The Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on May 7, 2026 at 6:15 PM UTC (11:15 AM PT). Chair Supervisor Stephen Cheryl, Vice Chair Mahmood, and guest President Raphael Mandelman presided. The committee considered two items: a resolution authorizing a six-month waiver of the behested payments ordinance for downtown revitalization, and a hearing on ongoing master contract negotiations for passenger service workers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Good morning. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the May 7th, 2026 regular meeting of the government audit and oversight committee. I'm Supervisor Stephen Cheryl, chair of the committee, joined today by Vice Chair Mahmood, and our guest today, President Raphael Mendelman. Um, committee clerk is Monique Creighton. Um, thank you to Clina Mendoza of SFgov TV. Uh Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes. Public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called. Please find up to speak on your right. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing either of the following ways. Email them to me, the government audit and oversight committee clerk at M O N I Q E. T-O-N at SFGOV.org. If you submit public comment via email, be forwarded to the supervisors and also included as part of the official file. You may also send your written comments to UL to us via U.S. Postal Service to our office in City Hall. Number one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. If you have documents you would like to be included as part of the file, please submit them to me before the end of the meeting. Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices to prevent any interruptions to today's proceedings. Finally, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of May 19th, 2026, unless otherwise stated. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Will you please call item number one? Yes, item number one is a resolution authorizing a six-month waiver of the city's behested payments ordnance for the mayor, members of the mayor's office, and the executive director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and each of their direct reports to solicit donations from nonprofit private organizations, grant makers, foundations, and other persons and entities for the purpose of supporting the continued economic revitalization of San Francisco persuaded section 3620 of the campaign and governmental conduct code. Thank you. San Francisco and its downtown area have faced unprecedented challenges resulting in part from the COVID-19 pandemic, including a decline in tourism, the closure of businesses, an increased number of residents living in or near poverty, and a lack of affordable housing and residents relocating out of the city. More resources are urgently needed to support downtown's evolution into a live-work-play destination and promote greater prosperity and opportunity for all San Franciscans. Urgent need led the mayor's office to pursue and secure a waiver of the behested payments ordinance. The waiver has enabled the mayor's office and OEWD to coordinate with organizations like the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation, a public benefit corporation that is raising funds to revitalize San Francisco, specifically its downtown area. Through these efforts, more than $60 million has been pledged to support downtown revitalization, with $34.3 million already secured. Funds raised through the existing waiver have supported numerous key initiatives and successes, including over 175,000 visitors to DDC funded activations, including downtown First Thursdays and Winterwalk, a 40% drop in crime in Union Square and the Financial District in 2025. 600 plus blocks of power washing enabled through DDC grants. The Market Street Safety Program, which initially placed ambassadors at Embarcandero and Montgomery BART station exits. Safety ambassadors are now deployed seven days a week in Union Square and the convention center. Launch of the Downtown Business Fund, 25 million dollar program by the San Francisco DDC and SF New Deal that provides technical assistance, accessible capital, and move-in grants of up to $500,000 to support existing businesses, opening new storefronts in downtown. The program is also available to establish operators on key corridors who are making meaningful investments to attract new audiences and communities downtown. Public art, major installations in partnership with the San Francisco Institute of Contemporary Arts, including a signature piece for the Super Bowl, artist Jeffrey Gibson's installation across the vacant Bloomingdale space, and Sadie Barnett vinyl art on the City College building. And last but not least, an uh holiday programming, winter walk and let's glow SF generated foot traffic and direct business revenue. During winter walk 2025, an estimated 1.3 million people visited Union Square, up 7% compared to 2024. Through this waiver renewal, OEWD and the mayor's office will continue to raise funds with a focus on five key areas safety, cleanliness, events and activations, support for small and large businesses, and improvements to the public realm. These investments are essential to ensuring that downtown remains a vibrant, competitive, and welcoming center of economic activity. The staff covered the staff covered under this waiver may participate in conversations with potential funders to continue these revitalization efforts. Businesses, foundations, property owners, and other private employers and parties could be solicited under this waiver. These parties are increasingly recognizing how vital downtown success is, not only for their own operations and employees, but for the broader economic prosperity of San Francisco as a whole. Staff covered under the previous waiver have engaged with the following entities that may be considered interested parties. This list was also sent to all members of this committee and the entire board of supervisors in advance of this hearing on April 21st, 2026. The entities engaged under the previous waiver that may be considered interested parties were as follows: Amazon, BXP, GAP, Google, JP Morgan Chase, OpenAI, Ripple Labs, and Salesforce. In closing, the renewal of this behested payment waiver is a critical public interest tool that enables us to continue to mobilize the private sector support necessary to accelerate economic health and to deliver visible, meaningful improvements for residents, workers, and visitors alike.