Mayor Daniel Lurie and City Administrator Carmen Chu on Tuesday outlined San Francisco’s first comprehensive ethics rules for city contracting, the mayor’s office said, calling it the first action under authority expected from Proposition E. Contracting accounts for more than $6 billion a year. Mission Local reported that Prop. E was leading 64% to 36% with virtually all ballots counted.
Why it matters: Under Prop. E, the city administrator has sole authority to introduce contracting legislation. The mayor’s office said such a measure takes effect after 60 days unless the Board of Supervisors or the mayor disapproves it, and that the board may not amend it. Mission Local reported Chu cannot formally introduce the rules until the election is certified, likely late December or early January.
The proposed Administrative Code chapter would prohibit sharing confidential or nonpublic information with favored vendors, require conflict-of-interest disclosures and recusal when the law requires it, route communications with bidders through official channels during active bidding, tighten rules against splitting contracts to avoid competitive bidding, and make clear that violations can lead to discipline up to termination, the city said. “Our ethics requirements are scattered across different sections of city law, and the rules can vary—leaving room for corruption and abuse,” Lurie said.
Chu said public servants “deserve clear rules, practical guidance, and the confidence to speak up when something doesn’t seem right.” City Attorney David Chiu, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and Controller Greg Wagner issued statements supporting stronger standards. Mission Local noted that Lurie’s office has itself faced contracting criticism, including a $5.9 million OpenGov permit-system award in October 2025 that city staff had not ranked first and that later missed deadlines. Related: our explainer on Proposition E.