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Board approves two behested‑payments waivers amid concerns over transparency
Summary
The board approved two six‑month behested‑payment waivers — one for mayoral solicitation for economic revitalization (item 24) and one authorizing HSH to solicit donations for temporary shelter expansion (item 25) — after supervisors raised concerns about transparency and oversight; votes were 8–3 and 10–1 respectively.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Dec. 2 approved two separate behested‑payments waivers that allow city officials to solicit private donations for public programs, voting 8–3 on a six‑month waiver to permit the mayor and certain mayoral staff to solicit donations for economic revitalization (item 24) and 10–1 on a waiver authorizing Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing executives to solicit donations for temporary shelter and homeless services (item 25).
Supervisor Felder, chair of the Government Audit and Oversight Committee, opposed item 24 and said the mayor's office failed to provide adequate information in committee about who was solicited and the reasons those parties might be interested. "Given the lack of information provided by the mayor's office, I continue to have real concerns about the city being able to conduct meaningful oversight on potential conflicts of interest for this specific waiver," Felder said. Other supervisors, including Sherrill and Chan, supported the waiver as a tool to help downtown economic recovery.
On item 25, Supervisor Walton strongly opposed HSH's waiver, saying the mayor's direction had "oversaturated" certain districts and that he could not support further solicitations that might lead to concentrated impacts in his district. Supervisor Felder said HSH had addressed committee questions and that she would support item 25; the motion passed 10–1 with Walton the lone no.
Madam Clerk recorded roll calls and outcomes: item 24 passed with eight ayes and three nos (Felder, Melgar, Walton) and item 25 passed with ten ayes and one no (Walton). Several supervisors asked for follow‑up information about who had been solicited and the dollar amounts involved; members signaled interest in stronger disclosure and possible procedural changes to the behested‑payments process.
What happens next: The waivers allow the named offices to solicit donations for the period described; supervisors said they would pursue additional oversight and possibly ask for further documentation on solicited parties and amounts in future committee hearings.
Sources: Remarks by Supervisors Felder, Sherrill, Chan, Walton, and the clerk's roll calls recorded Dec. 2, 2025.
