Rules Committee advances reappointments of Steve Hemminger and Amanda Eakin to SFMTA board

The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 3 advanced the mayor’s reappointments of Steve Hemminger and Amanda Eakin to the Municipal Transportation Agency board, forwarding both nominations to the full Board with unanimous committee recommendations.

The committee moved both items to the full Board after each nominee answered questions about agency finances, staffing and community engagement. Hemminger emphasized that Muni has recovered approximately two-thirds of its pre-pandemic ridership and that the agency used about $1 billion in federal emergency operating aid during the pandemic; he said that long-term stability will likely require local or regional revenue measures rather than relying solely on federal aid. "I think it's on us," Hemminger said, arguing for locally raised revenue or regional solutions to close budget gaps.

Eakin, who serves as chair of the SFMTA board, told supervisors the agency faces a looming shortfall and has prioritized safety and trust building. She cited a projected $130 million deficit in fiscal year 2025 that could grow to about $214 million in fiscal year 2026 and stressed the board’s commitment to Vision Zero. "Our goal is zero," Eakin said of traffic fatalities, noting the agency recorded 37 deaths the prior year and has pledged street improvements on every mile of its 130-mile high-injury network by the end of 2024.

Supervisors pressed both nominees on operational matters. Supervisor Shimon Walton asked whether continued federal support is realistic and what other options exist; Hemminger said federal operating aid was exceptional and that converting capital funds to operating is risky without safeguards. Supervisor Asha Safaie asked about complaints that the agency is "top heavy" and whether an internal management audit has been considered; Hemminger said past budget-analyst reviews exist and an audit could be revisited, while Eakin described high staff workloads, hiring constraints and efforts to improve community responsiveness through the Citizens Advisory Council.

Public comment included numerous endorsements from transit advocates, the Citizens Advisory Council chair and representatives of Vision Zero and pedestrian groups. After public comment closed, the committee amended the motions to remove "reject" language and voted to send both nominations to the full Board with positive recommendations; Vice Chair Walton, Supervisor Safaie and Chair Dorsey each voted Aye.

The full Board will consider the nominations next; the committee’s action was procedural and did not itself appoint either nominee.