Date: June 9, 2025
To: Members of the Ethics Commission
From: Olabisi Matthews, Director of Enforcement
Re: AGENDA ITEM 5: Quarterly Enforcement Report
Summary and Action Requested
This report provides general programmatic updates and data about the cases handled by the Commission’s Enforcement Division.
No action is required by the Commission, as this item is for informational purposes only.
Cases Resolved
Summary data is provided below regarding cases handled by the Commission’s Enforcement Division to assist the Commission and the public in understanding and following the Commission’s administration of its enforcement powers granted under the San Francisco Charter.
Fiscal Year 2025
So far in Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 5, 2025), the Enforcement Division has completed a total of 195 enforcement matters summarized in Chart 1 below:
Chart 1 – Number of Cases Completed by Case Category: 195
Nine of these matters resulted in settlements approved by the Commission. In total, these settlements represented penalties of $170,708.99. The penalties are summarized in Chart 2 below and are categorized by program area.
Chart 2 – Total Penalties Assessed Category: $170,708.99
Cases In Progress
So far in FY25, 189 enforcement matters have been initiated. 97 of these cases began from complaints that the Commission received from the public. Sixty-one of the 189 cases are cases that the Division initiated based on media reports, observations in public disclosures, independent research, findings from audit reports, and interactions with regulated persons. Twenty matters were initiated based on referrals from the Controller’s Whistleblower Program. Two of the matters were initiated based on referrals from the Sunshine Task Force. Some of these matters initiated in FY25 remain in progress while others have already been resolved.
In total, 33 matters are currently in progress, including matters that were initiated during FY25, one initiated in FY23 and one initiated in FY24. Of these matters, 16 are in preliminary review, and 17 are open investigations. The matter initiated in FY24 has recently progressed through the probable cause stage, and a Probable Cause Determination by the Executive Director is due on July 1, 2025. The matter initiated in FY23 is scheduled for an administrative enforcement hearing on July 11, 2025
The current cases in progress are broken down by program area in charts 3 and 4 below.
Matters in Preliminary Review:
Chart 3 – Matters in Preliminary Review by Program Area: 16
Chart 4: Open Investigations by Program Area: 17
