If Sup. Jackie Fielder had cancer, or was in a bicycle accident and needed emergency surgery, I suspect all these rumors and reporters scrambling for the scoop wouldn’t be happening.
Instead, according to her office, she is having a mental health crisis. That’s pretty common in the US: One out of five adults in this country experience some type of mental health symptoms every year.
Joe Rivano Barros at Mission Local is a good, honest reporter, and when Fielder was hospitalized and he called her Friday, I’m sure he accurately reported that she said she thought she had to resign.
A person who is in terrible pain often says things without thinking them through. Still, not his fault for reporting what he heard.
But that set off a frenzy of others trying to call her, to call her staff, to confirm or deny: Has she resigned? Has she not resigned? Who will the mayor appoint for her job? What are the political implications?
Fielder and her staff—not surprisingly—were in no position to answer those questions or to make any definitive statements.
As it turns out, Fielder has not resigned, and doesn’t plan to at this point. I got a statement from her office Sunday night saying she
will be taking a medical leave of absence, during which time the District 9 office will remain dedicated to meeting the needs of our constituents, neighbors, and community members.
On matters of her personal health, we respectfully ask the press to give her the privacy and space necessary for healing, and not to report on unsubstantiated rumors. We urge everyone to treat this situation with the same respect and sensitivity as they would if she were recovering from any other medical emergency.
Fielder is an elected official. She can take a leave if she needs one. Former Sup. Michela Alioto took several months off to recover from an injury, and nobody suggested she resign. All I have heard from people in the district (where I live) is expressions of support and care; we want her to get better. Nobody is going to complain that she’s not at City Hall, any more than we would if she was recovering from any other serious health issue.
I am happy to report that most of her colleagues on the board, and the mayor, and everyone I know in D9, has said the right thing: Fielder needs space and time for recovery, and we all need to support her.
We all also need to be patient. It’s fun to gossip and speculate about politics, but there is nothing to say right now. I know that’s not easy for reporters who want to be the first to get the news, but sometimes, you have to give someone in pain their space and time.
Get well soon, Jackie.
