San Francisco, CA – In a push for heightened accountability, the San Francisco Department of Public Works is under scrutiny to improve transparency concerning its city projects, following a recent civil grand jury’s findings. The report criticized the department for its failure to maintain regular upkeep schedules and cited numerous errors in project constructions.
Over four years have passed since the arrest of former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, which marked a moment of reckoning for the department. Accusations at the time included corruption, bribery, and undisclosed side deals by what was described as one of the highest ranking public officials in the city.
In a bid to restore public confidence, the department has highlighted its adaptability and responsiveness during the challenges posed by the pandemic. Nonetheless, persistent demands for greater transparency led voters to establish an oversight commission for the department ten months following Nuru’s arrest.
Will McCaa, head of the Grand Jury Investigation Committee, stressed that until the introduction of the oversight commission in 2020, most internal reporting remained confined within the department, making information on project specifics and adjustments over time scarce for public review.
The grand jury elaborated on several specific projects that exceeded budgets and suffered from construction defects. Notable among these was Fireboat Station number 35 where, during construction, a storm-induced power outage left bay doors open, leading to significant water damage that inflated labor costs. Additionally, originally approved cleats at the station were too small for the fireboats’ securing ropes but were not replaced, raising questions about the adequacy of initial design assessments.
Further concern was expressed with the robustness of mechanized lifts used for aquatic equipment at the station, which malfunctioned, allegedly due to corrosion from salt air – a foreseeable issue given the location along the windy and salty Embarcadero.
In their defense, the department cited these incidents as part and parcel of the challenges in large-scale project management, attributing delays and budget overruns to unpredictable elements like material costs and maintenance exigencies.
Rachel Gordon, spokesperson for the Department of Public Works, contended that while the report highlights projects with issues, it overlooks many that were completed on time and within financial estimates. However, she admitted that the department has grappled with deferred maintenance due to inconsistent funding, stressing the city’s broader financial constraints.
The report also called out structural problems and budget overruns in relatively new buildings, like Fire Station 49 and the Police Department Traffic Company and Forensic Services Division. These issues suggest a pattern of oversight failures that have financial and operational implications.
Gordon is optimistic, however, that these challenges won’t lead to future backlogs in maintaining city infrastructure, despite the city facing a significant budget deficit. The grand jury estimates that deferred maintenance backlog amounts to over $600 million according to the latest capital plan. The city’s strategy, or lack thereof, regarding these maintenance backlogs and their potential escalation costs remains a matter of significant concern.
As the department has 90 days to respond formally to the grand jury’s findings, the city waits to see how Public Works will address not only the specific failures noted but also broader calls for systemic reform. This moment serves as a critical juncture for the Department of Public Works to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and efficiency in an era demanding greater accountability from public institutions.