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Rules Committee Forwards Larry Martin Reappointment to Board Without Recommendation After Heated Public Testimony
Summary
The Rules Committee forwarded Commissioner Larry Martin’s reappointment to the Recreation and Park Commission to the full Board of Supervisors without a recommendation after extended questioning and sharply divided public comment over budget priorities and zoo oversight.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Rules Committee on Aug. 6 forwarded the mayor’s reappointment of Larry Martin to the Recreation and Park Commission to the full Board as a committee report without recommendation.
Commissioner Martin, who appeared before the committee, described outreach he said he conducted across neighborhoods and outlined ongoing efforts to address an $11,400,000 shortfall in the department’s budget. Martin told the committee he had held multiple community meetings and was coordinating with a newly installed general manager to produce a comprehensive plan for parks and recreation services.
Chair Supervisor David Campos and other supervisors pressed Martin about the commission’s role on the budget and whether the department had adequately informed the public about proposed cuts. Campos said portions of the budget as presented “included some pretty severe cuts to rec and park services,” and asked Martin how he had engaged residents on those proposals.
Public comment split sharply. A speaker alleging problems in Park and Rec administration accused a senior staffer of mismanaging bond funds and said the department had ‘‘lost a $100,000,000 in bond funds’’ (public commenter). Another longtime zoo critic, Denise Fobel, told the committee Martin once told her to “shut up and leave the room” during a commission meeting and urged supervisors not to support his reappointment. Supporters, including members of the Park, Recreation and Open Space Committee, praised Martin’s outreach and urged the committee to weigh his body of work.
Supervisor Bevan Dufty moved to forward Martin’s nomination without a committee recommendation. Chair Campos said he remained ‘‘on the fence’’ and hoped to speak further with Martin before the full Board. The motion passed without objection; the nomination will proceed to the full Board on its August agenda, where supervisors will have the opportunity to approve or reject the reappointment.
Next steps: the item will be placed on the Board calendar for consideration; committee members said they hoped to continue dialogue with the commissioner before that meeting.
