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Rules Committee tables two fire-commission reappointments after public testimony on department problems
Summary
After extensive public comment and supervisor questioning about ambulance response times, promotions and leadership, the Rules Committee voted 2–1 to table the mayor's reappointments of Steven Nicasio and Michael Hardiman to the San Francisco Fire Commission; tabling leaves the appointments standing under charter procedures and sends discussion to the full board.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on March 16 heard more than two hours of testimony about the condition of the San Francisco Fire Department before deciding to table two mayoral reappointments to the Fire Commission.
Supervisor London Breed, who called the hearing, said she sought an opportunity for "the board of supervisors to hear directly from its fire commissioners and for members of the department and the public to raise concerns they would like commissioners to address." She reiterated support for the commissioners who were before the committee while pressing for answers about persistent departmental problems.
Commissioner Steven Nicasio outlined what he described as long-standing improvements and ongoing priorities. He recounted adopting the candidate physical abilities test and a vehicle replacement policy, noted recent funding dedicated to ambulances and training, and said the commission has worked with the mayor's office and Human Resources to establish a chief-evaluation process.
But Tom O'Connor, president of San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 and a leader of a new United Employees Group representing all department employee organizations, told the committee "everything is not fine," citing a 2014 vote of no confidence in the chief and a civil grand-jury report that flagged inadequate ambulances, long response times and aging fleet equipment. "Response times have improved, but they're still nearly double that of cities like Los Angeles," O'Connor said.
Other witnesses offered mixed testimony. Community leaders and members of Japantown and senior-service organizations gave sustained support for Steven Nicasio's community work and urged his reappointment. Rank-and-file and union representatives said they broadly supported the commissioners while pressing the board to take stronger action on promotion testing, alleged manipulation in promotion scoring, and transparency around chief evaluations.
Committee debate turned on process as well as substance. Supervisors differed on whether the Rules Committee should use the appointment hearing to explore wide-ranging management and operational issues. During a roll-call vote on a motion by Supervisor Malia Cohen to table item 1, Supervisor Eric Marr voted no while Cohen and Chair Tang voted yes; the motion to table passed 2–1. The committee likewise tabled the reappointment of Michael Hardiman by the same vote split. Under the city charter, tabling in Rules means the appointments stand unless later acted on by the full Board of Supervisors.
Several supervisors said tabling was intended to allow more time to pursue follow-up oversight, including further hearings or requests for data, while also acknowledging the commissioners have significant public support. "I'm asking these commissioners to take a strong leadership role and support some of these concerns and to help as much as they can make change to the department," Supervisor Breed said.
What happens next: tabling leaves the mayor's nominations in place per Charter Section 3.100; the full Board of Supervisors will consider the appointments at its next calendared meeting unless the committee brings them back for further action. The Rules Committee also recorded numerous public concerns the board may use to structure follow-up oversight of department hiring, promotion and fleet readiness.
