Lurie’s campaign says Prop F would preserve Police Commission independence, but the measure would give him new power to fire police commissioners without requiring approval, potentially exposing them to political pressure over officer discipline.
A mailer from Mayor Daniel Lurie’s “Clean Up City Hall” campaign promises “fully independent watchdogs,” claiming Proposition F would keep the Police Commission independent of the mayor and Board of Supervisors, as the Chronicle reports. The mailer reportedly neglects to inform voters that the proposition would give the mayor new power to fire police commissioners without oversight.
Under current law, removing a Police Commissioner requires approval from the Board of Supervisors. Prop F would allow the mayor and the board to remove their respective appointees to most boards and commissions without cause, while exempting the Board of Appeals, Civil Service Commission, and Ethics Commission from the change.
According to the Chronicle, the Police Commission’s seven members set police policy and hear evidence in misconduct cases, including deciding whether officers should be fired. The structure was reportedly changed in 2003 after police reform advocates argued that commissioners needed protection from political interference to discipline officers fairly.
Today, four commissioners are appointed by the mayor and three by the Board of Supervisors, and removals require board approval.
Proposition F would also transfer the power to appoint the director of the Department of Police Accountability from the mayor to the Police Commission, per the Chronicle. The department independently investigates complaints of police misconduct.
Lurie’s political adviser, Max Szabo, acknowledged that the campaign had made mistakes in a “handful of communications,” telling the Chronicle it would use clearer language going forward. He confirmed that Lurie intends to change the Police Commission’s removal process and stands by that position.
The paper reportedly identified at least five instances in which Lurie or his campaign incorrectly suggested Proposition F would not affect the Police Commission’s independence.
Lurie’s supporters argue that the measure would make city government more accountable by allowing elected officials to remove appointees whose performance they oppose. Don Clay, a retired judge and the current Police Commission president, supports the proposal, telling the Chronicle it would “level the playing field” between mayoral and board appointees.
Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, who signed the official argument in favor of Proposition F, has acknowledged that the measure would change the removal process. He previously warned that commissioners should not fear losing their positions for making politically unpopular disciplinary decisions.
“We do not want police commissions dispensing discipline to members of the police department with the fear that if they make a politically unpopular call, they’re going to get fired the next day,” Mandelman said at an April committee meeting, per the Chronicle.
Christin Evans, chair of the Homelessness Oversight Commission and the measure’s sole official opponent, argues that Proposition F would give the mayor too much power over city government. She has also criticized the campaign for presenting sweeping charter changes without adequate opportunities for public input.
The “Clean Up City Hall” campaign backs three ballot measures, Propositions D, E, and F, which would change how San Francisco manages departments, handles city contracts, and qualifies local ballot measures.
Lurie’s “Clean Up City Hall” campaign is also backing Propositions D and E, which would change local ballot access rules and city contracting, respectively. As SFist reported in July, Prop D would raise the number of signatures required to qualify most citizen-led ballot measures from roughly 10,600 to 42,500, while Prop E would give the city administrator more authority over contracting rules and raise the dollar threshold for contracts requiring Board of Supervisors approval.
Previously: SF Mayor Lurie’s ‘Clean Up City Hall’ Measures Qualify For November Ballot
