By Nate Horrell, HANC Board

In November of last year, we the voters defeated Proposition D, which would have automatically removed dozens of city commissions and shifted power permanently in all remaining commissions to the mayor's office, an effort bankrolled by billionaire Michael Moritz and the since disbanded TogetherSF. The voters also passed Proposition E, which created a taskforce to study and recommend changes to the city’s commissions system, which will then go before the Board of Supervisors or the voters for any changes to the city charter.

At its most recent meeting, the new commissions streamlining taskforce heard from Corey Cook of St. Mary’s College who presented an analysis comparing San Francisco’s commissions and oversight to other cities, and SPUR who previously wrote a report that largely encourages further expansion of mayoral power. Public participation has been scarce so far on this somewhat esoteric topic. HANC board member Calvin Welch helpfully reminded taskforce members that although everyone is very concerned about efficiency, the purpose of commissions is to provide much needed oversight of the city bureaucracy.

Taskforce Chair and former controller Ed Harrington has been leading discussions about how to expand community and neighborhood input on this topic and may try to bring the work of the taskforce into the community on a roadshow of some kind, or otherwise invite wider public participation. HANC would be happy to host taskforce members in the future or otherwise spread the word. The “commission on commissions” meets every two weeks on Wednesdays at 1 pm in City Hall room 408.