Board keeps Fillmore Community Benefit District hearing open after residents raise transparency and governance concerns

The Board of Supervisors continued a public hearing on the proposed renewal, expansion and renaming of the Fillmore Community Benefit District (CBD) after residents and stakeholders raised governance and transparency concerns.

Supervisor Muir (Mercarimi) moved to continue the hearing to Oct. 18 so merchants, property owners and community members could negotiate amendments to the management district plan and engineers' report. The motion was seconded and adopted without objection.

During public comment, speakers were sharply divided. Several community members, including longtime Fillmore residents and neighborhood activists, charged that the CBD had insufficient transparency, questioned missing minutes and accounting records, and alleged disproportionate influence by major property owners such as the Fillmore Center and Safeway. One longtime resident called for an internal investigation into the CBD's finances and governance.

CBD representatives and partners pushed back, saying the organization posts minutes, annual reports and audits and that it has supported local programming such as Sunday Streets. A CBD representative encouraged the public to review materials at the CBD's website (fillmoredistrict.com) and said the organization works to promote businesses and neighborhood events.

Supervisor Mercarimi framed the debate as part of a longer history of redevelopment and governance in the Western Addition and said she had written the renewal on a five‑year track because of redevelopment's historical role in the neighborhood. She said she wanted conditions resolved before endorsing renewal and asked the mayor's office and OEWD to be engaged in negotiations with property owners and community stakeholders.

The public hearing remains open; supervisors said the Oct. 18 continuation will allow time for revised management plans and additional public input.