Nearly every major Bay Area museum has funding whacked by feds

Art no longer serves the interests of the United States of America.



That seems to be the message President Donald Trump is sending with his latest round of cuts to programs that support the arts, sciences, and humanities.&nbsp;



At least nine Bay Area museums had their federal funding cut in April, including SFMOMA and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, which oversees the de Young and Legion of Honor. Smaller organizations, like the GLBT Historical Society and <a href="https://www.berkeleyside.org/2025/04/28/bampfa-african-american-quilt-collection-institute-of-museum-and-library-services">UC Berkeley’s art museum</a>, were also hit.&nbsp;



Across these organizations, at least $2.6 million in grants were cut. That money was earmarked to support infrastructure maintenance and accessibility, public workshops, and artist programs, among other projects. With millions in future funding at stake, museums are preparing for the worst.



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1380" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/henrikkam_111102_0168_69_72_fused.jpg?w=2000" alt="A bronze statue of a rider on a rearing horse holds a spear, positioned on a stone pedestal. Behind it is a neoclassical building with trees on the left." class="wp-image-374320" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/henrikkam_111102_0168_69_72_fused.jpg 2000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/henrikkam_111102_0168_69_72_fused.jpg?resize=300,207 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/henrikkam_111102_0168_69_72_fused.jpg?resize=768,530 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/henrikkam_111102_0168_69_72_fused.jpg?resize=1536,1060 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco oversees the de Young Museum and Legion of Honor.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trump-s-chopping-block">Trump’s chopping block</h2>



Local museums rely on grants from three federal agencies: the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts.



In a <a href="https://whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Fiscal-year-2026-discretionary-budget-request.pdf">budget proposal</a> released May 2, Trump called for eliminating all three organizations.&nbsp;



Even if that doesn’t happen, the administration has succeeded in hollowing out the organizations — to devastating effect. In early April, approximately 80% of the workforces of both the IMLS and NEH were placed on administrative leave, grinding the mechanisms of funding to a halt.



The hits to Bay Area organizations came fast and hard: $210,000 from SFMOMA, funds intended to <a href="https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/project-proposals/ma-256159-oms-24-sample-application.pdf">improve accessibility</a>; $736,000 from the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/21/trump-cuts-funding-museum-of-the-african-diaspora/">Museum of the African Diaspora</a>; $367,000 from the California Academy of Sciences.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="951" height="735" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/InfinityRooms2023.jpg?w=951" alt="The image shows people in a room filled with large, colorful circles and orbs in red, blue, green, and yellow. Reflections create an immersive, vibrant environment." class="wp-image-181774" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/InfinityRooms2023.jpg 951w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/InfinityRooms2023.jpg?resize=300,232 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/InfinityRooms2023.jpg?resize=768,594 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 951px) 100vw, 951px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">SFMOMA has suffered a loss of at least $210,000 after an IMLS grant was terminated.</figcaption></figure>



The Asian Art Museum learned last week that the majority of a $350,000 grant from the NEH to repair the fire suppression system had been terminated.



Even when the numbers involved are small, they can be devastating. The GLBT Historical Society lost a $10,000 NEH grant it had been awarded in October. The organization has among the smallest operating budgets of museums in the Bay Area, at $2.4 million per year, so the loss has a “real impact,” said Roberto Ordeñana, the executive director.



Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco was a sub-awardee of a $340,000 NEH grant for conservation workshops, including one planned for the fall of 2026. Now that the Department of Government Efficiency has terminated the grant, the museum is seeking alternative funding options for the event, including courting private donors. The museum did not disclose how much it was set to receive from the grant.



Scientific funding is also in turmoil due to the Trump administration. Specifically, the National Science Foundation, which funds the Exploratorium and California Academy of Sciences, is facing a 55% cut to its $9 billion annual budget in the next fiscal year, as well as the mass layoff of half its 1,700-person staff, according to <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/04/nsf-director-resigns-amid-55-budget-cut-mass-layoffs-from-trump-admin/#:~:text=Specifically%2C%20the%20NSF%20is%20facing,is%20in%20for%20significant%20cuts.">Ars Technica</a>.



