The Board of Supervisors have once again conceded to the new mayor: In a 9-2 vote, the board voted to remove outspoken reformist Max Carter-Oberstone from the police commission. In a highly unusual move earlier this month, Mayor Daniel Lurie submitted a motion to remove Carter-Oberstone from the police commission before his term’s end next year.
The vote followed an animated hearing and more than an hour of public comment, during which residents and advocates overwhelmingly pleaded to the board to reject the motion.
In an eight-minute-long speech, Carter-Oberstone criticized what he described as a “power grab” from Lurie. “He would prefer commissioners who follow orders and do as they’re told,” Carter-Oberstone said, in reference to the mayor.
First appointed to the police commission by former Mayor London Breed in 2021, Carter-Oberstone infamously found himself at odds with Breed, deviating from her wishes at time.
Publicly, Lurie did not give a reason regarding why he sought to oust Carter-Oberstone; nor is he required to do so. In his initial request to remove Carter-Oberstone from the police commission, Lurie wrote that he would seek a new commissioner who would “work collaboratively to make our city safer.” Privately, however, Lurie accused Carter-Oberstone of disrespecting his staffers.
Lurie, during the campaign, also said he would remove Chief Bill Scott, which he can do unilaterally. A new police chief, however, must be chosen by the mayor from a list drawn up by the police commission. Carter-Oberstone, unlike a more predictable Lurie-picked commissioner, could have been an impediment to the new mayor getting a new chief.
The police commission is an independent body responsible for supervising the police department, a fact that Amy Bunn, one member of the public, noted during public comment: “The commission is meant to be an independent body, not an accessory to the mayor,” Bunn said.
District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar and District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder were the only supervisors who objected to removing Carter-Oberstone.
“I do not believe in removing commissioners or supervisors before their term is up when there has been no malfeasance or illegal conduct,” said Melgar. “Mayor Lurie’s reasons that Commissioner Carter-Oberstone’s manner has been needlessly confrontational and difficult to work with do not rise to my standard for removal.”
Before the vote, District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey emphasized that removing the commissioner is within the mayor’s authority.
“In my view, Mayor Lurie has earned, by virtue of this election, the right to make an appointment of his choosing exactly as the City Charter intends for mayoral appointees to this commission,” said Dorsey. “I’ve seen no rationale in this hearing to dissent on the rule.”
“It is absolutely the right of the mayor to put forward this motion,” Fielder countered. “It’s also our right to reject that.”
Fielder endorsed Carter-Oberstone’s work on the commission and pointed to the need for independent oversight, in particular following a recent police chase in the Mission that resulted in six people being injured. “His removal is going to lend toward not just an unaccountable and less effective police force, but also a chilling effect on any oversight whatsoever that will ultimately put members of the public in danger,” said Fielder.
“Dismantling independent oversight agencies in the name of government efficiency is certainly in vogue these days. I’m sure many in Washington would applaud Daniel Lurie’s coarse political desire for more executive power, but I know that San Francisco stands for something different, and I imagine many of you do, too,” said Carter-Oberstone.
Indeed, many did. More than 50 people rose to the podium in support of Carter-Oberstone during more than 90 minutes of public comment, and only a handful advocated for the motion to remove him.
“He’s not afraid to speak truth to power. He’s not afraid to whistle when he knows something is wrong and something is unjust,” said former police commissioner Angela Chan, who now works at the Public Defender’s Office. “With Black and brown lives on the line for the most vulnerable to police misconduct, we need more serious, smart and caring commissioners like Carter-Oberstone.”
The 9-2 vote was the latest sign of amity between the new mayor and the new Board of Supervisors, or at least a sign that officials are keeping their powder dry as they head into a difficult budget season this summer. In January, Lurie’s fentanyl ordinance passed 10-1, even though supervisors were voting to strip themselves of oversight over some city contracts dealing with drugs and homelessness.
The board on Tuesday also unanimously approved the mayor’s nomination of a new police commissioner: W.E. Wilson Leung, a former federal prosecutor, to fill another opening on the body.
A shameful day for San Francisco, but I’m proud to be represented by Jackie Fielder who votes her values and doesn’t treat civil rights as a bargaining chip, as some, including “progressives,” evidently do. Thank you Max, too, for your years of excellent service.
