Committee recommends Manny Ecoutiel and Fiona Henze for SFMTA board; nominees emphasize equity, outreach and Vision Zero

The Rules Committee on Dec. 14 voted to forward Mayor Breed’s nominations of Manny Ecoutiel and Fiona Henze to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors with positive recommendations.

Manny Ecoutiel, a Valencia‑Street small business owner and community organizer, said his experience as a brick‑and‑mortar merchant and organizer positions him to represent small‑business interests and to bring community outreach to SFMTA decision‑making. He told supervisors he supports prioritizing restoration of service lines that serve communities that rely on transit for economic mobility and highlighted the need to involve small businesses earlier in project design and construction mitigation.

Supervisors probed nominees on how to restore Muni service after COVID, outreach and representation for Latinx communities, and how to evaluate emergency programs such as the shared‑spaces and Slow Streets initiatives once emergency authority lapses. Manny said he supports prioritizing service restoration for areas with high dependence on transit and described active outreach to Mission District stakeholders.

Fiona Henze, introduced by the clerk and presenting as a transit accessibility advocate, described her work with disability and senior groups, the Paratransit Coordinating Council and Vision Zero Coalition. She emphasized restoring lines that serve communities of concern, improving communication and outreach, and holding the agency accountable on capital projects and service restoration.

Public comment included more than a dozen endorsements for both nominees from labor groups, small‑business associations, pedestrian and disability advocates, and neighborhood merchant groups. Speakers highlighted Manny’s role in shared‑spaces and neighborhood outreach and Fiona’s long record on accessibility, paratransit and pedestrian safety.

Committee members spoke favorably of both nominees. Supervisor Stephanie praised Manny’s community engagement and small‑business experience; Supervisor Marr and Chair Ronan underscored the challenges the SFMTA faces amid major budget and service questions. By roll call, the committee approved a motion to strike language rejecting the nominations and then recommended both Manny Ecoutiel and Fiona Henze to the full Board with positive recommendations. The votes were unanimous in committee.

The nominations will move to the full Board of Supervisors for confirmation and, if confirmed, the nominees would join the SFMTA Board during a period of fiscal and operational recovery for Muni.