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Building Inspection Commission names Esam Hassanein director; mayor and board president praise unanimous choice
Summary
The Building Inspection Commission announced Esam Hassanein as its new director on Feb. 12, 2007, with Mayor Newsom and Board President Aaron Peskin applauding a unanimous selection and calling for continuity, transparency and improved departmental services.
The Building Inspection Commission on Monday announced Esam Hassanein as the departmentof Building Inspectiondirector, a choice commissioners, Mayor Newsom and Board President Aaron Peskin described as unanimous and the result of an exhaustive, cross-jurisdictional search. The appointment was disclosed after a closed session to consider the public employee appointment.
Mayor Newsom told the commission the selection reflected cooperation between the executive branch and the board and praised interim leaders and staff for stabilizing the department. "We found a consensus candidate," he said, thanking Amy Lee for her stewardship during a difficult transition. Board President Aaron Peskin likewise called the process thorough and said the appointment showed the commission was moving DBI forward.
Esam Hassanein, who said he looks forward to returning the department to a technical, service‑oriented focus, pledged transparency and improved customer service. "We want to have a process that's streamlined, that's simple enough that anybody can navigate," Hassanein said, adding he intends to work closely with staff and commissioners to improve responsiveness and equity.
Speakers at the meeting repeatedly recognized interim acting director Amy Lee and other staff for helping to steady the department during the transition. Several commissioners and public commenters urged employees to give the new director an opportunity to lead and emphasized collaboration with planning, public works and fire officials to restore public trust.
The commission made a formal disclosure in open session that it had discussed the appointment in closed session and moved to reveal the discussion; a recorded open‑session announcement followed. The commission did not, in the public record at this meeting, record the closed‑session personnel deliberations that preceded the announcement.
Next steps noted at the meeting included an introduction of the new director to DBI staff and a managers' meeting later the same day.
