MacArthur Fellowship, has developed financial inclusion programs for marginalized communities.</p>



<p>Ned Segal, who co-chaired Lurie&#8217;s mayoral campaign, served as Twitter&#8217;s CFO. He began his career at Goldman Sachs.</p>



<p>Michael Tubbs, former Stockton mayor, gained national attention for promoting universal basic income. He now advises California Gov. Gavin Newsom on economic mobility.</p>



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<p>Two Asian Americans are on the transition team, Nancy Tung and Paul Yep. Lurie garnered massive support from Asian voters, a critical voting bloc that helped propel him to the mayor&#8217;s office.</p>



<p>Tung, a 24-year prosecutor, leads the Vulnerable Victims Unit at the San Francisco district attorney&#8217;s office and chairs the San Francisco Democratic Party. She told The Standard in a text message that she&#8217;s &#8220;honored to be part of Mayor-Elect Lurie&#8217;s transition team and excited to get started.&#8221;</p>



<p>While Tung was seen as an ally to Breed, she voted for Lurie as her second choice in the Democratic Party endorsement meeting, breaking ties with others on the board who solely endorsed the incumbent mayor.</p>



<p>Yep, a retired police commander, was one of the most prominent early supporters of Lurie and previously hinted that he may return to city government and join the mayor&#8217;s administration.</p>



<p>Multiple members of the transition team declined to comment. </p>



<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"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m thrilled to introduce the co-chairs who will guide our transition and lay the foundation for change in San Francisco. <br>    •    Sam Altman: CEO of OpenAI<br>    •    Joanne Hayes-White: San Francisco Fire Chief (Ret.)<br>    •    José Quiñonez: CEO of Mission Asset Fund<br>    •… <a href="https://t.co/If5kjHBxRb">pic.twitter.com/If5kjHBxRb</a></p>&mdash; Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielLurie/status/1858561058241474677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The campaign told The Standard that there is no timetable for finalizing senior positions such as chief of staff. </p>



<p>For those interested in joining his administration, Lurie has circulated&nbsp;<a href="https://link.sfstandard.com/click/673a8ea9acd842730f0e4930/aHR0cHM6Ly9kb2NzLmdvb2dsZS5jb20vZm9ybXMvZC9lLzFGQUlwUUxTZTJQVDRKQVA2ZHFhY3pPY2RZNzcxa3ZBNEt5VDBPc19qTGRVaXdmd3k3TnBGRUx3L3ZpZXdmb3JtP3BsaT0xJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TRitTdGFuZGFyZCtQb3dlcitQbGF5JnV0bV9jb250ZW50PXAtdGV4dCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9U0YrU3RhbmRhcmQ/6436e9f49b2604493199640aBf495aeca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a Google form</a>&nbsp;for people to apply. According to the form, which generated considerable interest from current city staffers, his team is aiming to build a staff that &#8220;mirrors the diversity, creativity, and compassion of the people who live here.&#8221;</p>



<p>During the mayor&#8217;s race, Lurie criticized his opponents for being City Hall insiders and beholden to special interests. <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/08/daniel-lurie-san-francisco-mayor/">A frustrated voter base</a>, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/29/san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-wealth-campaign-expensive-levi-strauss/">combined with nearly $10 million of his own money injected into the race</a>, helped Lurie make political history.</p>



<p>A founder of Tipping Point, an anti-poverty nonprofit, Lurie was also chair of the Super Bowl host committee in 2016. He is an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune through his now-deceased stepfather, Peter Haas.</p>



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<p>Mayoral transition teams are chiefly ceremonial. <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/mayor-elect-breed-rewards-political-allies-with-appointments-to-mayoral-transition-team/article_22e21b57-fe6d-59b8-bfa3-3dd8300c3172.html">Breed&#8217;s 2018 team</a>, for instance, included people who volunteered or donated to her campaign or were vocal supporters in the press.</p>



