The San Francisco Board of Supervisors appointed a real estate agent to the city’s new homelessness commission Tuesday after past social media posts delayed the vote a week earlier.
The eligibility of Compass realtor Dena Aslanian-Williams, now the newest member of the Homelessness Oversight Commission, was called into question last week after past social media posts surfaced in which she opposed a site for homeless people near Lake Merced.
Supervisor Dean Preston, who asked for more time to meet the candidate during last week’s meeting, said Tuesday that he had since had a constructive conversation with the candidate.
Preston said he now feels comfortable supporting her as she demonstrated an “open mind on a number of the issues I raised last week.”
Mayor London Breed nominated Aslanian-Williams to serve in a seat that’s reserved for people with experience working with neighborhood or business groups.
Aslanian-Williams previously served as the president of West of Twin Peaks Central Council, an organization that advocates for over 20 neighborhood and property owner’s associations located west of Twin Peaks. She also previously served on the San Francisco Association of Realtors.
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Aslanian-Williams had previously taken to the social media platform Nextdoor to oppose an RV site for unhoused people in August and to disparage harm reduction policies, leading some to question her eligibility for the commission seat.
Aslanian-Williams admitted her inexperience during a July 17 meeting of the board’s Rules Committee, but several supervisors expressed hope that she could serve as a bridge between the business community and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.