Rules Committee appoints six members, including reappointments with waivers, to Immigrant Rights Commission

The committee considered item 3, a hearing to appoint six members to the Immigrant Rights Commission for terms ending June 6, 2023. Chair Aaron Peskin recused himself from these appointments because a staff member in his office, Sarah Souza, was an applicant; Vice Chair Rafael Mandelmann presided over the item.

Applicants and incumbents introduced themselves in two-minute remarks. Mario Paz (vice chair of the commission and executive director of the Good Samaritan Family Resource Center) spoke in support of the reappointments and asked for a residency waiver for his reappointment. David Latt (director of government and community relations at San Francisco State) described his immigrant-background work and experience supporting DACA students and said he would bring federal immigration-law knowledge to the commission. Celine Kennelly, an incumbent and longtime commission chair, summarized recent commission work on language access and hearings on Haitian and Afghan refugees.

Adrian Pahn of the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs recommended the committee appoint the five current commissioners and one new applicant, noting the commission’s recent activity, including special hearings and policy letters. Supervisor Connie Chan moved to appoint David Latt (seat 4), Mario Paz (seat 6, with residency waiver), Celine Kennelly (seat 7), Nima Rahimi (seat 8), Sarah Souza (seat 10), and Lucia Obergan Matzer (seat 11); the committee voted by roll call (Chan aye; Mandelmann aye; Chair Peskin excused) and the motion passed without objection.

Next steps: the appointments take effect per the standard process for advisory commissions; residency waivers were included in the motion for two seats.