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Rules Committee forwards Miguel Bustos to full Board for Redevelopment Agency seat
Summary
The Rules Committee voted without objection to forward Miguel Bustos’ nomination to the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, following an extended confirmation hearing and broad public support emphasizing his Mission District roots and priorities for affordable housing and the Mexican Museum.
Supervisor David Campos, chair of the Rules Committee, opened a confirmation hearing on Nov. 19 for Miguel Bustos, the mayor’s nominee to a four-year seat on the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commission. After a more than hour-long exchange with supervisors and an extensive public-comment period, the committee moved Bustos’ nomination to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
Bustos, a Mission District native who described his background in nonprofit and government roles, told the committee he would focus on affordable housing, robust community benefits, culturally appropriate services and anti-displacement measures. "San Francisco must keep families in San Francisco, stopping the displacement," Bustos said during his remarks, and he tied that priority to ensuring redevelopment projects deliver jobs and housing for current residents.
Supervisors pressed Bustos on whether he would represent diverse voices and remain independent of appointing authorities. Supervisor David Campos said he had been "very critical" that the redevelopment agency had not always prioritized Latino communities and cited the Mexican Museum as an example. Bustos responded that elected officials "come and go" and said he would prioritize lasting community outcomes and outreach to a broad set of neighborhood organizations.
A lengthy public-comment period followed, with community leaders and redevelopment commissioners speaking in favor of the nominee. Commissioner London Breed said Bustos had been "someone who's pushed to support" the Mexican Museum and that the city needed commissioners who listen to residents and do the work to research and make durable decisions. Fred Blackwell, executive director of the Redevelopment Agency, spoke in support and highlighted the agency's portfolio, including Bayview-Hunters Point and Mission Bay projects.
After public testimony, the committee took the nomination "without objection" and forwarded Bustos to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation. The full Board will consider confirmation at a later date.
The committee’s action advances a nomination that drew notable local attention because of redevelopment projects affecting the Mission, Bayview and other neighborhoods; the full Board’s consideration will determine whether Bustos will serve the four-year term ending Sept. 3, 2013.