Which “progressives” are you referring to?
Progressives only care about criminals and drugs addicts. They never have ideas in support of victims and good citizens.
Again neither OP nor Reggie has a specific one to mention, or a specific pair of brain cells to rub together producing anything beyond a slogan.
My comment addresses serious concerns regarding the leadership of Mayor Lurie and the potential negative impact on our community. I believe his administration lacks the necessary experience and transparency to effectively govern our city.
The absence of robust oversight mechanisms raises significant concerns about the potential for mismanagement, inefficiency, and even corruption. A system of checks and balances is crucial for a democratic government to function effectively and prevent the concentration of power in any single entity. The lack of such a system in the current mayoral administration poses a considerable risk to the well-being of all San Franciscans, particularly those in the Black and Brown communities.
I am deeply troubled by reports suggesting a lack of responsiveness to the needs of our diverse population and I am committed to ensuring the Mayor operates in a manner that is accountable and representative of all residents. I invite the voters in our communities who care about minorities and our city to actively monitoring the situation and to consider all available options to protect the interests of our people, including the possibility of a recall petition should the current trajectory of Lurie’s administration continue. I believe it is imperative that the Mayor demonstrates a stronger commitment to good governance, transparency, and equitable outcomes for all San Franciscans.
Good. In ML’s coverage of the recent police chase Max said:
“needless carnage on our roadways, without any accompanying benefit,” Anyone blind to the benefit of getting violent felons off the street has got to go. (Yes, there was clearly a cost in this case, but getting violent criminals off the street is the benefit. His POV is outrageous)
Greg,
I’m gonna offer here that our cops crash or cause crashes 40% of the time when they engage in a chase because we have a higher percentage of officers with a Cowboy mentality.
One of the cops who beat the gay guy for his fajitas was also a driver in a high speed response that killed a gay cop.
The department brass recruits bad apples from other .(Laterals) and makes them Training Officers for gods’ sake.
It doesn’t take many Cowboys to screw up a force of 2,000.
Think of an SFPD career as like being in college for 20 or 30 years or longer and the same Fraternity of 100 or so bad actors has bullied the 1,900 Righteous students.
They say they don’t have the manpower for Foot Patrols ?
This will sound silly but what did their great grandpas do before there were cars ?
They walked Foot Patrols and knew every citizen on their Beat and the size of the City has not changed.
Lurie should do two things I’ve suggested to him.
First, support an elected Police Chief.
Second, start sending a couple of dozen cops and firefighters around the World to our Sister Cities in an exchange of Public Safety Personnel devoted to racing to one another’s Aid when Disaster hits a fellow burg.
I like this guy and he honestly is a nice person who listens to opposing opinions.
Something you can’t say for the last 5 mayors.
go Niners !!
h.
Interesting choice to call him a “reformist” when in reality he represents the failing status quo that was repudiated in the last election.
Actually no, he exposed Breed’s corruption personally. He’s independent of any single political party leadership in SF, and he proved that.
What have you ever done along those lines? Crickets…
ML should take a pool as to who the SFPOA is going to blame next now that MCO has been deposed.
Thank you Supervisor Fielder and Supervisor Melgar for standing up for us. Time will show that you were correct.
This is the BoS majority bought and paid for by billionaires and their astroturf groups in the last election. It’s only the first installment payment to their bosses, so hang on.
Engardio is pro-recall again, we’re gonna hold him to that.
So icky. So yuck.
I hope Max runs for Supervisor D6, maybe? He could give fascist Dorsey a good run.
He’s police oversight expertise, not city planning / politics expertise. I think that would be as bad as appointing a political activist to the supposedly-independent police commission… oh, right.
All I had to read was activist. That says it all.
Activist in my mind is just another word for criminal supporter.
Thank you, Board of Supervisors.
Of course the public defender’s office likes him. He’s pro-criminal. We need to stop excusing criminality.
How many years do you have on the police force exactly? Zero.
Like most progressives, you are quick to insult but haven’t thought this (or anything) through.
Are you suggesting that only police should vote?
How is pointing out that someone has ZERO EXPERIENCE, a fact, considered an insult? Oh right, because they’re “insulted” to be at all questioned by anyone on their having ZERO actual experience or expertise, and because they put themselves out there inherently pretending that without specifics, their ego is damaged by the question. Well, suck it up buttercup, but a fact is a fact. Also just because someone corrects you and points out that you don’t know what you’re talking about, that doesn’t make them a progressive. Maybe you’re used to being corrected by them?
