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Board rejects Jane Natoli nomination to SFMTA board after months of neighborhood and equity objections
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted down the mayor’s nomination of Jane Natoli to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency board of directors amid opposition from neighborhood groups representing transit‑dependent riders, with the confirmation failing 6‑4.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Aug. 18 voted 6‑4 to reject Mayor’s Office nominee Jane Natoli for a seat on the Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) board of directors.
Supporters of the nomination highlighted Natoli’s advocacy for biking and pedestrian safety and said she would be a strong voice on gender‑based harassment and community outreach. Opponents — including a coalition of neighborhood groups, transit equity advocates and organizations representing low‑income, immigrant and disability communities — said Natoli lacked depth on transit equity and bus service oversight and expressed concern she would not prioritize transit‑dependent riders during a deep budget and service crisis at SFMTA.
Supervisor Gordon Mar recounted a long list of community organizations and grassroots groups that had sent letters opposing the nomination, stressing the importance of centering low‑income riders, seniors and people with disabilities on SFMTA's board. Supervisor Shamann Walton and others who supported the nomination noted Natoli’s work on walking and biking improvements and said she had engaged and listened to board members and community stakeholders.
At roll call the YES votes were cast by Supervisors Haney, Mandelmann, Ronan and Stephanie; NO votes were cast by Supervisors Mar, Peskin, Preston, Walton, Yi and Fewer. With four affirmative votes and six negative votes, the nomination failed to achieve confirmation.
The SFMTA board is responsible for governance and oversight of the city's public transit system. Speakers during the item urged supervisors to weigh the views of transit justice organizations, many of which said they had not been satisfied by Natoli’s responses during the rules committee hearing and subsequent outreach. Other speakers noted Natoli’s volunteer record with bike and pedestrian advocacy and urged the board to confirm a nominee with demonstrated commitment to rider safety and equity.
The failed confirmation leaves the seat unfilled pending a new nomination from the mayor.
