Rules Committee forwards Bruce Wolf after heated public debate over Sunshine Task Force disability requirement

The Rules Committee on Sept. 6 moved a contested nomination for the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force to the full Board after an hourslong public exchange over disability representation and past Task Force operations.

Clerk Linda Wong introduced Item 3 and the City Attorney (Gitner) told the committee that the Sunshine Ordinance "provides that at all times 1 member must be a person with a physical disability," and that the disability requirement does not attach to a specific seat but must be met overall by the Task Force. The committee considered three applicants for a single open seat: Bruce Wolf, a long-serving Task Force member who emphasized experience in information technology and transparency; Francine Simon, who identified herself as a person with a physical disability and described community- and volunteer-service experience; and Kai Wilson Forsley, an organizer of civic-access events and library volunteer who said she had worked on voter-education efforts and public-access projects.

Public comment included sharp criticism of the Board's prior handling of Task Force appointments. Ray Hartz of San Francisco Open Government said the Task Force "has been unable to meet for months," called the paralysis a denial of due process and alleged prior removals were retaliatory. Paul Kreher, several other public speakers and multiple advocacy organizations urged the committee to restore an experienced member and to ensure the Sunshine requirement for disabled representation was met. Some speakers made direct allegations that the removal of incumbents amounted to political retaliation; others described consequences for pending Sunshine cases.

Supervisor David Campos acknowledged the oversight and apologized to the public: "I do take responsibility for the fact that I frankly did not know that when we were having that discussion here in committee." Campos moved to forward Bruce Wolf to the full Board with a positive recommendation, citing Wolf's institutional knowledge and experience. Supervisor Farrell said she was reluctant to seat someone who had participated in Task Force decisions that she believes violated the City Charter and preferred postponement to recruit a different candidate; in the roll call Supervisor Farrell voted No, Supervisor Campos Aye and Chair Kim Aye. The motion passed; the committee will forward Wolf's nomination to the full Board for final action.

The committee also discussed the practical consequences of the selection process and members asked the eventual Task Force to draw on the many qualified applicants who were not selected via advisory roles or committees.

Next step: the full Board of Supervisors will consider the committee's recommendation; the Rules Committee record shows the motion passed on a committee roll call and that the City Attorney advised on the disability requirement that guided debate.