Plan to fix ‘broken’ San Francisco blows up in 2 weeks

In an embarrassing blunder, a moderate political group in San Francisco withdrew <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/12/05/san-francisco-could-vote-on-drastic-reforms-to-city-hall-next-year/">a ballot measure intended to cut bureaucracy</a> at City Hall just two weeks after it announced the ordinance in a press conference.



TogetherSF Action confirmed to The Standard on Monday that it was pulling one of two proposed ballot measures to reform the city charter because, contrary to <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/08/22/does-san-franciscos-mayor-need-more-power-this-group-says-yes/">the group&#8217;s goal of empowering the mayor</a> to make more decisions, it would actually hand more authority to the Board of Supervisors.&nbsp;



The group decided to scrap the measure before a Tuesday deadline after huddling with officials in the Mayor&#8217;s Office last week. TogetherSF Action plans to revise it and submit a new version to the Department of Elections.



Earlier this month, TogetherSF Action announced it was introducing two ballot measures to reform the city charter—one to give the mayor more power and the other to cut the number of city commissions in half. The group contends that giving the mayor more authority is key to making progress on public safety and the housing, homelessness and drug crises.&nbsp;



But the proposal to eliminate commissions contained a fatal flaw, according to multiple sources in and around City Hall: Eliminating certain commissions would kick oversight responsibilities over to the Board of Supervisors, a group Mayor London Breed has repeatedly criticized as being <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/03/07/mayor-breed-pushes-27m-police-overtime-bill-slams-obstructionist-board/">“obstructionist”</a> and <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/03/29/mayor-breed-hits-back-at-sf-progressives-touts-conservatorship-in-jon-stewart-interview/">tone-deaf on the issues</a> many San Franciscans are facing.



Multiple sources in and around City Hall suggested the errors in TogetherSF Action’s proposed measure came from a DIY approach and a failure to consult with experts until concerns arose. One source, who is familiar with the issues but was not authorized to speak publicly, called the proposal “sloppy.”



Kanishka Cheng, the head of the nonprofit TogetherSF and its political arm, TogetherSF Action, said in a statement Monday that the ballot measure to eliminate commissions—known as the <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24229164-20231204_cutthedysfunctionalbureaucracy_text">“Cut the Dysfunctional Bureaucracy Initiative”</a>—was being updated to change the “status quo” on city operations.



“San Francisco’s governance structure is broken and we are committed to advancing bold reforms at the ballot this November to ensure city government is better positioned to tackle the challenges facing our city,” Cheng said. “We are making updates to our reform measure that will make the initiative stronger and clarify authority and responsibilities between the executive and legislative branches. Voters deserve to know who is responsible for the city government’s decisions and to hold them accountable.”&nbsp;



Michael Moritz, who is chairman of The Standard, has provided funding to the 501c3 nonprofit TogetherSF and its political arm, TogetherSF Action.



The second proposed ballot measure—known as the “We Need SF To Work Initiative”—would give the mayor sole discretion to hire and fire department heads, strengthen the mayor’s ability to control commissions, and allow for the creation of deputy mayor positions.



Under city rules, any voter-led ballot initiative must first be submitted to the Department of Elections. After a 15-day review period by the City Attorney’s Office, the proposal receives a title and summary, and advocates can proceed to collect petition signatures. Sources suggested it would take four to five months to collect the almost 50,000 petition signatures required by July 8 to <a href="https://sfelections.org/tools/cscal_nov24/">qualify for the November 2024 ballot</a>. That 15-day period was to expire Tuesday.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plan-to-cut-commissions-in-san-francisco">Plan to Cut Commissions in San Francisco</h2>



The <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24229164-20231204_cutthedysfunctionalbureaucracy_text">“Cut the Dysfunctional Bureaucracy Initiative”</a> proposed creating a task force to review commissions in the city and suggest which ones were redundant and ripe for elimination. As of this summer, San Francisco had <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/07/06/only-1-person-at-sf-city-hall-knows-the-answer-to-this-simple-question/">53 departments, 56 boards and commissions and 74 other advisory bodies</a>.



TogetherSF Action’s original plan suggested the number of commissions be capped at 65.&nbsp;



TogetherSF Action said the revised version will seek to keep bodies such as the Board of Appeals, Police Commission, Fire Commission and Planning Commission while allowing the mayor and supervisors the ability to hire and fire commissioners for the Public Utilities Commission, the Fine Arts Commissions, the War Memorial Board and the Airport Commission.



Permitting appeals would go to the Board of Appeals instead of supervisors. For commissions such as the Public Utilities Commission, the Airport Commission and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the mayor would be able to appoint a supermajority of commissioners.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Supervisor Aaron Peskin, the president of the Board of Supervisors, said the mistakes should be seen as a “teachable moment.” He suggested the group should have worked with <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/10/31/san-francisco-city-hall-ballot-measure-reforms-rafael-mandelman/">Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who also introduced a charter reform measure</a> that had some overlapping goals with TogetherSF Action’s proposal.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2999" height="2000" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231109_detentiondrugdealers-37.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man gesticulates and speaks with 1 hand extended out next to a podium with a gilded facade in the background." class="wp-image-219949" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231109_detentiondrugdealers-37.jpg 2999w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231109_detentiondrugdealers-37.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231109_detentiondrugdealers-37.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231109_detentiondrugdealers-37.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231109_detentiondrugdealers-37.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231109_detentiondrugdealers-37.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2999px) 100vw, 2999px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin criticized TogetherSF Action&#8217;s proposed ballot measure as ill-conceived. </figcaption></figure>



“We can have a discussion about what the best public policy is, but if it’s not what they intended, it shows this organization and its members don’t know what they’re doing,” Peskin said. “When you’re tinkering with your constitution, it should be tinkered with in public.”



