San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to excuse Supervisor Jackie Fielder from meetings through June 30 after she requested a leave of absence and her office disclosed a mental health condition.
In an April 7 memo to the board’s clerk and president, Fielder requested to be excused from the Board of Supervisors and Government Audit and Oversight Committee and Local Agency Formation Commission meetings between April 7 and June 30 for “personal reasons.” The clerk’s office shared the memo with SFGATE.
The board voted 10-0 Tuesday to approve the leave of absence. SFGATE reached out to Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman for a comment but did not hear back prior to publication.
Fielder has not attended board meetings since March 17, according to the Bay Area Reporter, and had already missed multiple weeks of meetings before Jennifer Ferrigno, a legislative aide, said in a statement previously shared with SFGATE she was hospitalized following what was described as an acute personal health crisis.
Fielder’s office did not return an SFGATE request for comment, but her staff shared a statement on Instagram last month that said the supervisor needs “time and space” to navigate a mental health condition before heading back to work. The post asked the press to “not to report on unsubstantiated rumors” and urged the public to treat the situation like any other medical emergency. The post said she hopes to “regain stable health” before she makes any other decisions.
During her leave, her staff said their office will continue serving District 9, which includes those living in the Mission, Bernal Heights and Portola. Fielder’s Instagram post included support from other politicians, including Mayor Daniel Lurie, who said he wished Fielder a “speedy recovery.”
“She is a dedicated advocate for her community,” Lurie said. “I am encouraging everyone to give her time and space to get better so she can do that work fully, and I’m wishing her strength and all the best for her health.”
A quote from Supervisor Myrna Melgar in the Instagram post said that extended absences have precedent on the board, referencing former Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, who was out for three months, and noted the board was able to maintain district representation during such periods.