SAN FRANCISCO – Voters in San Francisco will decide whether to create new oversight in the city aimed at rooting out corruption.

Proponents of Proposition C say it will help end corruption, but opponents say it would add another layer of bureaucracy.

Board of Supervisors Chairman and San Francisco mayoral candidate Aaron Peskin proposed Proposition C, creating an inspector general position in San Francisco government.

“This is an office with a high mandate to root out corruption with the power of subpoena and the power of search warrant,” Peskin said. “So if we see smoke, we can determine if there really is a fire.”

Peskin says all of his fellow members of the Board of Supervisors support the idea.

The proposal would give the inspector general authority to investigate city government as well as city-contracted nonprofits like SF Safe. The head of this organization was stopped earlier this year for accusations she misused more than half a million dollars in funding.

“This is actually going to be a very effective tool for rooting out corruption, not just in government,” Peskin said. “But with the third-party vendors that the government contracts with, they would also be subject to a search warrant and subpoena.”

Prop C faces opposition from many San Francisco voter groups, including the San Francisco Democratic Party, the party founded and supported by techies. CultivateSF And SF ensemble, who supports Mark Farrell for mayor.

Together SF, backed financially by venture capitalist billionaire Michael Moritz, uses social media to explain that while the idea of ​​increased surveillance may sound good, it would ultimately add another layer of bureaucracy to a city already plagued by administrative formalities.

“The new position would have unchecked and insane power. They can investigate anyone, issue subpoenas and execute search warrants with little oversight and, guess what, we already have city officials fighting against the corruption, such as the Ethics Commission and the City Attorney,” the social media post said. complaints.

The progressive San Francisco Bay GuardianThe voter guide states that this office would not pursue criminal charges because that authority, by law, rests with the district attorney. They say the cost would be relatively minimal, no more than $775,000 per year.

If voters approve Proposition C, the inspector general would first be chosen by San Francisco’s comptroller and approved by the Board of Supervisors and the mayor.