By Christin Evans, HANC Board
Didn’t we *just* have an election?!? Yes, HANC will be discussing ‘How the Haight voted’ in the April election in the same meeting we discuss key measures in the forthcoming June election! Strap in because here comes election number 3 of 4 this year!
We have invited proponents of both Propositions E and F to HANC’s May 12th meeting which will be conducted 7-9pm via Zoom - just in time for when the vote-by-mail ballots slide into your mail slot.
Proposition E is the Behested Payments measure. “E for Ethics!” is the campaign slogan. The measure comes hot on the heels of the Nuru corruption scandal, one chapter of which former DPW head Mohammad Nuru had solicited contributions from Recology via the nonprofit San Francisco Parks Alliance. Those funds were then used for merchandise for staff and for a departmental party. This all happened at the same time Nuru oversaw the rates Recology could charge for garbage collection. These “behested” payments were actually not prohibited by law (they were required to be reported though), but if E passes they will no longer be allowed. The language precludes elected officials, department heads and commissioners from soliciting funds from any party with city business before them. Five supervisors have signed the proponents' argument (Peskin, Preston, Walton, Chan and Mar) and three have opposed it (Stefani, Melgar and Mandelman) saying the measure's language is overreaching.
A second measure arising from the Nuru corruption case is Proposition F which addresses contracts and rate setting processes for refuse collection and disposal. Striking back at Recology, the city’s current garbage contractor, the measure seeks to establish more flexibility & transparency for the city process of establishing commercial and residential rates. This measure is much needed as it was recently revealed Recology had been overcharging customers — resulting in a $95 million settlement where customers were issued refund checks. But does it go far enough? We’ve invited proponents to discuss what’s included in this anti-corruption, good governance measure. Join us at HANC’s May meeting to learn more.