<p>Breed&#8217;s first transition team was co-chaired by Mary Jung, who helped raise thousands from the Realtors Association; Pius Lee, a former police commissioner who hyped the campaign in Chinatown; Suzy Loftus, a former police commissioner whom Breed would later appoint as district attorney; and Sheryl Davis, whom she described as a &#8220;friend,&#8221; who in September <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/13/sheryl-davis-resigns-san-francisco-human-rights-commission/">resigned</a> from the Human Rights Commission amid scandal.</p>


Supe Connie Chan wins tight race to keep her job


<p>Supervisor Connie Chan has won a hotly contested battle to keep her job representing District 1, which includes the Richmond neighborhood.</p>



<p>Chan beat out Marjan Philhour by 1,167 votes as of Monday&#8217;s ranked-choice tally.</p>



<p>Both Chan and Philhour received 11,001 votes (including a ranked-choice tally) in earlier returns, with the incumbent pulling ahead Sunday by 976 votes.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/11/01/marjan-philhour-campaign-richmond-supervisor-san-francisco-november-2024-election/">third time turned out not to be the charm</a> for Philhour, who ran for the seat in 2016 and 2020, losing to Chan in the latter year by 123 votes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>On social media, Philhour frequently <a href="https://twitter.com/MarjanPhilhour/status/1742599424822608006">accused Chan of failing to ensure public safety</a> in the district amid high-profile crimes, including <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/12/08/san-francisco-cvs-store-covers-smashed-entrance-with-gift-wrap-after-atm-theft/">two shocking incidents</a> involving thieves crashing <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/01/03/thieves-take-atms-from-san-francisco-bank-and-oakland-grocery-store/">vehicles into buildings to steal ATMs</a>. Other Chan opponents have taken to social media to criticize the supervisor for saying <a href="https://twitter.com/SusanDReynolds/status/1571953187233615873">property crime is not a serious crime</a> and to repost videos of constituents who <a href="https://twitter.com/alanburradell/status/1702097935687897239">were angered by her support for a progressive police commissioner</a>.</p>



<p>In 2020, during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, Mayor London Breed led the effort to redirect some of the San Francisco Police Department&#8217;s budget to community investment. Both Chan and Philhour were supportive of that idea at the time.<br></p>



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<p>Chan even saw off a committee created to defeat her, spearheaded by the group GrowSF, dubbed the “Clear Out Connie” campaign.</p>



<p>Chan was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Taiwan before moving to San Francisco during middle school. Before being elected as a supervisor, she worked in nonprofits and at city departments as a spokeswoman. She briefly had a column at the San Francisco Examiner covering the Asian American community.<br></p>



<p><em>This is a developing story and will be updated.</em></p>


Breed concedes mayor’s race as frustrated voters seek change


<p>Mayor London Breed is done.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Daniel Lurie, nonprofit founder and heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, has won the San Francisco mayor&#8217;s race, unseating the six-year incumbent. Thursday&#8217;s results showed little hope for Breed’s reelection, despite thousands of ballots remaining to be counted.</p>



<p>&#8220;At the end of the day, this job is bigger than any one person and what matters is that we keep moving this City forward,&#8221; Breed said in a statement. &#8220;Today, I called Daniel Lurie and congratulated him on his victory in this election.&#8221;</p>



<p>&#8220;Over the coming weeks, my staff and I will work to ensure a smooth transition as he takes on the honor of serving as Mayor of San Francisco,&#8221; Breed continued. &#8220;I know we are both committed to improving this City we love.&#8221;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/7o3a3046.jpg?w=2500" alt="A woman in a blue outfit speaks at a podium with multiple microphones. Behind her are U.S., California, and city flags." class="wp-image-330646" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/7o3a3046.jpg 6786w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/7o3a3046.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/7o3a3046.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/7o3a3046.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/7o3a3046.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/7o3a3046.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Breed has offered her full support to Lurie for a smooth transition.</figcaption></figure>



