Committee Files Ethics Ballot Measure to Tighten Ban on Solicited Payments from City Contractors

The Rules Committee on Feb. 14 filed an initiative (Item 9) that would expand the city’s local prohibitions on solicited payments by contractors seeking Board approval, require Ethics Commission review, and raise the threshold for future amendments.

Chair Aaron Peskin said the measure is aimed at preventing quid‑pro‑quo corruption and cited recent high‑profile corruption revelations involving Recology and the former Public Works director Mohammed Nuru. Peskin said the Board previously passed similar legislation in December and that placing the measure before voters would create a higher threshold that makes future weakening of the law more difficult.

Supervisor Mandelmann asked clarifying questions about whether prior ethics reforms had been watered down and whether the duplicate file in committee related to outstanding concerns. Peskin responded that prior boards have in some cases diluted ethics reforms and that moving these provisions to Chapter 2 of the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code would provide a higher amendment threshold.

No public callers requested to speak on the item; the committee voted unanimously to file the matter. Filing does not itself change the law but begins the process of placing the measure on the June ballot unless withdrawn.