The Mayor’s Office declined to comment.



The Department of Elections received <a href="https://www.sf.gov/sites/default/files/2023-12/20231218_Withdrawal%20Letter.pdf">a letter from Cheng</a> requesting that the ballot measure be withdrawn Monday afternoon. She added that she plans to submit a revised version “in the coming days.” Once resubmitted, another 15-day review process would start before any signatures could be gathered.&nbsp;



Mandelman said he has not seen TogetherSF Action’s ballot measures, but he and the group have been talking about ways to improve the city through charter reform. He indicated his ballot measure, which also suggests the creation of deputy mayors, would be more incremental with an eye on continuing to reform the city charter in 2026.



“To their credit, they are motivated by a sincere desire to fix problems in San Francisco city governance. In my experience, that’s not easy,” Mandelman said. “It’s hard to fault them for trying to come up with some structural solutions.”

APEC to bring world leaders to San Francisco: Here’s what we know so far

In a tough year for business—and for the city’s reputation—San Francisco will be thrown into the global spotlight this November by hosting the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/business/san-francisc-to-host-apec-summit-in-2023/">Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit</a>.



Preparations are well underway for the summit, which brings together major heads of state, government officials and business executives. It’s a tall order—but if all goes well, a successful conference could mean big rewards for San Francisco, not to mention for the Biden Administration and the trade group itself.&nbsp;



San Francisco hosted the <a href="https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/20092013clinton/rm/2011/09/172605.htm">APEC Women and the Economy Summit in 2011</a>, where then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton oversaw a declaration to improve women&#8217;s access to better jobs, education and leadership roles. That was a subsidiary of the APEC summit, held that year in Hawaii. This year, it’s San Francisco’s turn to host the main event.



“APEC represents a singular opportunity for San Francisco to shine on a global stage,” said Alex Bastian, president of the Hotel Council of San Francisco. “The result could be billions in new investments for the city, our region, and the state.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Does It Mean for San Francisco?&nbsp;</h2>



APEC is a chance for San Francisco to burnish an image battered by drug abuse, homelessness, petty crime and blight.&nbsp;



Seventy-eight years ago this month, <a href="https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/1945-san-francisco-conference-and-creation-united-nations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Francisco hosted the founding of the United Nations</a> at what is now the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center on Van Ness Avenue. A stone’s throw away is United Nations Plaza, which has become <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/board-of-supervisors/san-franciscos-un-plaza-cleaned-up-ahead-of-mayor-breeds-remarks-on-drug-crisis/">a hotbed of drug activity</a>. The irony is hard to ignore.&nbsp;



Some local policymakers are worried that San Francisco is unprepared for the scrutiny that could come with hosting the high-profile, sustainability-themed summit.&nbsp;



Nick Josefowitz, policy chief at the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), wrote that the spotlight won’t be flattering if public transit systems aren’t properly funded.&nbsp;



“Rather than being impressed by our climate leadership, the world will be shocked to discover California&#8217;s climate hypocrisy. It will find that buses and trains aren’t taking people to work, school, or essential services,” Josefowitz wrote in <a href="https://www.spur.org/news/2023-06-08/world-coming-san-francisco-will-public-transit-be-ready" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a June 8 article</a>.&nbsp;



In addition, there are myriad balancing acts involved with hosting an event for 21 heads of state, ministers and the business interests they bring along.&nbsp;



Working with the White House and State Department, the city is in the midst of planning, promotion and fundraising for the meetings and events around them. The Board of Supervisors <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/ethics-commission-blames-union-for-derailing-anti-corruption-ballot-measure/">even passed some exceptions</a> to the city’s behested payments rules for APEC fundraising.&nbsp;



San Francisco also needs to put its best foot forward for the scores of VIPs who may want to tour, shop and dine in the City by the Bay.&nbsp;



As Whaley put it at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtaAevd4KEw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a February meeting of San Francisco’s Asia Society</a>, attendees won’t want to feel like they’ve “been in a hotel ballroom for a week. [&#8230;] You’ve got to feel like you visited there. You’ve tasted the food; you’ve met the people.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-apec-anyway">What Is APEC, Anyway?&nbsp;</h2>



APEC was founded in 1989 and became one of the first of a number of economically driven international conferences, like the G20, that came to dominate world affairs since the end of the Cold War. The summit brings together the 21 most important economies on both sides of the Pacific, ranging from Australia and China to Mexico and Vietnam.&nbsp;&nbsp;



San Francisco is set to host the five final and most important meetings of the trade group during mid-November, including <a href="https://apecceosummit2023.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the CEO Summit Nov. 14-16, which is expected to attract 1,000 participants</a>. The event has corporate sponsors ranging from Google and the United Parcel Service to Visa.