<p>A large group of reporters gathered in Room 200 at City Hall, the Mayor&#8217;s Office, as Breed gave her concession speech.</p>



<p>&#8220;Of course it&#8217;s disappointing, but nevertheless, the decision has been made,&#8221; she said. &#8220;What I have always respected is the decision of the voters.&#8221;</p>



<p>She maintained a positive tone with a big smile and declined to comment further on Lurie&#8217;s wealth and lack of experience.</p>



<p>&#8220;The campaign has to be behind us, and we need to move forward as a city,&#8221; Breed said. &#8220;Ultimately, no matter who the mayor is in San Francisco, we all have to come together and make sure they are successful.&#8221;</p>



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<p>San Francisco’s first Black woman mayor is famous for her inspiring rise to leadership: Breed’s family was touched by drug addiction, crime, and death. Even in the face of violence, Breed’s grandmother — a stern disciplinarian <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/us/san-francisco-mayor-election.html">known to give Breed a “whoopin”</a> — raised her with an ethos of deep personal fortitude. Those life lessons propelled Breed to the University of California Davis, then as head of the African American Art &amp; Culture Complex, to the fire commission, Board of Supervisors, and ultimately the mayorship.</p>



<p>This is Breed’s first electoral loss since her first race for San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2012. Her political rise and fall are intertwined in city history.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Breed, who was then president of the Board of Supervisors, briefly assumed the city’s highest office after the sudden death of Mayor Ed Lee in December 2017. She was later <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11643930/political-outrage-as-mark-farrell-replaces-london-breed-as-s-f-s-acting-mayor">ousted from the mayorship</a> by her board colleagues in a “Game of Thrones”-like political maneuver that earned national headlines. In a few short months, she won office on the strength of her personal story.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Breed easily won reelection for a full term in 2019, and her name would splash across national headlines again in early 2020, when she became one of the earliest mayors to call for residents to stay indoors amid the pandemic. Democrats <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/washington-post-live/coronavirus-leadership-during-crisis-with-san-francisco-mayor-london-breed/2021/02/23/e09d685e-180f-4652-8eff-4d91daa8e8c8_video.html">celebrated</a> her quick action, which was replicated across the nation.</p>



<p>But voters are fickle. One year they hailed Breed for her life-saving lockdown. Yet when they finally flung open their apartment doors, they were aghast at what they saw: boarded-up storefronts, auto burglaries, encampments, and an exploding opioid crisis.&nbsp;</p>



<p>San Franciscans turned against Breed. Those political headwinds proved insurmountable.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Voters dismayed by homelessness, rampant property crime, and seeming dysfunction at City Hall have taken their frustrations out on incumbents, recalling District Attorney Chesa Boudin and giving Breed low marks on her performance as mayor.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The state of the city was fertile ground for challengers. Her chief opponent found a considerable amount of change in the pockets of his family-made jeans.&nbsp;</p>



<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m deeply grateful to my incredible family, campaign team and every San Franciscan who voted for accountability, service, and change,&#8221; Lurie said in a statement.</p>



<p>Lurie unloaded more than $8 million of his personal wealth to unseat Breed. Lurie’s winning message — that City Hall insiders fueled the crises of the day — also resonated with voters. The lingering sour mood was captured in poll after poll.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11042024-cityhallmayorvotes_manuel-30.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man and woman in a suit hold hands while walking into a building. " class="wp-image-328741" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11042024-cityhallmayorvotes_manuel-30.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11042024-cityhallmayorvotes_manuel-30.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11042024-cityhallmayorvotes_manuel-30.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11042024-cityhallmayorvotes_manuel-30.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11042024-cityhallmayorvotes_manuel-30.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11042024-cityhallmayorvotes_manuel-30.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Daniel Lurie and his wife Becca Prowda arrive at City Hall to cast their ballot on Tuesday.</figcaption></figure>



