Inspector alleges racism and lack of written policies at DBI; others call for accountability and clearer processes

Spencer Gosh, who identified himself as a building inspector with 22 years' service, used the general public-comment period to assert systemic racism in DBI hiring, promotions and assignments and to say the department has operated "by word-of-mouth only" without written directives for more than four years. He told the commission those shortcomings have led to "complete confusion" in the department and accused leadership of administrative malfeasance.

Multiple commissioners and staff sought to keep the record focused on agenda items during the director-search discussion; some attendees urged the commission to seek outside counsel on allegations. Other practicing inspectors who spoke in public comment, including John Hinchin, explicitly disassociated themselves from Gosh's statements and urged that selection criteria for a new director include familiarity with San Francisco, noting the city's complexities for incoming department heads.

Additional public commenters raised discrete operational issues: Robert Davis described unresolved emergency demolition and lien matters in the Bayview, and Carl Schreier described a prolonged permit delay on a Seventeenth Street property and asked the commission for assistance. DBI staff clarified lien calendar practices and said the department will work with property owners and return with responses where appropriate.

The commission did not take formal action on the allegations during this meeting but recorded public testimony and directed staff follow-up on specified enforcement and permit matters.