For information: Michael Canning, Policy and Legislative Affairs Manager (415) 252-3100
October 31, 2024
At its regular monthly meeting on Friday, June 14, 2024, the San Francisco Ethics Commission approved four separate settlement agreements that levied a total of $9,000 in penalties against four respondents for unrelated violations of conflict of interest laws.
Violations of Incompatible Activities Laws
In the Matter of Luis Barahona – The Commission unanimously approved a stipulated agreement fining Luis Barahona, a Senior Housing Inspector with the Department of Building Inspection (“DBI”), $2,500 for violating DBI’s Statement of Incompatible Activities by inspecting or making decisions regarding the inspections of properties owned or managed by the TNDC. The Commission also found that Mr. Barahona failed to disclose his professional or business relationship with Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (“TNDC”), as required under San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code (“SF C&GCC”) section 3.214. However, the Commission imposed no penalty for this violation due to the current limitation under the code section.
As authorized by the City Charter, the resolution of violations through a stipulated agreement enables Respondents and the Ethics Commission to resolve enforcement matters without the need of a lengthier and costlier process involving a hearing on the merits. The Commission is authorized to assess a monetary penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation or three times the amount that was unlawfully received.
As detailed in the stipulation, in 2016, Mr. Barahona took a volunteer position on the Board of the TNDC, which owns and manages several buildings within the City, while serving as a housing inspector with DBI. While serving on the Board of the TNDC, Mr. Barahona inspected or made decisions regarding twelve TNDC properties in his role as a housing inspector and after he became a senior housing inspector with DBI. By doing so, Mr. Barahona violated DBI’s SIA because TNDC buildings are subject to the control, inspection, review, audit, or enforcement of DBI, making Mr. Barahona’s service on the TNDC Board incompatible with his City employment. Additionally, Mr. Barahona’s role on the TNDC Board had the potential to materially impair his ability to perform his City duties in violation of DBI’s SIA rules. The Commission did not find any actual conflict of interest on Mr. Barahona’s part, and Mr. Barahona took responsibility for the violations.
Violations of Ethics and Personal Financial Disclosure (Form 700) Laws
In the Matter of Murrell Green – The Commission unanimously approved $2,200 in penalties through a settlement agreement with Member of the Board of Trustees of City College of San Francisco (“CCSF”) Murrell Green for one count of failure to timely file the Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) and one count of participating in matters at meetings of the CCSF while disqualified from doing so because of failure to file the Form 700.
In the Matter of Thomas Harrison – The Commission unanimously approved $2,500 in penalties through a settlement agreement with Commissioner of the Sanitation and Streets Commission Thomas Harrison for one count of failure to timely file the Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700), one count for failure to timely file the Annual Form 700, one count for failure to file an Annual Certificate of Ethics Training and a Sunshine Ordinance Declaration, and one count of participating in matters at meetings of the CCSF while disqualified from doing so because of failure to file the Form 700.
In the Matter of Deneen Hadley – The Commission unanimously approved $1,800 in penalties through a settlement agreement with Member of the Health Authority Board Deneen Hadley for one count of failure to timely file the Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) and one count of participating in matters at meetings of the CCSF while disqualified from doing so because of failure to file the Form 700.
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The San Francisco Ethics Commission was created directly by the City’s voters with the passage of Proposition K in November 1993 and is responsible for the independent and impartial administration and enforcement of laws related to campaign finance, public financing of candidates, governmental ethics, conflicts of interests, and registration and reporting by lobbyists, campaign consultants, permit consultants, and major developers.
Our mission is to practice and promote the highest standards of integrity in government. We achieve that by delivering impactful programs that promote fair, transparent, and accountable governmental decision making for the benefit of all San Franciscans. Public service is a public trust, and our aim is to ensure that San Franciscans can have confidence that the operations of the City and County and the decisions made by its officials and employees are fair, just, and made without any regard to private or personal gain.