Allegations and Financial Scrutiny

Director Ellis of the Department on the Status of Women is under fire for failing to report nearly $20,000 in payments received in 2023 via her personal consulting firm, which was paid by Power PAC, a progressive political action committee. This scrutiny is compounded by the fact that Power PAC’s nonprofit affiliate was awarded $120,000 in contracts from Ellis’ department in the previous year, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Legal Action and Claims of Misconduct

In a turn of events, Ellis initiated a lawsuit against the city, alleging that she was silenced after reporting incidents of sexual misconduct within a city-run foster care program. However, city officials have publicly stated that her allegations are unfounded.

Department Background and Budget

Established in 1994, the Department on the Status of Women primarily advocates for the welfare and rights of women and girls in San Francisco. In the last fiscal year, the department’s budget was set at $11.7 million, with a significant portion allocated to external grants to support its initiatives.

Current Developments

Following the findings of a misconduct investigation conducted by the City Attorney, Mayor Daniel Lurie issued a statement expressing high expectations for city employees. The investigation concluded that Ellis engaged in various misconduct and mismanagement practices related to her role. The mayor expressed gratitude to the commission for taking steps to remove Ellis from her position, emphasizing the city’s commitment to ensuring effective governance for its residents.

Linda Yeung, a human resources official, has been appointed as the acting head of the department during this transitional period.

Response from Ellis

As of the time of this report, neither Ellis nor her legal representative has released a statement regarding the recent commission meeting that addressed her situation.