The San Francisco Women’s Political Committee writes to express our strong support for the continued existence of the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women as a standalone body with its full powers intact.
At a time when women, girls, and non-binary individuals are still fighting for basic rights, bodily autonomy, equal pay, safety, and access to services, we need institutions specifically dedicated to advancing gender equity. The Commission on the Status of Women plays a critical role in ensuring San Francisco lives up to its values of inclusion, transparency, and justice.
San Francisco made history by establishing one of the earliest Commissions in the country, and it became the first city to create a Department to enact the Commission and City’s goal of advancing and ensuring equity for all San Franciscans irrespective of gender. The Commission on the Status of Women is deeply committed to creating a space for all voices, and is one of the most diverse in the city, despite its small size. Commissioners identify as trans and queer, come from a range of racial and ethnic backgrounds, are caregivers, and have a diverse set of backgrounds and expertise. That pioneering legacy should not be erased or weakened through consolidation or elimination.
We also believe the Commission on the Status of Women is essential to holding the city accountable for embedding gender equity into all public services and city culture. The Commission on the Status of Women is mandated by City Charter and provides critical oversight. Under City Charter Section 33, it is tasked with monitoring complaints of unlawful or unequal treatment of women, investigating systemic inequalities, and recommending remedies. Section 4.101(d) of the Charter further requires the Commission to analyze city appointments through the lens of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other demographic factors. Representation and civilian oversight matters. True democracy depends on the representation of diverse voices and the balance of power.
Altogether, the Commission on the Status of Women brings together diverse leaders, experts, and advocates who reflect the communities they serve. It provides a platform for public participation and a necessary counterbalance within our local government structure to ensure gender equity is at the forefront of all local policies.
We urge the Task Force to preserve the Commission’s independent voice, governance authority, and nominating power. These are not optional features; they are fundamental to a representative democracy.
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