Proposition B - Department of Sanitation and Streets, Sanitation and Streets Commission, and Public Works Commission

Summary

The proposed Charter amendment would create a new Department of Sanitation and Streets to perform specific duties currently performed by the Department of Public Works. The amendment would shift approximately 835 of 1,711 full-time equivalent employees currently working for Public Works to the new Sanitation and Streets Department. The amendment would also create two new five-member commissions: one to oversee the existing Department of Public Works and one to oversee the new Sanitation and Streets Department.

A "YES" vote on Proposition B is a vote in favor of dividing the current responsibilities of the Public Works Department between the existing Department and a new Sanitation and Streets Department. A "YES" vote is also a vote in favor of establishing a Public Works Commission and a Santiation and Streets Commission to oversee these two departments, meaning that they would not be overseen by the City Administrator.

A "NO" vote on Proposition B is a vote in opposition to dividing the current responsibilities of the Public Works Department between the existing Department and a new Sanitation and Streets Department. A "NO" vote is also a vote against establishing a Public Works Commission and a Santiation and Streets Commission to oversee these two departments, meaning that the existing Public Works Department would remain under the oversight of the City Administrator.

Arguments

"San Francisco is one of the only major American cities without a Department of Sanitation. And infectious disease experts say that our streets are so dirty that our risk of infection is as high as communities in parts of the world suffering from extreme poverty. We need a Department dedicated to street and sidewalk cleaning to keep our public areas sanitary and our communities healthy.", in support of Proposition B (Learn more)

"Right now, street cleaning is done sporadically. Using a data-driven model, the Department of Sanitation and Streets will make sure that every neighborhood is cleaned to the standards of a modern city.", in support of Proposition B (Learn more)

"Prop B spins out a new Department of Sanitation and Streets, then transfers authority over both this new agency and what's left behind to bloated, expensive commissions of political appointees (same old, same old). According to the City Controller, half the DoPW employees will transfer and spending will increase by as much as $6 million per year.", in opposition to Proposition B (Learn more)

"In the wake of the FBI arrest on corruption charges of former Director of Public Works Mohammed Nuru -- who had troubling ties to City Hall -- we need new approaches to oversight for major public expenditures, including citizen ordinances. Prop B prohibits use of citizen ordinances to change policy at the Department of Public Works or Department of Sanitation and Streets.", in opposition to Proposition B (Learn more)

Measure Details