Rules Committee hears staff case to remove reentry council appointee; member asks for mediation

The Rules Committee held a specially noticed public hearing after staff of the Reentry Council requested that the committee consider removal of board‑appointed member Tami ("Tommy") Esgarciga.

Jessica Flintoff, reentry policy director, summarized dozens of complaints from council members, department staff and outside providers alleging that Esgarciga repeatedly failed to observe meeting protocols, frustrated collaborative processes, and made public misrepresentations about council operations. Flintoff said the conduct had become disruptive enough that it impaired subcommittee work and overall council productivity. "I recommend that the Board of Supervisors remove Tommy Esgarciga from the Reentry Council and expedite the appointment of a replacement," Flintoff said.

Deputy City Attorney Cheryl Adams advised the committee that the Board appoints members at the pleasure of the Board and that removal requires a public hearing and legislative action by the Board as a whole.

Esgarciga denied the substance of many allegations and described a history of miscommunication with staff and a lack of a formal remedial process. She said she had disabilities that add to the difficulty of following procedures in some contexts and asked the Board to consider mediation as a path forward. Multiple public speakers offered mixed testimony: some reentry council members and allies defended Esgarciga’s contributions and urged mediation, while staff and some subcommittee participants described disengagement and loss of collaborative function.

After discussion, Supervisor Marr moved to remove Esgarciga; Chair Campos and other members said they would support the motion, citing staff and other appointing authorities’ concerns about the council’s ability to function. The committee took the motion without objection and forwarded the recommendation to the full Board, which has final authority to remove an appointee.