PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
John St. Croix
(415) 252-3100
For release: October 16, 2007
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN AT OCTOBER 15, 2007 MEETING
At its meeting on October 15, 2007, the San Francisco Ethics Commission took the following action:
- After receiving testimony, initially adopted by 4-0 votes the draft Statements of Incompatible Activities (“SIAs”) for the Recreation and Park Department and Commission and the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Under the law, the City will engage in meet and confer sessions with the affected unions prior to final adoption of the SIAs by the Commission.
- Approved by a vote of 4-0 amendments to and legislation proposed by Supervisor Daly to consolidate the public finance programs for candidates for Mayor and the Board of Supervisors. Under the law, the Board of Supervisors may amend the Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance (“CFRO”) if the amendment furthers the purposes of the CFRO, the Ethics Commission approves the proposed amendment in advance by at least a four-fifths vote of all its members; the proposed amendment is available for public review at least 30 days before the amendment is considered by the Board of Supervisors or any committee of the Board; and the Board approves the proposed amendment by at least a two-thirds vote of all its members. The proposal will be heard by the Rules Committee of the Board of Supervisors on October 25, 2007.
- Approved by a vote of 4-0 amendments to and legislation regarding the CFRO proposed by Supervisor Daly to require persons making independent expenditures of $1,000 or more to pay for mass mailings that support or oppose candidates for City elective office to file those mailings and itemization of costs with the Ethics Commission. Under the law, the Board of Supervisors may amend the CFRO if the amendment furthers the purposes of the CFRO, the Ethics Commission approves the proposed amendment in advance by at least a four-fifths vote of all its members; the proposed amendment is available for public review at least 30 days before the amendment is considered by the Board of Supervisors or any committee of the Board; and the Board approves the proposed amendment by at least a two-thirds vote of all its members. The proposal will be heard by the Rules Committee of the Board on October 25, 2007.
- Approved by a vote of 4-0 an amendment to and legislation regarding the CFRO proposed by Supervisor Daly to require persons conducting or paying for telephone persuasion polls to disclose information to call recipients during the telephone calls and to file disclosure reports with the Ethics Commission. Under the law, the Board of Supervisors may amend the CFRO if the amendment furthers the purposes of the CFRO, the Ethics Commission approves the proposed amendment in advance by at least a four-fifths vote of all its members; the proposed amendment is available for public review at least 30 days before the amendment is considered by the Board of Supervisors or any committee of the Board; and the Board approves the proposed amendment by at least a two-thirds vote of all its members. The proposal will be heard by the Rules Committee of the Board on October 25, 2007.
- Declined to take any action after receiving testimony from Supervisor Daly about his proposed legislation to prohibit members of boards, commissions and advisory bodies from participating in a meeting when compromised by alcohol or illegal drugs. The Commission is not required to take action on this proposal, which is pending at the Board of Supervisors.
- Voted 4-0, after receiving testimony from the attorney representing mayoral candidate John Rinaldi, to allow Mr. Rinaldi to make one additional resubmission of his claim for public funds under the Mayoral Election Campaign Fund. The Commission made clear that the resubmission would focus on contributions that Mr. Rinaldi received through PayPal.
The Commission’s next regular meeting will be held on Monday, November 5, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 408 City Hall. This will not be on the Commission’s usual second Monday of the month meeting because the second Monday of the month, November 12, is a City holiday.
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The Ethics Commission, established in November 1993, serves the public, City employees and officials and candidates for public office through education and enforcement of ethics laws. Its duties include: filing and auditing of campaign finance disclosure statements, lobbyist and campaign consultant registration and regulation, administration of the public financing program, whistleblower program, conflict of interest reporting, investigations and enforcement, education and training, advice giving and statistical reporting.
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