Rules Committee advances Richard Guggenheim reappointment amid airport noise concerns

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Oct. 25 advanced the mayor’s reappointment of Richard Guggenheim to the Airport Commission, after members and the applicant discussed a surge of community complaints about aircraft noise tied to the FAA’s NextGen flight‑path changes.

Commissioner Richard Guggenheim, the reappointment applicant, described a long record of service on local commissions dating to the 1970s and noted his legal practice at Perkins Coie. He outlined airport capital work including a planned renovation of Terminal 1 (scheduled for completion in February 2020) and ongoing projects at Terminal 3. He said the airport employs roughly 43,000 workers and handles about 54,000,000 passengers a year.

Chair Supervisor Asha Safai said districts including Districts 7 and 11 have seen “a significant amount of complaints” since the FAA and the airport implemented NextGen in 2014, which she said made flight tracks more precise and in some cases lower. Safai said she is preparing a letter to the city’s congressional delegation — including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Dianne Feinstein — and asked the airport director to work with the supervisors on a coordinated response.

Guggenheim acknowledged community impacts and described steps the airport has taken "within its authority," distinguishing those actions from FAA jurisdiction. He said the airport funds a noise abatement office, maintains community noise monitors and a community roundtable, and recently approved a noise‑insulation program to replace failed windows and doors for homes within a specified contour.

Airport Director Ivar spoke in support of Guggenheim’s reappointment, calling him "a very supportive and thoughtful commissioner" who brings legal expertise to airport deliberations and has engaged on noise‑insulation efforts.

Supervisor Sandy Lee Feuer asked about investments disclosed on Guggenheim’s Form 700 and whether they had created conflicts. Guggenheim said, "No. I do not have any conflicts," and told the committee the city attorney’s office had reviewed his financial disclosures.

A public commenter identifying himself as "Ace" used his two minutes to raise broader concerns about racial impacts and city decisions tied to the airport and local history; the speaker’s remarks did not prompt a formal response in the committee record.

The committee made a motion to approve Guggenheim’s reappointment and advanced the item out of committee to the Board of Supervisors agenda on Oct. 31, 2017.