This whole progressive experiment we just endured flat-out failed. Funds were wasted on progressive nonprofits funding their lifestyle and lining their pockets. Drug tourism flourished and skyrocketed funding cartels and organized theft. Repeat criminals got referred by progressive prosecutors to one of 14 useless alternative courts without any fear of consequences. Alcoholics were given free shots of vodka and beer instead of asked to be enrolled in rehabs. Downtown and Union Square became desolate land infested with criminals. Businesses left, our streets resembled third-world country and the deficit skyrocketed under progressive rule! It will take a decade to reverse the damage done under progressives ( including Jackie Fidler). It’s time to recall her as well!
Run for office then Katie Miller. What? You don’t wanna be held accountable in elected office? You don’t want to have to answer to torch mobs who call for your recall? You are everything that is wrong with our current system. You are entitled. I don’t think you have the guts to run for elected office, yet you throw stones at people who are, if nothing else in these dark and desperate times, seeking to find solutions. Shame on you.
Katie,
What ‘Progressives’ had been in charge of the City ?
Your argument is a Fail because we have a Strong Mayor system with Room 200 holding about 90% of the Power and the BOS is more like 10% and they certainly aren’t a Progressive body anymore.
And, also face it, the money the ‘Progressives’ get to spend on Soup Kitchens and Shelters if given to them to keep the poor from heading up those hills like an Oakland Hills blaze.
A Police Sergeant, literally, commanding ‘Fort Apache’ in NYC told Mike Wallace (see how old I am) while they stood at a Ghetto intersection with a liquor store on every corner …
“If it weren’t for the drugs and liquor stores we’d have a revolution.”
In fact, the Office of Mayor has been bequeathed even more of the BOS power in recent elections and y’all would look bad to deny it.
Elect our Police Chief !!
h.
Very sorry for your loss.
Bye, bye. 👋
With folks like him gone, perhaps the crime rate will start to come down as San Francisco is no longer know as a place to come steal stuff that you can then drive back to [you can fill in the blank].
People don’t steal like this in San Jose, or Palo Alto, good to get back to some old fashioned Criminal sanctions….
At least your name is accurate…
yes they do, theft occurs in every city.
56.2 property crimes/1000 in sf:
https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/san-francisco/crime
27.73/1000in Palo Alto
https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/palo-alto/crime
We are at twice the property crime as either Palo Alto or San Jose.
Welcoming crime with no pursuit policies, diversion, or just not charging people…cause, oh well criminals to come and commit more crimes.
Perhaps you like crime, I don’t.
26.53/1000 in San Jose
https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/san-jose/crime
So move to San Jose, problem solved, because you put forth zero solutions to a crime rate in either place. You can point to a different area with TOTALLY DIFFERENT demographics and pretend it’s all the same, but people who do analysis actually do study these things. Good luck learning how that works.
disgusted with the board but proud of my d11 rep.
*d9 😂🙃 it’s been a long month
I completely agree with the Board of Supervisors! We need change and this whole progressive experiment we endured flat out failed. Put your big boy pants on, wake up, and get these criminals off the streets!
Campers,
Max would be wasting his time there from now on.
A member of a very distinguished and well informed audience said that the Board could redeem themselves by appointing Max to their next Commission slot.
Lurie is a very good man who has fallen in with a bad crowd.
My thing is to keep posting and feeding my site and picking up trash with my dog and hope that he sees the light.
Which means my point of view of course.
Agreed ?
lol
go Niners !!
“Lurie is a very good man who has fallen in with a bad crowd.”
A crowd he picked…
Somewhat agree. You’re correct in that Max would be largely wasting his time, tilting at windmills. Lurie isn’t a known quantity yet exactly, and what he will be able to deliver is yet to be seen, let alone proven.
I’m not sure he was tilting at windmills. The reforms advocated for are mainstream at large metros. It wasn’t and would not be for naught.
And like Djordowsky said in the making of Dune doc:
Ah, I think the quote you’re referring to is:
“A dream that you dream alone is only a dream. A dream that you dream together is reality.”