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Rules Committee advances Public Advocate charter amendment after supporters call for oversight
Summary
Supervisor Gordon Marr introduced a charter amendment to create an elected Office of Public Advocate with powers to investigate complaints and review city programs; committee adopted an amendment removing a lawyer‑licensure requirement and continued the item to July 13 after strong public support.
The Rules Committee on July 9 took up a charter amendment to create a city Office of Public Advocate, an elected official charged with investigating complaints about city services and reviewing departmental administration and customer service. Supervisor Gordon Marr said he would remove a proposed requirement that the Public Advocate be a licensed attorney, which he called an unnecessary barrier to candidates.
Public comment was broadly favorable, and multiple callers argued the city needs an independent advocate and watchdog after recent corruption scandals. Several neighborhood and tenant‑rights leaders said the office could recover public trust and identify waste. The committee approved the amendment to remove the lawyer‑licensure requirement by roll call, and voted to continue the measure to the July 13 Rules Committee meeting to finalize language and next steps.
Marr said the Public Advocate would have powers to receive and attempt to resolve complaints, review programs and customer‑service plans, and receive whistleblower complaints. Supporters argued the office could save taxpayer money by exposing poor contracting or fraud; one caller cited New York City’s Public Advocate as a model that recovered millions in poor‑contracting costs.
The committee will return on July 13 to consider final edits and any additional amendments before placing a charter change on the ballot for voter approval.
