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Chief Hayes White credits Super Bowl 50 planning, introduces new public information officer
Summary
Chief Joanne Hayes White told the Commission that Super Bowl 50 operations succeeded and highlighted the proposed health-and-safety bond that would fund EMS facilities. She introduced Jonathan Baxter as the department—s new public information officer, who outlined plans to expand social media and community outreach.
Chief Joanne Hayes White opened her report by thanking department members and noting the department—s role in Super Bowl 50 planning and operations. She said collaboration across city agencies preserved 9-1-1 response citywide during the nine-day event and recognized staff who led planning and on-the-ground work.
Chief Hayes White updated commissioners on a proposed June ballot health-and-safety bond (presented to the Board of Supervisors and approved for the June ballot at a 10–1 vote). She said the $350 million bond includes $44 million earmarked for a state-of-the-art EMS facility behind Station 9 on Gerald Street and an additional $14 million for continuing station modernization efforts.
The chief introduced firefighter-paramedic Jonathan Baxter as the department—s new public information officer, noting he began Jan. 18. Baxter told the Commission he has revamped the department—s social-media presence and said, "We now have a very active Facebook page... we have a Twitter account... and an Instagram, which is sffd pio also." He described goals to provide consistent messaging during incidents and to improve community access to information and to translation supports for non-English speakers.
The chief also reported on academy intakes, strategic-planning subcommittee work, and outreach to receiving hospitals to support EMS 6. Commissioners welcomed the PIO appointment and asked that the PIO help with public release of finalized fire-investigation findings when appropriate.