The Exploratorium will lose an estimated $800,000 from one NSF grant and three IMLS grants aimed at youth programming on AI literacy and climate change. The Exploratorium declined to comment on the funding cuts or how they would affect programming.&nbsp;



While federal funding represents a small fraction of each museum’s operating budget, it is symbolically and strategically significant, helping to kick-start programs and lure donors and other grantors.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1746" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ap0809180149648.jpg?w=2500" alt="A group of people stand in an underwater tunnel, observing fish swimming overhead. The tunnel is surrounded by aquatic plants and clear water." class="wp-image-288300" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ap0809180149648.jpg 3345w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ap0809180149648.jpg?resize=300,210 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ap0809180149648.jpg?resize=768,536 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ap0809180149648.jpg?resize=2500,1746 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ap0809180149648.jpg?resize=1536,1073 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ap0809180149648.jpg?resize=2048,1430 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">California Academy of Sciences faces a potential loss of $3.2 million from 18 federal grants.</figcaption></figure>



“These grants are like a badge of honor,” said Lori Fogarty, director and CEO of the Oakland Museum of California, which was notified last month that an IMLS grant would be terminated. “They’re peer-reviewed, and they’re super competitive, so when you can tell another funder that a project has received IMLS support, it shows that it has been rigorously reviewed. In terms of day-to-day operations, [federal funding] is a small part of our budget.”



The cuts have also had significant impacts on smaller arts-focused nonprofits around the Bay Area, many of which relied heavily on the NEA for project funding.



In January, San Francisco’s creative reuse center and arts education nonprofit Scrap received its first NEA grant: $25,000 to support a sustainable fashion program for underserved youth. On Friday, Scrap learned that the grant had been withdrawn, due to <a href="https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975661/national-endowment-for-the-arts-grants-canceled-nonprofits">new funding priorities</a>.



With just seven days to appeal, Scrap likely won’t challenge the decision, its programs director told KQED.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead">Looking ahead</h2>



Nearly every museum in the Bay Area is in the midst of completing federal grant applications or has submitted them and is waiting to hear back. Some institutions are scrambling to find ways to fight the Trump administration or find alternate funding sources.&nbsp;



In a retaliatory salvo, the GLBT Historical Society has joined a bevy of LGBTQ+ groups in <a href="https://lambdalegal.org/newsroom/sf_us_20250220_lgbtq-hiv-advocates-file-lawsuit-challenging-trump-orders-to-erase-trans-people-defund-services/">suing the Trump administration</a> for defunding “organizations that provide [transgender people] with life-saving services.”



Lambda Legal, a law firm and civil rights organization that advocates for the community and filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California, states that Trump’s executive orders violate the First, Fifth, and 14th amendments, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act, by restricting the organizations&#8217; rights.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1668" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/23_outdoor_dsc_2913_gl.jpg?w=2500" alt="A bustling outdoor waterfront scene with many people gathered on a wide promenade. Skyscrapers are visible in the background, and mist rises near the docks." class="wp-image-395831" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/23_outdoor_dsc_2913_gl.jpg 7225w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/23_outdoor_dsc_2913_gl.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/23_outdoor_dsc_2913_gl.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/23_outdoor_dsc_2913_gl.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/23_outdoor_dsc_2913_gl.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/23_outdoor_dsc_2913_gl.jpg?resize=2048,1367 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Exploratorium has lost $800,000 in federal funding, and at least $500,000 more is at risk.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2_garysextonphotography.jpg?w=1920" alt="The image shows a modern, angular black building next to a traditional brick structure. Tall skyscrapers rise in the background on a clear day." class="wp-image-332134" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2_garysextonphotography.jpg 1920w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2_garysextonphotography.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2_garysextonphotography.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2_garysextonphotography.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Contemporary Jewish Museum, which closed for one year in December, is uncertain whether a large grant from IMLS will come through.</figcaption></figure>



The de Young Museum and Legion of Honor, meanwhile, have three pending IMLS and NEH grants that would fund an upcoming exhibition on ancient Italy, assist with documenting Indigenous artifacts, and develop a climate action plan.&nbsp;



“Even if you can’t be a donor right now, you can support these institutions by going to them, buying a ticket or membership, bringing friends, and posting your experiences online so others can discover the value and magic they gift to us,” said Adam Swig, the executive director and founder of Value Culture, a San Francisco-based nonprofit aimed at boosting access to arts organizations through charity and programming.&nbsp;



The Contemporary Jewish Museum, citing <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/13/the-contemporary-jewish-museum-is-closing-for-at-least-a-year/">financial challenges and low attendance</a>, closed in December and plans to remain shuttered through the end of the year. While awaiting a decision on $250,000 in funding from the IMLS, the museum was also counting on support from an American Alliance of Museums program designed to aid struggling institutions. However, last week, AAM notified the museum that the program won’t proceed this year — because it&#8217;s entirely funded by the same agency now facing cuts.



