San Francisco Proposition E
Creating a Task Force to Recommend Changing, Eliminating, or Combining City Commissions
Prop. E would set up a five-member task force to produce a financial report on The City’s sprawling system of appointed boards and commissions, and suggest possible reforms. Changes might retaining, consolidating or eliminating commissions, and limiting or even expanding certain commissions’ authority.
The task force would issue recommendations by Feb. 1, 2026 that could lead to legislative changes or charter amendments for voters to consider. It would have authority to introduce ordinances to implement its recommendations to take effect 90 days from introduction unless eight of 11 supervisors vote to reject them.
Argument for: Prop. E is the responsible way to streamline The City’s expansive commission system and is the preferred alternative to Prop. D, which would arbitrarily cap the number of commissions at 65 and “handcuff future generations.” Prop. E offers a transparent process providing for a cost-benefit analysis of commissions and would preserve oversight and accountability of government. Prop. D, by comparison, was written in private by a group sponsored by a billionaire, and it would harm the public interest.
Argument against: Prop. E is Supervisor Peskin’s cynical attempt to sabotage the chance that voters will approve Prop. D, a stronger reform measure. It would empower a task force of unelected officials to create laws to restructure city government. It would not reduce The City’s bloated and unaccountable commission system, but instead would protect The City’s bureaucratic elite. It would not hold corrupt commissioners accountable. Prop. D, by contrast, would cut through red tape and make San Francisco more efficient.
https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/politics/2024-sf-voter-guide-local-propositions-measures-on-ballot/article_97615262-7776-11ef-913a-ebf36660f047.html