<p>That’s partly because the electorate’s top issues remained ones they could see with their eyes. Breed’s optimistic message became a hard sell.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The city is on the rise, she said. Our collective future is bright, she said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Voters didn’t believe her.</p>



<p>The constant drum of scandals also took their toll on the mayor. Her signature program, the Dream Keeper Initiative, saw its executive director Sheryl Davis resign after <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/12/san-francisco-dream-keeper-initiative-sheryl-davis-james-spingola-nonprofit/">The Standard revealed</a> she had signed off on $1.5 million in contracts to her romantic partner, and The Chronicle revealed that Davis had also mishandled other contract funds.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It’s easy to say Breed’s implosion was self-inflicted. But it would be remiss to forget that voters across the country broadly sounded the need for change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>One insider put it like this to The Standard: The national mood is “throw the bums out.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>Elections near and far reflected this, from the apparent recalls of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price to Vice President Kamala Harris’ sweeping electoral drubbing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While Breed no doubt suffered from those same ineffable but undeniable vibes, San Francisco’s future will continue to be shaped by her decisions in office.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1668" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0084.jpg?w=2500" alt="The room features wood-paneled walls, a desk with computers, a large portrait, an American flag, and glass doors leading to a balcony with city views." class="wp-image-330664" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0084.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0084.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0084.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0084.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0084.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0084.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">During her campaign, Breed said San Francisco was on the rise. Voters didn&#8217;t believe her.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Breed’s signature ballot measure in this year’s primary, Proposition E, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/03/05/san-francisco-voters-election-prop-e-results-police/">empowers police to engage in vehicle pursuits</a>, surveil crime through public cameras, and weaken the citizen-led police commission to empower a law-and-order ethos. Her signature ballot measure this November, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/31/sf-election-2024-prop-m/">Proposition M</a>, is on track to succeed. After its passage, the city will reform how it taxes businesses, which officials hope will prompt the phoenix-like rebirth of downtown.</p>



<p>The mayor also gave the police raises this year, which may help with recruitment but also saddles San Francisco with an ever-ballooning budget. Many of the toughest decisions on how to cut services across city departments — from police to sanitation, pruning parks, and keeping the lights on — were pushed to next year.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This ensures the city’s next mayor will <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/07/daniel-lurie-wins-san-francisco-mayor/">inherit an $800 million budget deficit</a>. Layoffs and service reductions loom amid a brawl over federal dollars with President-elect Donald Trump.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The alchemic mix of those decisions — sweeping tax reforms, police empowerment, budget deficits, and all — will be part of Breed’s legacy.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1668" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0451.jpg?w=2500" alt="Three people walk through a wood-paneled office with a desk and chairs, adorned with framed portraits on the walls and a red carpet on the floor." class="wp-image-330686" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0451.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0451.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0451.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0451.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0451.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241107-breedconcedes_jason_0451.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Breed returns to her office after giving a concession speech in Room 200.</figcaption></figure>



<p>During her 10-minute media briefing Thursday, Breed avoided questions about her future plans, saying her current focus is on the transition. Asked about her advice to the incoming mayor, she said, &#8220;Put San Franciscans first and do everything you can to make sure that you&#8217;re addressing a lot of the complex problems.&#8221;</p>



<p>She emphasized she&#8217;s feeling very hopeful and optimistic about the city &#8220;because I laid the groundwork for this work to continue.&#8221;</p>



<p>For now, she’ll experience the results of her tenure like any other San Franciscan: as a taxpayer and resident, waiting in the dark to see what comes next.&nbsp;</p>


The San Francisco Police Commission sets policy for the Police Department and conducts disciplinary hearings on police misconduct charges. It imposes discipline when necessary and hears appeals from officers disciplined by the Chief of Police. The Commission also appoints and regulates Patrol Special Officers, with authority to suspend or dismiss them after hearings.

Police Commission

Mattie Scott

Larry Yee

Kevin Michael Benedicto

Cindy Elias

Clarence Don Clay

Wai Leung

Police Commission Commissioner 3

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.