Emergency Special Hearing Scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, as More Undated Resignation Letters Emerge

SAN FRANCISCO — Earlier today, Supervisor Dean Preston, Chair of the Government Audit and Oversight Committee, announced an October 11 Special GAO meeting on the Mayor’s practice of obtaining undated resignation letters from commissioners. The emergency hearing will be the first opportunity for the public to weigh in since news broke on September 23 of the practice.

After initial reporting and Preston’s announcement of a hearing, the Mayor released 40 undated resignation letters. Preston also issued a formal Letter of Inquiry to the Mayor’s Office and to Commissioners seeking all undated resignation letters. In response to the LOI, eight additional commissioners have been identified who provided undated resignation letters to the Mayor at her request.

Preston’s office has requested that the Mayor’s Office, including but not limited to Andres Power, Ivy Lee, and Tyra Fennell, appear at the hearing.

The City Attorney, in a public memo, found the Mayor’s practice of requesting undated letters of resignation “inconsistent” with city law. The City Attorney also determined that the undated resignation letters would be unenforceable.

“San Franciscans deserve to know the full extent of this scandal,” said Supervisor Preston. “These commissioners are supposed to exercise their independent judgment, not operate under constant threat that a displeased Mayor could unilaterally declare their resignation at her whim. We need full transparency and accountability.”

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