The America’s Cup slipped into town with its first events with little fanfare a week or more days ago, accompanied by the sound of ringing cash registers for Larry Ellison even while his event committee appears likely to leave San Francisco taxpayers to foot millions more in costs than originally promised. Ellison will garner millions […]
Open Letter to Ethics Commissioners: Get to Work!
(Following a Harvey Rose report comparing Los Angeles and San Francisco Ethics Commissions for policies and practices, as requested by Supervisor David Campos, the Board’s Rules Committee directed Ethics to hold hearings on the report. That was in June. Eleven months later Ethics has yet to hold a commission meeting on the report. Two earlier […]
The Chiu-Herrera Reforms
It may be no coincidence that the last time San Francisco forced ethics reforms on City Hall was during Willie Brown’s term as mayor. At that time, Brown’s administration was pockmarked by the influence of political consultants and lobbyists, from his former aide Billy Rutland to his campaign strategist Jack Davis. A cadre of political […]
Friends of Ethics Supports Herrera, Chiu Reform Proposals
Friends of Ethics is pleased to support your proposed reforms to the City’s good government laws. We see this legislation as an initial and exciting step in moving forward ethics reform. Toward that end, we urge the following amendments, along with the inclusion of several additional features, which we list separately. On the sections on […]
Ethics Commission: Failing The Public Again
It is now more important for the Ethics Commission to protect “City Family” officials than it is to provide justice for San Francisco citizens. The Commission’s new job is to shield City agencies and politicians from their political wrongdoings. One of the main functions of the Ethics Commission is to review and enforce Sunshine Ordinance […]
America’s Cup: Billionaires Play, Residents Pay
The America’s Cup slipped into town with its first events with little fanfare a week or more days ago, accompanied by the sound of ringing cash registers for Larry Ellison even while his event committee appears likely to leave San Francisco taxpayers to foot millions more in costs than originally promised. Ellison will garner millions […]
Renne: More To Come on SFHA
Law enforcement officials at the federal and local level are showing a strong interest in whether former mayor Willie Brown was at the center of an effort to rig a Housing Authority contract, CitiReport has learned. City Attorney Louise Renne now also is undertaking an investigation into “procurement manipulation” following a new request from the […]