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Supervisors weigh SHARP office placement amid survivor testimony and DPH role
Summary
Supervisor Ronan pushed to house the proposed SHARP (Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention) office at the Human Rights Commission for independence and complaint adjudication; DPH said it could host clinical positions and manage program coordination. Committee discussion focused on investigative independence, privacy for health data, and staffing.
Supervisor Hillary Ronan described the proposed SHARP office as a citywide effort to improve government response to sexual harassment and assault and argued it should be hosted at the Human Rights Commission (HRC) rather than the Department of Public Health to ensure independence in complaints and systemic accountability. "SHARP stands for, specifically the Office of Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention," Ronan said while explaining the office—ould triage complaints, determine whether issues were individual or systemic, and work across departments to reform practices.
Dr. Barbara Garcia (DPH) said DPH is willing to manage SHARP nd noted the mayor llocated about $874,527 in the DPH budget for the proposal, including nurse practitioners and a manager to coordinate services, training and data analysis. DPH emphasized clinical continuity and privacy constraints that could limit data-sharing without informed consent.
Dr. Emily Morase (Commission on the Status of Women) and survivors who testified in prior hearings urged a systems-focused, complaint-capable unit with prevention and policy capacity; Morase proposed an additional dedicated staffer for prevention in the HRC.
The committee pressed the practical trade-offs: HRC is equipped to investigate complaints and adjudicate discrimination claims; DPH provides clinical treatment capacity and existing compliance infrastructure. The mayor nd budget office described additional auditors at the Department of Police Accountability to handle police-related complaints, but supervisors and advocates repeatedly emphasized the need for an independent, citywide mechanism focused on survivor-centered reform.
No final action was taken to move the DPH positions into HRC during this hearing; supervisors indicated continued conversations and follow-up would take place in committee ahead of budget finalization.
