The San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC) is a charter commission of San Francisco that works to increase equality, eradicate discrimination, and to protect human rights. The HRC enforces city ordinances and policies on nondiscrimination and promotes social and economic progress.
An Interim Committee on Human Relations, created by Mayor John F. Shelley, made the recommendation to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to create a permanent Human Rights Commission. The recommendation was approved by the Board of Supervisors and Shelley in July 1964. The commission was codified as a charter commission by the San Francisco voters in June 1990.
According to its website, The San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC) is a department of the City and County of San Francisco that "works in service of the City's anti-discrimination laws by protecting civil rights, upholding dignity, and advancing equitable outcomes in San Francisco." Its Civil Rights Division "investigates and mediates discrimination complaints in housing, employment, and access to public places."
The Commission became the focus of a corruption scandal in 2024âÂÂ2025 after a report revealed misuse of public money by its director, SherylàDavis. Davis oversaw the DreamàKeeper InitiativeâÂÂa program created under former Mayor LondonàBreed to provide grant money to historically marginalized Black communities. An investigation and report by The San Francisco Standard raised concerns that Davis directed funds to projects and nonprofits with personal ties, most notably to Collective Impact, whose executive director, JamesàSpingola, was living with Davis. Davis resigned inàSeptemberà2024. The city attorney and the SanàFrancisco district attorney launched separate investigations into the alleged fraud and misuse of funds. The city attorney sought to ban Collective Impact from receiving city grants for five years, a move that would cause the nonprofit to close.
The scandal prompted Mayor DanielÃÂ Lurie to merge the Human Rights Commission and the Department on the Status of Women into a new department, the Agency on Human Rights, and cut the commission's budget by 38% to $28ÃÂ million, aiming to increase oversight and restore public trust.
In September 2025, an audit by the city attorney and the city controller showed the commission had made "prohibited purchases" totalling millions of dollars, including lavish trips to Martha's Vineyard, a full-court-side purchase of 500 SanÃÂ Francisco Giants tickets, tuition payments, restaurant buy-outs and a house rental that appeared unrelated to the agency's mission.
In March 2026, Davis and Spingola were arrested and booked into San Francisco city jail after surrendering to authorities. Davis was charged by the San Francisco District Attorney with 19 offenses, including misappropriation of public funds and perjury. Spingola was charged with aiding and abetting a conflict of interest in a government contract.