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Rules Committee advances multiple mayoral appointments, including MTA nominee Cheryl Brinkman
Summary
The Rules Committee advanced several mayoral appointments—including Entertainment Commission nominee Mr. Newland, Board of Appeals reappointment Michael Garcia, MTA nominee Cheryl Brinkman, and Veterans Affairs nominee Tony Alfidi—and approved procedural motions to forward them as committee reports after public comment.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Aug. 10 moved a package of mayoral nominations and routine measures forward after public testimony.
Mr. Newland, a retired SFPD captain who said he joined the department in 1970 and later served as executive director of Parking and Traffic, answered questions about the Entertainment Commission—s relationship with nightlife venues and enforcement tactics. Newland told the committee he had "worked well with the gay community throughout my entire career" and said the commission focuses on problem venues and seeks to work with owners and neighborhoods to resolve complaints. After brief public comment endorsing Newland—s experience, Supervisor Ali O'DePier moved to forward the nomination as a committee report, which the committee took without objection.
The committee also considered Mayor Newsom—s reappointment of Michael Garcia to the Board of Appeals. Garcia described five years on the board, his prior service on the Ethics Commission and as a FINRA arbitrator, and credited hiring an executive director who stabilized the appeals process. Several commissioners and public speakers praised Garcia—s fairness and leadership; the committee moved his reappointment forward as a committee report.
Cheryl Brinkman, the mayor—s nominee to the Municipal Transportation Agency board, emphasized transit priorities including revenue and restoring Muni service, safety for all street users and outreach to underserved neighborhoods. Brinkman described herself as a multimodal user and said she would bring an "independent voice" to the board. Supporters from Livable City, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and community groups urged her confirmation; critics in public comment pressed for broader board diversity and representation of drivers and Latino riders. Supervisor Elliot Pierre moved to forward Brinkman—s nomination as a committee report, and the motion carried without objection.
The committee also advanced the nomination of Tony (Anthony) Alfidi to the Veterans Affairs Commission. Alfidi, a US Army Reserve major who served in Iraq, told the committee he would work to co-locate veteran services and help address homelessness and post-traumatic stress issues; veterans and commissioners spoke strongly in favor of his appointment.
Separately, the committee approved an ordinance amendment to require that agendas and materials for the Access Appeals Commission be sent to the Mayor—s Office on Disability at the same time they are sent to commission members. Supervisor Marr moved the ordinance forward as a committee report.
Each nomination was advanced as a committee report for consideration by the full Board of Supervisors. The committee also took procedural action to move a set of litigation- and settlement-related items into closed session for further discussion.
