Rules Committee advances multiple reappointments, endorses 10 for Bicycle Advisory Committee

SAN FRANCISCO — The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on March 8 moved a package of appointments and recommendations affecting city housing oversight, transportation and homelessness policy. Chair Supervisor Asha Safaei presided as the panel advanced mayoral reappointments to the successor agency commission, recommended a full slate of Bicycle Advisory Committee nominees and voted to forward two candidates for the Local Homeless Coordinating Board with residency waivers.

Miguel Bustos, a mayoral appointee to the successor agency commission, told the committee he has pressed for local hiring and preferences in OCII projects so residents benefit directly from development. "Make sure that people get jobs," Bustos said, describing efforts to collect subcontractor bios and encourage hiring of local firms. The committee agreed to a motion to confirm the three mayoral nominees — Miguel Bustos, Leah Pimentel and Darshan Singh — and to send a positive recommendation to the full Board for final action on March 14.

The committee also heard from Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) candidates seeking 10 available seats. Applicants outlined experience ranging from industry work to bike education and neighborhood advocacy and emphasized support for Vision Zero and safe-streets planning. Devin Warner, Mary Kate Chin, Catherine Orland and others described local volunteer work and safety projects; Warner noted work on the Ghost Bike initiative and Chin highlighted the San Francisco Yellow Bike Project. After public endorsements from BAC members and community organizations the committee voted without objection to forward a positive recommendation for the full slate to the Board.

On regional appointments to the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District board, Sabrina Hernandez and other incumbents described ongoing projects including the suicide deterrent system. Richard Grosbaugh and Michael Theriault emphasized experience with the district's multimodal operations and construction oversight. Supervisors moved a positive recommendation for reappointments to the full Board.

On homelessness policy, Laura Guzman — who has served on the Local Homeless Coordinating Board since its 2005 reconstitution and chairs the policy committee — outlined the board’s role overseeing the federal continuum of care/NOFA application and coordinating federal funding. "We just got $2,900,000 for a demonstration project," Guzman said when describing recent HUD-directed funding for youth-focused work. Sophia Isom, who works in Family and Children’s Services at the Human Services Agency, described efforts to address housing for foster youth aging out of the system. The committee recommended Laura Guzman and Sophia Isom for appointment and included residency waivers for both nominees.

All procedural recommendations were made by motion and approved "without objection" on the Rules Committee floor; the items will be placed on the Board of Supervisors agenda on March 14 for final confirmation. Remarks in support and brief questioning focused on applicants’ institutional knowledge, community ties and specific program priorities such as local hiring, Vision Zero bicycle safety goals and youth homelessness prevention.

The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.