Correction on 5/14/25: An earlier version of this story misidentified the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

City departments are blowing off Lurie’s budget-cut mandate

During his mostly cheery inauguration speech in January, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/08/daniel-lurie-inauguration-speech-san-francisco/">Mayor Daniel Lurie shared some grim but unsurprising news</a>.&nbsp;



City Hall’s finances are in the red. “Painful decisions” — as he put it — must be made.



Less than two months into his tenure, those words appear to have fallen flat with a significant swath of the city’s departments, which have been tasked with 15% reductions to fill an $840 million budget deficit — the largest in San Francisco’s history.&nbsp;



A whopping 22 city agencies submitted budget proposals to the mayor’s office that did not hit that benchmark. Some came close, while others proposed no cuts whatsoever. A handful — the sheriff’s, elections, and fire departments, along with the Asian Art Museum and public defender — are even asking for more money.



The proposals could portend a tug-of-war between the mayor’s office, led by an inexperienced politician urging fiscal responsibility, and the departments he oversees, which assert that they’re already working on threadbare budgets and can’t take any sizable cuts to staff or operations.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-there-s-not-a-lot-of-fat-left-on-the-bone">‘There’s not a lot of fat left on the bone’</h3>



It isn’t uncommon for departments to shirk a mayor’s request for belt-tightening. But this time around, the sheer size of the deficit means that common bookkeeping strategies, like padding up the budget with reserves or unused funds from the previous year, won’t be enough to magically fill the hole.&nbsp;



“There’s not a lot of fat left on the bone,” a person familiar with the budget process said. “There isn’t some $800 million budget-balancing trick that will make it so the departments don’t need to make reductions.”



Ed Harrington, who led the city controller’s office from 1991 to 2008, said the city’s financial situation “appears to be dire,” and there is “less flexibility” than in previous years when it comes to pulling levers to balance the budget.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1668" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/how-is-sf-keeping-street-partiers-safe-after-new-orleans-attack-_001.jpg?w=2500" alt="The image shows several police officers in uniform gathering around parked patrol cars in an urban setting, possibly engaged in a discussion or briefing." class="wp-image-349900" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/how-is-sf-keeping-street-partiers-safe-after-new-orleans-attack-_001.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/how-is-sf-keeping-street-partiers-safe-after-new-orleans-attack-_001.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/how-is-sf-keeping-street-partiers-safe-after-new-orleans-attack-_001.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/how-is-sf-keeping-street-partiers-safe-after-new-orleans-attack-_001.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/how-is-sf-keeping-street-partiers-safe-after-new-orleans-attack-_001.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/how-is-sf-keeping-street-partiers-safe-after-new-orleans-attack-_001.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lurie has indicated that public safety and health employees will not take the brunt of the city&#8217;s budget deficit.</figcaption></figure>



After receiving submissions from the city departments, Lurie will propose his budget in June. The Board of Supervisors will review the budget and vote on whether to approve it in July.&nbsp;



Documents from a January all-hands meeting with department heads show that Lurie laid out his intention <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/23/daniel-lurie-san-francisco-mayor-budget-cuts/">to “eliminate $1 billion in overspending</a>” in the next three years. However, he instructed departments to maintain core services and to refrain from proposing “politically untenable” cuts.&nbsp;



Immediately after taking office, Lurie announced a <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/09/san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-hiring-budget-deficit/">hiring slowdown.</a> But, in keeping with his campaign promise to improve public safety and street conditions, that order exempted law enforcement and public health employees.&nbsp;



The mayor’s office declined to comment.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-truly-discretionary-expenses-are-nonexistent">‘Truly discretionary expenses are nonexistent’</h3>



A handful of city departments referenced the 15% reduction request before explaining their need to retain their funding — or asking for more.&nbsp;



