The San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance Task Force has voted unanimously to demand Mayor Daniel Lurie disclose information regarding his call with former President Donald Trump. This vote occurred on Wednesday and highlights concerns over Lurie’s handling of public records, particularly surrounding an October 22, 2022, conversation that may have involved negotiations about federal troop deployment in the Bay Area.
Background of the Call
The call, which took place following Trump’s announcement of a potential federal force increase in San Francisco, raised questions about possible agreements between the mayor’s office and the White House. Lurie’s administration has refused to release documents related to this conversation, citing claims of attorney-client privilege. The mayor’s office asserts that no promises were made during the call, and the only records they possess are legal consultations not directly tied to the Trump conversation.
Task Force Demands Transparency
- The Sunshine Ordinance Task Force consists of 10 voting members.
- The recent vote was 9-0, with one member absent.
- The Commission is concerned about Lurie’s broad exemption claims regarding document release.
Dexter Darmali, the mayor’s aide, emphasized that only attorney work products warrant confidentiality. However, commissioners expressed skepticism and suggested that additional documents might exist that do not fall under this privilege. Dean Schmidt, an attorney on the task force, indicated that the release of heavily redacted documents could clarify if attorney-client privilege was misused.
Frustration with the Mayor’s Office
During discussions, some commissioners expressed frustration due to the mayor’s office initially failing to provide call logs, which typically include basic details about public communications. Ankita Mukhopadhyay Kumar and Maxine Anderson, both members of the task force, criticized the lack of transparency and urged the mayor’s office to honor public record requests with the respect they deserve.
The issue remains unresolved, with previous findings by a smaller committee within the task force stating Lurie had indeed violated public records laws by withholding call details. If Lurie does not comply with the task force’s requests, the matter may escalate to the city’s ethics commission, despite the limited enforcement powers of both the task force and the ethics committee.
Next Steps
The results of this unanimous vote reflect ongoing tensions between city officials and public transparency advocates. The situation continues to develop as the task force evaluates the mayor’s compliance with law and the potential need for further actions on the matter.
