SAN FRANCISCO, CA - On Tuesday, February 25th, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to remove a police commissioner from his post. KTUV reported that the board approved a motion by Mayor Daniel Lurie to remove Max Carter-Oberstone from his position.
Oberstone was appointed by Lurie's predecessor, Mayor London Breed. Lurie said he wants police commissioners whose goals align with his own. The commissioner in question said the mayor's office asked him to resign, but he declined to do so. District 9 Supervisor Jackie Field, one of two supervisors who did not vote for Oberstone's removal, said that Oberstone was a "whistleblower who revealed unethical practices" during Breed's administration.
She said that, in part, was why she did not consent to his removal. In 2022, it was Oberstone who brought a particular practice by the Breed administration to light. The then-mayor was requesting her appointees to sign undated letters of resignation before they were officially appointed. At the time, Oberstone, an attorney, defended his decision and other supported him.
Before the vote on Tuesday, Oberstone spoke to the board about why he should be allowed to serve out the remainder of his term until April 2026. He said, "In my third year on this commission, I've taken the responsibility to be independent very seriously. I have cast every vote knowing that my first and only obligation is to the people of San Francisco, not to any politician or political cause."
On Monday, February 24th, a rally was held on the steps of City Hall in support of Oberstone. He said, "If the board signs off on this removal, which has been with no accusation of wrongdoing, no accusation of incompetence, it will set a terrible precedent for not only the independence of the police commission, but for every independent charter commission in the city."
Supervisor Fielder took to social media, claiming that Oberstone's removal would lead to an unaccountable police force, but "also a chilling effect on any oversight in service of the public's safety." Fielder was reportedly referring to a recent police pursuit involving the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) on Super Bowl Sunday.
In early February, SFPD vehicles were involved in a cross-town pursuit of a suspect vehicle that ended in the Mission District, which Fielder oversees. Seven people were sent to the hospital and a 24th Street bar's parklet was destroyed when the suspect's vehicle crashed as the drivers were trying to evade police.
On Tuesday, after voting to remove Obsertone, the Board of Supervisors voted to appoint W.E. Wilson Leung to the police commission. Leung is a former federal prosecutor and trial lawyer. He was nominated by Mayor Lurie for the term, which ends in 2028. CBS News said they reached out to Lurie's office for comment on Oberstone's removal.
His office did not directly respond to Oberstone's removal, instead it focused on the vote to confirm Leung as the replacement. His officer said in part, "Throughout the government, we are appointing leaders who will work with fellow commissioners and departments to deliver better services for our city, and Wilson's decades of work in compliance and oversight will make him an asset as we work together to protect San Franciscans."
Oberstone was appointed by Lurie's predecessor, Mayor London Breed. Lurie said he wants police commissioners whose goals align with his own. The commissioner in question said the mayor's office asked him to resign, but he declined to do so. District 9 Supervisor Jackie Field, one of two supervisors who did not vote for Oberstone's removal, said that Oberstone was a "whistleblower who revealed unethical practices" during Breed's administration.
She said that, in part, was why she did not consent to his removal. In 2022, it was Oberstone who brought a particular practice by the Breed administration to light. The then-mayor was requesting her appointees to sign undated letters of resignation before they were officially appointed. At the time, Oberstone, an attorney, defended his decision and other supported him.
Before the vote on Tuesday, Oberstone spoke to the board about why he should be allowed to serve out the remainder of his term until April 2026. He said, "In my third year on this commission, I've taken the responsibility to be independent very seriously. I have cast every vote knowing that my first and only obligation is to the people of San Francisco, not to any politician or political cause."
On Monday, February 24th, a rally was held on the steps of City Hall in support of Oberstone. He said, "If the board signs off on this removal, which has been with no accusation of wrongdoing, no accusation of incompetence, it will set a terrible precedent for not only the independence of the police commission, but for every independent charter commission in the city."
Supervisor Fielder took to social media, claiming that Oberstone's removal would lead to an unaccountable police force, but "also a chilling effect on any oversight in service of the public's safety." Fielder was reportedly referring to a recent police pursuit involving the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) on Super Bowl Sunday.
In early February, SFPD vehicles were involved in a cross-town pursuit of a suspect vehicle that ended in the Mission District, which Fielder oversees. Seven people were sent to the hospital and a 24th Street bar's parklet was destroyed when the suspect's vehicle crashed as the drivers were trying to evade police.
On Tuesday, after voting to remove Obsertone, the Board of Supervisors voted to appoint W.E. Wilson Leung to the police commission. Leung is a former federal prosecutor and trial lawyer. He was nominated by Mayor Lurie for the term, which ends in 2028. CBS News said they reached out to Lurie's office for comment on Oberstone's removal.
His office did not directly respond to Oberstone's removal, instead it focused on the vote to confirm Leung as the replacement. His officer said in part, "Throughout the government, we are appointing leaders who will work with fellow commissioners and departments to deliver better services for our city, and Wilson's decades of work in compliance and oversight will make him an asset as we work together to protect San Franciscans."
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Comments
2025-03-01T20:52-0500 | Comment by: James
Might as well get rid of the pigs too .........