The Sheriff’s Department wants nearly $30 million more, which would bring its yearly support from the city’s general fund to $283 million. A spokesperson told The Standard the department needs more funding for staffing and to address a rising jail population. Its proposal mentions those requests, the mayor’s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/06/union-square-hospitality-zone-increased-police-presence/">Hospitality Zone Task Force</a>, and “much-needed” safety equipment and supplies.&nbsp;



Like the sheriff, the San Francisco Fire Department wants more funding: $3.8 million for employee pay. It argues that instituting the 15% cuts would mean removing seven fire engines or six truck companies in a year — or cutting 23 daily, 12-hour ambulances from the 911 emergency system.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1668" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241203-sfbudgetcrisis_001.jpg?w=2500" alt="A grand building with a domed roof is framed through a window. Flags line the path leading to it, and a couple of people walk across the plaza." class="wp-image-338102" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241203-sfbudgetcrisis_001.jpg 5000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241203-sfbudgetcrisis_001.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241203-sfbudgetcrisis_001.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241203-sfbudgetcrisis_001.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241203-sfbudgetcrisis_001.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241203-sfbudgetcrisis_001.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The $840 million budget deficit is the largest in the city&#8217;s history.</figcaption></figure>



“As always, we’re working with the mayor’s office collaboratively to meet the budget needs,” said an SFFD spokesperson.



The public defender is asking for an additional $13.6 million, which would bring its support from the city to $70.3 million. “Public defenders are already grossly underfunded compared to police, prosecutors, sheriffs and probation departments, whose ever-expanding budgets continue to significantly increase our already heavy caseloads,” Public Defender Mano Raju wrote in a statement. 



Other departments aren’t asking for more funding but say they cannot make significant trims.&nbsp;



The city attorney’s office proposed cutting $60,000 (a 0.16% reduction) from its budget. “While we appreciate the City faces a substantial deficit, cutting our budget and freezing our hiring will only exacerbate it.” The office explained that its work generates “hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue” and protects the city from “billions” in liability.&nbsp;



Jen Kwart, a spokesperson for the city attorney’s office, also mentioned the White House as a reason for retaining funding, which, under its proposal, would amount to $37.1 million. 



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“We have not received new positions for our work defending our communities and billions of dollars of federal funding threatened by the Trump administration,” she wrote in a statement.&nbsp;



The San Francisco Police Department is in a similar boat. It said it would trim&nbsp; $53,811 (0.008%) from its budget, stating in its submission that “after parsing by Fund Source and by types of expenses, truly discretionary expenses are nonexistent. Further, ongoing structural budget constraints prevent the elimination of vacant positions to generate reductions.” Its financial support from the city would reach $673.7 million under its proposal. A spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.



A portion of city departments did follow Lurie’s order to make cuts valued at 15%, including the Department of Emergency Management, human resources, the Department of Public Health, and Public Works.



Board President Rafael Mandelman said preserving public safety funding means the “larger potential sources of savings are not on the table.”&nbsp;



“That means you’re making harder choices in other departments,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And we need to have the budget be sustainable over a particularly difficult period of time.&#8221;



Editor&#8217;s note: This story has been updated to clarify details of the public defender&#8217;s budget proposal.

Lurie’s first law asks rich people to help fix the fentanyl crisis

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wants to turn out the pockets of members of his wealthy social circles for the public good.



In his first proposed law, Lurie, a centi-millionaire and heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, seeks to loosen city regulations to allow the mayor’s office to solicit donations from “various private entities and organizations” to address the fentanyl crisis, homelessness, and public safety. The loosened laws concerning private donations would be in effect for six months.



The draft legislation, sent to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, also asks the board to voluntarily give up its authority to approve contracts in those areas, in the name of speed.



“The city wants to try innovative solutions to address these crises more effectively and more quickly, but long-established rules often stand in the way of speedy progress,” Lurie’s draft law reads. He intends to “expedite the city’s response to these challenges and expand the city’s capacity to meet these challenges.”



