SF Commissions Under Scrutiny
Dear Neighbors and Friends,
We are learning a great deal about our city's political system through our grassroots efforts to stop the proposed cannabis dispensary at the Gold Mirror Restaurant. We are not civic members, politically inclined toward any government agencies, nor are we particularly well-connected with any local officials. Instead, like many San Franciscans, we are fed up with the grave dysfunction we see in our city's governance, particularity when it comes to our 130 commission groups, such as our Board of Supervisors or Planning Commission, which have turned a blind eye and deaf ear to our requests, suggestions, concerns, etc., regarding the dispensary.
We are not the only group raising concerns. According to this recent blog from Together SF, "our commissions are legally insulated from public accountability, [therefore] public discourse has turned to the question of whether this is an effective way to structure such important governmental decisions....Commissioners’ lack of accountability leads to poor decision-making and headaches for both the public and the city’s elected officials."
We are experiencing these headaches and red-tape first-hand: first, with our own District 7 Supervisor Melgar, who refuses to meet with us or comment on the Gold Mirror dispensary, and second, with the Planning Commission, which, we have reasonable suspicion to believe, is doing its best to thwart our efforts by changing the public hearing date for the dispensary and not telling us about it.
Please, we would like to connect with other individuals or organizations facing similar battles with our city's commissioners. Therefore, if you, or anyone you know, is affiliated with groups, such as Together SF, please let us know. We would love to feature your stories on this web site.
Thank you and best wishes for the New Year 2023!
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