Catherine Stephanie sworn in as District 2 supervisor; officials use event to press retirement-board divestment

Catherine Stephanie was introduced and sworn in as the new District 2 supervisor during a public ceremony recorded in the transcript. The appointee repeated the official oath to support the U.S. and California constitutions and to discharge the duties of the office. In her acceptance remarks, Stephanie cited nine years as a legislative aide in District 2 and recent service as a county clerk, and said public safety and the homeless crisis would be early priorities.

Elected officials and community leaders used the appearance to endorse Stephanie and to press for policy priorities. Mayor Libby Schaaf and Supervisor London Breed both praised the appointee's experience and community roots. Several speakers at the event pivoted to a related policy campaign: Supervisor Aaron Peskin, John Avalos, Malia Cohen and others urged the San Francisco Employee Retirement System to divest from fossil fuels, framing divestment both as a fiduciary responsibility and an environmental imperative. John Avalos cited retirement fund figures for context and urged immediate divestment; Supervisor Malia Cohen described staff engagement strategies as inadequate and pushed for concrete timelines.

The event combined ceremonial swearing-in and forceful policy appeals to the retirement board; no formal retirement-board action was taken at this board meeting, but the speakers set a clear public expectation that the matter be addressed by the retirement board.