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Rules Committee backs Mayor’s renomination of Mike Chen to SFMTA board amid looming budget shortfall
Summary
The Rules Committee unanimously recommended the mayor’s renomination of Mike Chen to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency board of directors; public supporters and the SFMTA chair urged continuity as the agency confronts an approximately $322 million budget gap.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on April __ voted unanimously to forward Mayor Gavin Newsom’s renomination of Mike Chen to the Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) board of directors to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
Chen, who has served on the agency’s Citizens Advisory Council and joined the SFMTA board six months earlier to finish a prior term, told the committee the agency faces a significant budget shortfall and described his priorities for service. “MTA is facing a $322,000,000 budget deficit about 20% of current of the current operating budget and we are laser focused on trying to make sure that we solve that and preserving service while preserving as much service as possible for our riders and and trying to solve this budget crisis equitably and fairly for everybody,” Chen said.
Public commenters and stakeholder groups urged the committee to approve Chen’s renomination. Griffin Lee of D2 Unite said Chen is well intentioned but argued the SFMTA needs stronger financial expertise on the board as it approaches the budget gap. In contrast, Bob Akas Vandiari, executive director of the San Francisco Democratic Party, Mission Housing Development Corporation, Kidsave San Francisco, and several community leaders urged support for Chen’s return, citing his community engagement and work on safety and service measures.
Janet Tarlov, chair of the SFMTA board of directors, told the committee she supported Chen’s reappointment because the agency is in the middle of addressing its budget crisis and “I am not looking forward to the prospect of having a vacancy on the board or to, trying to get a new director up to speed, as we are already, work in the midst of this very, very important work.”
President Mandelmann moved to strike language rejecting the nomination and to forward Chen’s appointment to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the clerk recorded unanimous ayes from Vice Chair Sheryl, Member Mandelmann and Chair Walton. The motion passed without objection.
No ordinance or statute was invoked during the hearing. The committee’s recommendation will be placed on the Board of Supervisors agenda for final action.
