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Board approves Our City, Our Home oversight appointments after divided vote on one seat
Summary
The board approved multiple appointments to advisory bodies, including a divided vote to confirm William (Billy) Lehi to Seat 8 of the Our City, Our Home Oversight Committee amid objections from advocates who sought reappointment of a longtime homelessness advocate.
The Board of Supervisors approved several appointments on Nov. 18, including seats on the Early Childhood Community Oversight and the Our City, Our Home Oversight Committee.
On item 36, supervisors appointed Chanel Williams and Julia D'Antonio and took a divided vote on Seat 8, William (Billy) Lehi. Supervisor Fielder moved to divide the question and call Lehi's appointment separately after concerns were raised about replacing longtime homelessness advocate Jennifer Friedenbach. Supporters, including Supervisor Dorsey, said Lehi brings lived experience and recovery‑community leadership that is directly relevant to mental‑health and substance‑use issues intersecting with homelessness; Dorsey described Lehi's work leading the Castro Country Club as life‑saving for many.
Opponents said Friedenbach's decades of homelessness advocacy and institutional knowledge of the Our City, Our Home measure were reasons to retain her on the oversight committee. After the separate roll call, Lehi was confirmed (the clerk initially reported 6 ayes/4 noes and then corrected to 7 ayes/3 noes); the remainder of the appointments were then approved unanimously.
Separately, item 35 appointed Barbara Ellen Walden and Monique Guidry to the Early Childhood Community Oversight and Advisory Committee (terms ending Oct. 8, 2027). The board approved those nominations without objection.
The divided vote and public commentary underscore differing views on membership balance for advisory bodies that oversee homelessness and supportive‑housing measures.
