The battle over the future direction of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission took a dramatic turn Feb. 12.
A super majority of the Board voted to reject mayoral appointee Ryan Brooks, but Sup. Chris Daly joined mayoral allies Sups. Michela Alioto-Pier, Carmen Chu, Chris Daly and Sean Elsbernd, thus leaving the Board one critical vote short of the super majority currently required to reject mayoral appointees to the PUC, the city agency that wields control over Hetch Hetchy water and power, and San Francisco’s sewage and waste water systems.
DIck Sklar testifying before the Board, as he battled for his PUC seat
These votes came after Sups. Sophie Maxwell and Bevan Dufty declared it was time for new blood on the board, Sup. Sean Elsbernd argued that the PUC-related charter amendment, which the Board has just placed on the June ballot and which requires only six Supervisors to reject a PUC appointee, is a better way to secure a new commission, and the 73-year-old Sklar, who has been ill with pancreatic cancer, appeared in person to deny, amongst other things, allegations that he is a PG&E flak.