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Community leaders urge Ethics Commission to investigate Airport Commissioner over alleged hiring and repair interference
Summary
Residents and community leaders told the Ethics Commission they believe Airport Commissioner Mazzola improperly sought favorable hiring for family members and that a union legal action has halted repairs to public housing; speakers asked the Commission to open an immediate investigation, and commissioners said the matter is not on tonight’s agenda so no action was taken.
Several public commenters urged the Ethics Commission to investigate allegations involving an airport commissioner they named as Mazzola.
Dr. Espinosa Jackson, identifying herself as representing the Black Human Rights Leadership Council of San Francisco, told commissioners she had submitted the same written statement to the Civil Service Commission and asked the Ethics Commission to “promptly launch immediately investigation into both of these allegations regarding the improper use of Mazzola’s status as the airport commission.” She alleged that a union-led legal action and Mazzola’s conduct had led to a stoppage of maintenance at some public-housing sites and said some residents live in “dilapidated conditions.”
Karen Huggins, president of the Holly Courts resident council and CEO of the San Francisco Residents Union, said the concerns implicate federal Section 3 hiring rules tied to federal funds. She described Section 3 as requiring that a portion of work tied to federal housing funds be performed by local residents (she cited a 25% figure) and said resident training and management programs are underway at Holly Courts. Huggins and other speakers urged the Commission to investigate and said they believe the conduct is illegal.
Commission response: Commission staff and the Executive Director noted that the item was not on the published agenda and that the Commission could not take formal action that night. The Executive Director and staff told the public how to file a formal complaint and said staff would assist people who call the office. No investigation was opened during the meeting; commissioners encouraged commenters to file formal complaints so the Commission could consider them under its rules.
Next steps: Speakers asked the Commission to calendar hearings on specific SIA complaints (a speaker asked for a hearing on allegations involving a task force member) and requested that the Commission follow up on referrals to other agencies to obtain outcome information.