The law focuses on contracts addressing homelessness, drug overdoses and substance use disorders, mental health needs, and public safety. It would likely cover a wide swath of contracts; for example, approving funds to buy property for a new homeless shelter, hiring a nonprofit health contractor to provide free checkups, or paying <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/19/urban-alchemy-san-francisco-tenderloin-layoffs/">unarmed ambassadors like Urban Alchemy</a> to patrol the Tenderloin.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1668" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?w=2500" alt="A group of people is gathered at night on a city sidewalk, with a police car parked nearby. Many are wearing coats and appear to be outdoors in cold weather." class="wp-image-354771" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The area outside the Asian Art Museum near UN Plaza has been a hot spot for drug activity.</figcaption></figure>



Negotiations with the Board of Supervisors could change the draft law. The first version is as an opening salvo — and an early test of the “new era of cooperation” between the mayor and the board that Lurie promised in his inauguration speech.



Already, members of the Board of Supervisors are sounding skeptical notes. 



&#8220;I’m open to providing Mayor Lurie the necessary legislative tools to tackle the fentanyl crisis, but not at the expense of checks and balances of the legislative branch,&#8221; Supervisor Connie Chan told The Standard. 



But publicly at the Board of Supervisors regular meeting Tuesday, and speaking to The Standard, a few noted their support: Supervisors Bilal Mahmood, Joel Engardio, Danny Sauter, and Matt Dorsey.



&#8220;There’s a part of this that&#8217;s personal for me as someone struggling with addiction, but also in my time in the city attorney’s office,&#8221; Dorsey said. He said he&#8217;s seen how stymied the government can get: &#8220;Sometimes we have to declare an emergency to get out of our own way internally.&#8221;



Others are reserving judgment before they hear more, like Supervisor Shamann Walton, who told the board, &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure how the current plan reflects action.&#8221;



On the campaign trail, Lurie promised to declare a fentanyl state of emergency on “Day One,” which would help him cut red tape in addressing the crisis. That didn’t happen.



As The Standard <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/03/27/fentanyl-state-of-emergency-mayoral-san-francisco/">has noted</a>, a legal “state of emergency” must be unforeseen and sudden to hold up to legal scrutiny. Lurie’s draft law aims to achieve similar goals without the legal mechanism of an emergency declaration.



Some provisions may be welcome: allowing quicker hiring, for instance, and allowing departments to more easily move money around where it&#8217;s needed, without red tape. 



From the Board of Supervisors’ perspective, other parts of the legislation may be a hard sell.



The draft says the provision around board authority will sunset in 2029, a long period for the supervisors to give up the ability to provide checks and balances to Lurie’s administration. The draft also notes that some departments may award contracts without a competitive bidding process — the same lack of oversight that enabled Mohammed Nuru, the convicted former director of the SF Department of Public Works, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/04/players-in-san-francisco-corruption-scandal-mohammed-nuru/">to award contracts in exchange for bribes</a>.



Giving up board authority may also raise the eyebrows of the various unions who work with the board on labor practices. Rudy Gonzalez, secretary-treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, said he was guaranteed by Lurie&#8217;s administration that prevailing wages would be protected — calming his fears the legislation would cut out working-class people.



&#8220;I’m going to be supportive of the administration treating the fentanyl crisis as a true emergency,&#8221; Gonzalez said.



A source familiar with negotiations said that conversations are now focused on what would be a 45-day window for the board to reject contracts if they wanted to, which is the same for the process of commission appointments.



A similar concern may arise in granting Lurie the ability to solicit funds from private donors. Government staff are legally barred from soliciting donations from parties with business before their departments, a practice legally known as “behested payments.” The city at times has waived behested payment laws for specific projects. That may prove relevant as the city tries to plug its two-year $876 million budget deficit.



That may be why in his <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/08/daniel-lurie-inauguration-speech-san-francisco/">inauguration day speech</a>, Lurie described private funds as a “critical requirement” for his policy initiatives.

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.

Assessment Appeals Board #3

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 3

Marc Dickow

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 5

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 6

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 7

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 8

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

Assessor-Recorder

Joaquín Torres

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

Ballot Simplification Committee

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

Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee

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

Behavioral Health Commission

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

Bicycle Advisory Committee

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

Jefferson Robert Eppler

John Trasviña

Jose Lopez

Rick Swig

Board of Appeals Commissioner 5

Board of Appeals conducts final reviews of City permitting decisions through an impartial panel. It ensures an efficient and fair permit issuance process. The department operates under rules established by the City Charter of 1932.

Julie Rosenberg

Board of Appeals, Executive Director