Rules Committee forwards Diana Cavanaro to full board for Sugary Drink Tax advisory seat

The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously May 3 to send Diana Cavanaro to the full Board with a recommendation for seat number 15 on the Sugary Drink Distribution Tax Advisory Committee. The clerk read Item 1 at the start of the meeting, describing the vacancy as a term expiring Dec. 31, 2022.

Chair Aaron Peskin noted the committee had appointed members to the advisory body earlier in March and said he had since received a letter indicating an informal practice of reserving three community seats for African American, Asian Pacific Islander and Latinx representatives. "DPH did not inform us," Peskin said, adding that those designations are not set forth in the law or in the Maddy Act in the packet. He urged care in official communications and public advertising of seats that would appear to reserve them for specific groups.

Diana Cavanaro, the sole applicant for the SFUSD-nominated seat, told the committee she was unaware the seat required a San Francisco Unified School District nomination when she applied but later spoke with PAC leadership and would be honored to represent the Parent Advisory Council. Naomi Laguana, chair of the Parent Advisory Council, called in during public comment to endorse Cavanaro and said the PAC had interviewed her and found her suitable to represent parents on the advisory committee.

Chair Peskin moved to forward Cavanaro's nomination to the full Board with the committee's recommendation. A roll call recorded Supervisor Rafael Mandelmann, Supervisor Connie Chan, and Chair Peskin voting "aye." The motion passed without objection and will be considered by the full Board at its next meeting.