In SF Police Commission Shake-Up, Lurie Taps Anti-Violence and Housing Activist

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced on Friday that he has appointed anti-violence activist Mattie Scott to fill the Police Commission seat left vacant by his controversial removal of another commissioner.

Scott has worked in anti-gun violence advocacy since her son George C. Scott, 24, was shot and killed at a party in San Francisco in 1996. Lurie confirmed her selection at a swearing-in ceremony for another newly appointed police commissioner, Wilson Leung.

“Together, we can stop the killing and start the healing,” Scott said at Friday morning’s press conference. “We can stop the killing from fentanyl, stop the killing of the homeless, stop the killing of not getting our kids educated in schools. We can stop the killing across the board against the LBGT community. We can stop the killing and start the healing in every aspect to represent the beautiful city of San Francisco.”

Scott’s nomination, which must be confirmed by the Board of Supervisors, comes days after the board approved Lurie’s motion to remove progressive attorney Max Carter-Oberstone from the Police Commission.

Former Mayor London Breed initially appointed Carter-Oberstone, but their collegiality fizzled after the commissioner revealed Breed’s practice of asking commissioners to sign undated resignation letters in order to take the job. Lurie said his decision to remove Carter-Oberstone was an effort to fill the seat with someone who “will collaborate and communicate.”

The board voted 9–2 to remove Carter-Oberstone, with Supervisors Myrna Melgar and Jackie Fielder opposed.

Carter-Oberstone “has shown tremendous courage in his service on the SF Police Commission,” Fielder, who represents the Mission District, posted on social media platform X. “He is a whistleblower who revealed unethical practices of the last administration, earning him a national award.”

His likely replacement, Scott, is a well-known resident of the Fillmore, where, in addition to anti-gun violence work, she has also stepped into the fight for affordable housing.

She recently teamed up with Sen. Scott Wiener on state legislation aimed at remedying social and economic harms during urban renewal projects in the 1960s and 1970s that bulldozed thousands of homes primarily owned by Black, Japanese and Filipino residents.

Scott founded and leads Healing 4 Our Families & Our Nation, which supports victims of violence, and is the president of the San Francisco chapter of Mothers In Charge, another violence prevention organization. She has served on multiple city boards, including the Chief of Police African American Police Advisory Board.

But unlike Carter-Oberstone, who studied police reform, Scott’s background lacks as much direct experience working on government and police issues beyond the scope of gun control. Police commissioners have a range of police oversight duties, including reviewing contracts, disciplinary actions and monitoring data gathered from SFPD.

“Mattie will bring invaluable experience, deep compassion and a commitment to our communities. Her voice on the Police Commission will help us strengthen public safety and build trust across our city,” Lurie said on Friday. “I’m optimistic that Mattie will receive the same overwhelming support that Wilson [Leung] did as well.”