Before deciding her next steps, District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder announced Sunday she\u2019s taking time off as she manages her mental health, but she aims to stay in office. Her staff will handle operations in her absence, and her fellow supervisors said they\u2019ll lend their support.<\/p>\n
Supervisor Jackie Fielder\u2019s office announced on social media<\/a> Sunday evening she\u2019ll be taking a medical leave of absence in order to recover from issues surrounding her mental health. At that point, she’ll consider how to move forward at City Hall while protecting her health, as she reportedly intends to stay in office, according to Mission Local<\/a>. <\/p>\n In the statement, Fielder’s staff said she requested that the information be shared, as it\u2019s important to break stigmas surrounding mental health conditions. <\/p>\n \u201cSan Francisco has always been dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of its residents, and we applaud Supervisor Fielder for emphasizing the importance of self-care and resilience, and for directing us to openly share today that prioritizing and talking about mental health truly matters,\u201d said Fielder\u2019s office. \u201cAs she has done with so many social justice issues, she continues to demonstrate courage and leadership by speaking openly about her health and taking meaningful steps towards healing and recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n Her staff will handle official duties, but as Mission Local notes, no voting will take place for District 9 during Fielder\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n The update follows an announcement Friday that Fielder was in the hospital and intended to resign<\/a>, as reported previously. Fielder\u2019s office said she was experiencing an unspecified, \u201cacute personal health crisis.\u201d <\/p>\n The announcement was followed by plenty of political intrigue, given that another absence on the board would give Mayor Daniel Lurie another chance to place a more moderate ally on the board, consolidating his own power, and removing a solidly progressive voice from the board.<\/p>\n Sunday morning, Fielder\u2019s office announced there was a chance Fielder may not resign, but she was prioritizing her recovery<\/a> before making any decisions.<\/p>\n The statement from Fielder\u2019s staff included words of support from five of her colleagues, including Connie Chan, Bilal Mahmood, Chyanne Chen, Shamann Walton, and Myrna Melgar. Melgar noted that when former Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier was on leave for three months, they all stepped in to help with representation of her district, along with Alioto-Pier\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n \u201cI have full confidence that the District 9 staff can and will do that as well,\u201d said Melgar.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will support Supervisor Fielder and her team during this time to make decisions that are in the best interest of Supervisor Fielder\u2019s health and the people she represents,\u201d said Supervisor Connie Chan. <\/p>\n Other supervisors lent their words of support via the Chronicle<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud of Jackie for the courage she is demonstrating, and I hope she knows we are all rooting for her,\u201d said Supervisor Matt Dorsey.<\/p>\n \u201cPolitics is intense, spirited, and often unforgiving,\u201d said Supervisor Danny Sauter. \u201cBut we should never forget that real humans are behind this work.\u201d<\/p>\n As reported earlier by Mission Local, the majority of the organizers and nonprofit leaders in Fielder\u2019s district \u2014 the most progressive district in the city, serving the Mission, Bernal Heights, and Portola \u2014 were holding out hope<\/a> she wouldn\u2019t resign.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to see her back in City Hall. That\u2019s what I\u2019m hearing most from people,\u201d said Amy Beinart, a longtime Bernal Heights organizer, speaking to Mission Local. \u201cI really don\u2019t want to guess who he\u2019d cast about for and find who would rubber-stamp what I\u2019m seeing as a push towards centralized mayoral power.\u201d<\/p>\n