Dec 11, 2011 SF Ethics Application - Design Study.

The purpose of the SF Ethics challenge was to develop tools and supporting processes to ensure accountable government practices in San Francisco.

Resources for tracking political money in San Francisco: Pay-to-play politics involves a wide range of City Hall decisions that have potential financial benefit to the contributor.

There are a variety of information soruces, not all of which are complete and not all of which are able to connect well with each other. But based on the city’s requirement for full public disclosures, it should be possible to track: 1. City contractors and permit applicants 2. The lobbyists they hire and the specific projects 3. The elected officials that the lobbyists meet with 4. The dates of any committee meetings where the issues was discussed and who voted 5. The dates and names of supes who voted at the full board.

There should be some information from the mayor as well, through the sfmayor.org

Here are other resources:

Only one type is illegal, and then on very narrow grounds: Contributions from those negotiating a city contract are prohibited during the negotiation period and for some months afterwards. But while contractors may not contribute, they are not prohibited from bundling contributions from others or serving on a candidate’s finance committee. Also those seeking other City Hall decisions that confer financial benefits are not precluded by the law. This includes major projects and permits. Payments to Vendors is probably the best place to determine existing city contractors: http://co.sfgov.org/vpi/reports.aspx

This list can be sorted by Department, and nonprofits versus other contractors.

Here is the internet resource on city projects at the Planning Department. http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=2673

Here is the link to permits pending in San Francisco on a monthly basis http://sfdbi.org/index.aspx?page=214

Here is the link to city lobbyists and their clients, including who each met with and on what topic. http://system.netfile.com/Sunlight/sf/

Here is the link to the search system to find contributors to city elections. You will want to focus on either candidates or candidate controller committees. http://nf4.netfile.com/pub2/?aid=sfo

Here is the link where you can drill down to see the minutes of every board meeting, which includes votes by supervisors. http://www.sfbos.org/meeting.aspx?page=2315