Another Misuse of Power in SF

Corruption is corruption — even when it's dressed up as activism or equity work. San Francisco taxpayers deserve real oversight, not departments run like vanity projects or political slush funds.

Kimberly Ellis allegedly turned the Department on the Status of Women into a personal brand machine instead of running  a public agency. Corruption in the name of empowerment is still corruption — and it has been a pattern in San Francisco.

The facts

Kimberly Ellis, the executive director of San Francisco's Department on the Status of Women, was placed on administrative leave last week and is under investigation by the City Attorney's Office. Her department allegedly spent public funds on retreats, expensive meals, and no-bid contracts for close friends and allies — all while city employees say they were bullied or punished for raising concerns.

Under Ellis' leadership, the department paid nearly $85,000 to a longtime political ally of Ellis for trainings that left no documented impact, held a department retreat at a Tahoe resort, and spent $700,000 on a one-day women's summit with $90,000 in catering and $120,000 in video production — all contracted to groups with personal ties to Ellis.

She amended her ethics disclosures only after media scrutiny revealed she had received unreported income from political groups her department also funded. Former staff described a "culture of fear," retaliation, and improper grant billing under her leadership.

The context

This isn't the first time a city agency meant to support marginalized communities has been accused of turning into a personal fiefdom.

Just last year, Sheryl Davis resigned under pressure after using the city's Dream Keeper Initiative — a program meant to support San Francisco's Black community — to direct funds toward close associates, promote her personal brand, and allegedly secure college tuition support for her son. An FBI referral followed, and the program's funding was frozen for months.

Dream Keeper has now been relaunched under guidance from Mayor Daniel Lurie, with new ethical guardrails, clearer grant criteria, and outside oversight. But the damage from previous mismanagement is still being felt: over 100 organizations were funded in the past — now fewer than 20 are. Entire communities were left in limbo because city leaders didn't act sooner.

The GrowSF take

Corruption is corruption — even when it's dressed up as activism or equity work. San Francisco taxpayers deserve real oversight, not departments run like vanity projects or political slush funds.

This keeps happening because the city hands out tens of millions of dollars to nonprofits and insider allies with almost no accountability. It's time to end the blank checks. These programs need clear goals and measurable outcomes, not vague mission statements and lavish spending.