By Tab Buckner, HANC Board

At their February 25th meeting, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors addressed Mayor Daniel Lurie’s request to terminate Max Carter-Oberstone’s remaining tenure on the Police Commission. His term was due to expire in April 2026. A mayor can request a removal from the Police Commission but approval from a majority of the Board of Supervisors is required. The mayor has not publicly explained why he wanted the exit and the commissioner stated that he was not invited to meet with the mayor.

Mr. Carter-Oberstone was appointed to the Police Commission by Mayor London Breed in 2021. He subsequently exhibited his independence by supporting Cindy Elias for commission president and publicly challenged Breed’s practice of requiring appointees to sign undated resignation letters. His work with many community members over a long stretch of time led to an SFPD policy revision to restrict use of pretext stops.

In February, the HANC Board voted unanimously to join many other community groups to endorse retaining Commissioner Carter-Oberstone for his qualifications, initiative, autonomy and commitment to public safety including Police Department reform.

The board chamber on February 25th was packed. Mr. Carter-Oberstone spoke first and reminded the supervisors of the Trump Administration’s executive over-reach and the dangers of extinguishing independent voices in government. The public comment period ran for more than 90 minutes. Only four individuals spoke in favor of the mayor’s request while scores of people expressed, often passionately, the importance of maintaining someone who was effective and not beholden to political rubber stamping. Several HANC members attended and urged the board to back the commissioner.

Despite the highly visible support to keep Mr. Carter-Oberstone, the board voted 9-2 to back the mayor’s request and discontinue his commission service. Only District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar and District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder voted against the motion. District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who at HANC’s February general membership meeting said he would decide how to vote after conferring with the commissioner, voted with the majority. He did not state at the Board meeting the reason for his position.

Mayor Lurie appointed Wilson Leung earlier in February to the Police Commission and, on February 28, appointed Mattie Scott to replace Max Carter-Oberstone.