Sup. Ahsha Safai has apparently conceded defeat in his efforts to replace the city’s best Police Commission member with one of his political allies.
Safai tried for months to kick Petra DeJesus off the panel and replace her with Olga Miranda, who strongly (some say too strongly) supported his campaign for supervisor.
But Miranda had a long list of problems, including the fact that she only moved to the city (if she actually did move to the city) a few days before filing her application for the office. The Examiner reported on some rather unpleasant behavior that raised questions about her temperament.
Miranda is one of three commission members appointed by the supes. The other four are appointed by the mayor.
After it became clear that Miranda didn’t have six votes on the board, and DeJesus did, Safai, who chairs the Rules Committee, held off on scheduling a hearing on the seat, essentially ensuring that the seat remained empty.
But as of today, Miranda has withdrawn her application for the job, and Safai has called a special meeting of Rules for Thursday/8, with this seat as the only issue on the agenda.
Safai’s move created what now seems like a pointless division in the labor movement, with some union leaders supporting Miranda, who is president of SEIU Local 87, while others were furious about the ouster of DeJesus.
A lot of this was pure politics: DeJesus supported Safai’s opponent, Kimberly Alvarenga, who was political director for SEIU Local 1021. She also supported tenant advocate Dean Preston, who ran against Board President London Breed.
But the swing vote on the issue – appointed Sup. Jeff Sheehy – said weeks ago that he would support DeJesus. That made it clear that Miranda had no chance.
So now, I’m hearing, there’s talk that the mayor will appoint Miranda to a different seat on the commission, one that he controls.
So this is a defeat for Safai and Breed, who, with the power that comes with controlling the majority on the board and the allegiance of the Mayor’s Office, may have picked a fight that they couldn’t win, with a commission candidate who had way too much baggage.
It’s also a defeat for the Police Officers Association, which badly wanted to get rid of DeJesus. The biggest issue: The cops want Tasers, and DeJesus remains a staunch foe.
The politics of D8 were also in play: Rafael Mandelman, who is challenging Sheehy, was an early and strong supporter of DeJesus, and if Sheehy had voted against her, it would have been an issue in the race.
We will see how much of a deal was involved if the mayor picks Miranda for his next open seat.
“Chief Greg Suhr said that if officers were armed with Tasers…”
Unless those Tasers ended up killing Woods, as they did 48 others in 2015. Not sure why you’re quoting Suhr as a voice of authority. He reigned over a shameful period of SFPD history and resigned after one of his sergeants shot an unarmed black woman trapped in a wrecked car.
Nope, no torture toys for cops.
Did Sup Safai concede defeat? Conceding defeat means he wouldn’t have called in sup Breed to do his battle for him at the rules committee where she threw gotcha question after gotcha question out , all of which seemed targeted to the whole commission not just one commissioner.
But Ms. Dejesus answered each one thoughtfully and fully. The smug look on Sup Breed’s face disappeared and so did she. thus, leaving before public comment and the 2-1 vote in favor with a not conceding Safai being the dissenting vote.
Olga has a truly filthy mouth. Mayor Lee would be out of his mind to appoint her to the Police Commission! Not only does Safai have a lot to learn about governance, so does Mayor Lee, despite the fact that our Puppet Mayor has been hiding behind the skirts of Steve Kawa for over six years! People will protest in the streets if Lee is stupid enough to appoint Miranda to the Police Commission!
— Patrick Monette-Shaw, former SEIU Local 790 Chapter President, Laguna Honda Hospital Chapter
San Francisco is the only city with a population of over 500,000 in the United States of America that does not equip their police officers with Tasers. According to the S.F. Chronicle former SFPD Chief Greg Suhr said that if officers were armed with Tasers, the shooting of Mario Woods would not have occurred. Being anti-Taser should disqualify anyone from a seat on the Police Commission.
Olga Miranda is devisive and was the worst possible choice for this critical post. Thank goodness reason and decency prevailed here. Safai has A LOT to learn about governance.