Rules Committee advances multiple appointments, including Jerry Lee to MTA and Stuart Rhodes to medical cannabis task force

The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 21 advanced multiple appointments to the full Board with recommendation, including Jerry Lee to the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) board and Stuart Rhodes to the Medical Cannabis Task Force.

Supervisor Jane Kim, chair of the Rules Committee, opened the hearing and said items recommended by the committee will go to the full Board on May 3. The committee heard applicants for a range of advisory and board seats, took public comment, and moved each nomination forward without recorded opposition.

Jerry Lee, introduced as vice chair of the MTA board and chair of its Policy and Governance Committee, told the committee he wants to continue serving because the MTA is at a “critical juncture” amid contract negotiations. Lee listed safety, service reliability, budget and overtime control, management stability and employee morale as priorities and said the agency should expand outreach on pedestrian safety, especially for seniors. “We have to make sure that the proper things are in place to make sure we move forward,” Lee said.

Several community organizations and residents spoke in support of Lee’s reappointment, citing his work with senior outreach and the CLIPPER program. Annie Chung of Self Help for the Elderly said Lee worked directly with seniors and Muni staff on pedestrian-safety training; Sarah Wen of the Community Youth Center described Lee’s engagement with youth and workforce programs. The committee moved Lee’s reappointment to the full Board with recommendation.

In the Medical Cannabis Task Force cultivation-seat contest, two candidates — John Graham and Stuart Rhodes — addressed the committee. Rhodes summarized more than a decade of volunteer and organizing work in the local medical-cannabis movement and argued his cultivation and technical experience would help bring the sector into regulation and safer operations. Dozens of patients, advocates and service providers spoke in support of Rhodes, citing his volunteer work, patient assistance and efforts to develop home-garden guidance. The committee moved Rhodes’ nomination forward to the full Board.

The committee also advanced a series of other appointments and reappointments: Supervisor Scott Wiener to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (the mayor had designated him as the appointee), Malia Cohen to the Association of Bay Area Governments’ executive board, Brenda Yee to the San Francisco Health Authority (with a residency waiver approved), Mary Hansel to the Children and Families First Commission (residency waiver approved), Joyce Lam to the SRO task force, and a five-member slate for the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee. Public commenters included representatives of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, the San Francisco Health Plan and multiple patient-advocacy groups.

Votes at a glance: Jerry Lee — forwarded to full Board with recommendation (MTA reappointment); Supervisor Scott Wiener — forwarded to full Board with recommendation (MTC); Malia Cohen — forwarded (ABAG Executive Board); Brenda Yee — forwarded with residency waiver (San Francisco Health Authority); Mary Hansel — forwarded with residency waiver (Children and Families First Commission); Joyce Lam — forwarded (SRO Task Force); Stuart Rhodes — forwarded (Medical Cannabis Task Force); five nominees for the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee — forwarded as a slate with recommendation.

The committee took no recorded roll-call votes in the transcript; motions were passed and items forwarded with the committee’s recommendation. The Rules Committee adjourned after moving the items to the full Board.

Next steps: The forwarded nominations will appear on the Board’s agenda on May 3 for final consideration.