A San Francisco Supervisor is delaying a decision to resign as he navigates a personal health crisis
Jackie Fielder, one of San Francisco’s most outspoken progressive mayors, has no plans to resign. The update came from his aides on Sunday as he spoke of a “mental health condition” that led to his hospitalization late last week.
Fielder checked into the hospital Friday with what his office called a “serious health problem” and informed city officials he intended to take a leave of absence. But now, according to a statement his office posted on social media, he will decide on his next steps after he recovers.
“Supervisor Jackie Fielder is currently considering a mental health situation and needs time and space to recover before making any major decisions,” the statement read. “He wants to regain a stable life so he can consider his options thoughtfully and responsibly.”
The statement was signed by three of his aides and provided few details about his condition, asking for privacy as he continues his recovery.
The health scare comes as Fielder faces allegations of misconduct that could result in him being fired if found to be true.
All of this stems from the city attorney’s investigation into the reported leak, which according to the San Francisco Standard has Fielder’s office “in a state of disarray.”
On Thursday, a day before Fielder entered the hospital, The Voice of San Francisco reported that the progressive manager was “sleeping on the floor” about a leaked confidential report from the city attorney’s office about plans for a sad center, where homeless people who use drugs can receive treatment with impunity but will be arrested if they decide to leave.
Fielder and Supervisor Connie Chan discussed the memo on Feb. 10, and news website Mission Local published the story the same day according to The Voice of San Francisco.
A memo obtained by the news website Mission Local shows the City Attorney’s Office warned elected officials that the mayor’s proposal for the South of Market area — which is near the center of the city — would violate state laws and present “extreme legal risk.”
The plan passed on a 9-2 vote with Fielder being one of only two aldermen to oppose it.
If Fielder is identified as the person who leaked the memo, he could violate a series of state and local laws — including San Francisco’s Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code and City Charter, as well as California’s penal and evidence codes — that could result in his removal from office, according to the Voice of San Francisco.
However, as it stands, the investigation does not seem to point to Fielder as the culprit.
If the Latina and native Democratic Socialist were to resign, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie would nominate a likely replacement as District 9, which includes the Mission District, has historically been one of the city’s top voting districts.
Meanwhile, District 9 leaders are supporting Fielder, hoping he will return to office.
“We don’t want anyone else, because it will be someone we won’t agree with,” said Tracy Gallardo Brown, a member of the executive committee of the Latino Task Force and a resident of the Mission District told Mission Local.
The Clerk of the Board of Directors has not yet received a notice of resignation, the newspaper reported.