APEC was instrumental in the creation of free trade initiatives like the World Trade Organization Information Technology Agreement, which helped lower the cost of technology products like smartphones, accelerating their worldwide adoption. It was also instrumental in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement between 12 APEC members that was dashed against the rocks by then-President Donald Trump in 2017.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Should We Expect From This Year&#8217;s Summit?&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1667" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-2500x1667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-169972" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-2500x1667.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-650x433.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-370x247.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-800x533.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-450x300.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-20x13.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-185x123.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-740x493.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-400x267.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-1600x1067.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-225x150.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-900x600.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1244769534-72x48.jpg 72w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">U.S. President Joe Biden, right, and China&#8217;s President Xi Jinping, left, meet on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Nov. 14, 2022. | Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



APEC’s return to San Francisco takes on new relevance against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, fraught U.S.-China relations and a new era of geopolitical competition.&nbsp;



Last year, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-22/apec-meeting-fails-to-issue-statement-after-us-russia-walkout" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">upstaged the APEC meeting in Bangkok</a>. This year, it’s an opportunity for President Joe Biden to <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2023/05/how-the-apec-san-francisco-summit-can-set-the-tone-for-us-engagement-in-asia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reassert leadership in the Indo-Pacific region</a>; Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen are all set to attend.



The theme of APEC 2023 is &#8220;<a href="https://www.state.gov/briefings-foreign-press-centers/us-apec-2023-host-year-priorities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All</a>.&#8221; The <a href="https://apecceosummit2023.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEO Summit</a> will bring together political and business leaders from member nations for what the group describes as “two days of robust dialogue on global opportunities and challenges&nbsp;shaping economic, environmental, and societal trends in the region.”&nbsp;



“As hosts of this year’s CEO Summit, the U.S. will shape the agenda and work toward solutions to create a more inclusive and resilient Asia-Pacific,” Monica Hardy Whaley, president of the National Center for APEC, told The Standard in an email. “The world faces many challenges, and the [American] business community is part of the solution.”

Meet San Francisco’s new cultural ambassador, succeeding the half-century legacy of Charlotte Maillard Shultz

Don’t let the Orwellian-sounding job title chief of protocol fool you. The dynamic position is the de facto cultural ambassador of San Francisco, a role responsible for showcasing the best of San Francisco to visiting luminaries from around the world.&nbsp;



Mayor London Breed announced Wednesday that Maryam Muduroglu will serve as the new chief of protocol, to succeed the storied Charlotte Maillard Shultz, who held the role for over half a century before her death in 2021.&nbsp;



According to Meron Foster, who has served in the role in an interim capacity, Shultz was not the city’s first chief of protocol, but she was the longest serving and the most successful.&nbsp;



“I’m very honored and excited to be appointed to this position,” Muduroglu told The Standard, “and to continue the legacy left by Charlotte, her impactful work and her passion.”&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1365" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1855-fireworks-220704.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98662" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1855-fireworks-220704.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1855-fireworks-220704.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1855-fireworks-220704.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1855-fireworks-220704.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption>Mayor London Breed and Maryam Muduroglu attend The San Francisco Consular Corps&#8217; July 4th Celebration on July 4, 2022. | Courtesy Drew Altizer</figcaption></figure>



Muduroglu has big shoes to fill, coming after renowned socialite and philanthropist Shultz, who served under a total of 10 mayors. Shultz died of cancer last November and was honored with a memorial service at Grace Cathedral. Married three times, Shultz’s last husband was the former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz.&nbsp;



“To be intimidated would be the right feeling, given all she has accomplished in the city,” Muduroglu said of her predecessor. “It makes me even more grateful to showcase our magical city to the international world.”



A native San Franciscan, Muduroglu worked in health-care information technology for a decade before serving on boards for various organizations such as the Center for Youth Wellness, the San Francisco Opera, Children of Shelters and the Bay School of San Francisco.&nbsp;



Muduroglu believes this work as well as her diplomatic background—her mother served as part of the consular corps of the Iranian Embassy—prepared her well for this position.&nbsp;



The job duties for chief of protocol include welcoming visiting leaders, artists, business delegations and scholars from around the world to San Francisco. Muduroglu will also advance the foreign policy goals of San Francisco in her position, engaging in diplomacy to promote the city.&nbsp;



When asked about the potential challenges of serving as a diplomatic liaison for a frequently criticized city, Muduroglu acknowledged that “perception is a concern—and it’s very important for me to change.”&nbsp;



Muduroglu is proficient in four languages—English, French, Spanish and Farsi—and her multicultural background is an advantage for this role, according to Tom Horn, president of the War Memorial and honorary consul of Monaco.&nbsp;



The chief of protocol is an unpaid, appointed position that can change at the discretion of the mayor.&nbsp;



“I’m grateful for the mayor’s trust,” Muduroglu said, “and I’m honored to represent our city.”&nbsp;

Asian Art Museum

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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.

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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