Note: Bay City News has asked subscribers to “kill” this story. According to Bay City News, they “received information that suspended Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi would be participating in a forum at SEIU Local 1021 offices in San Francisco tonight. However, the information appears to have possibly originated from an individual member of SEIU rather than the union itself.”
“A spokeswoman for Local 1021 said SEIU is not sponsoring such an event and is not aware of anyone renting out a room for an event tonight,” according to Bay City News.
The Appeal regrets repeating this error.
A local union is holding a forum this evening to give suspended San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi a chance to tell his side of the story as he faces a possible ouster from office following a conviction in a domestic violence case involving his wife earlier this year.
Service Employees International Union Local 1021, San Francisco’s largest public employees union, is holding the forum at 5 p.m. at its office at 350 Rhode Island St. in Potrero Hill.
Mirkarimi is expected to discuss his case and take questions from members of the audience, according to the union. The event is open to the public.
Mirkarimi pleaded guilty to a false imprisonment charge in March in connection with an incident in which he allegedly grabbed his wife’s arm during a Dec. 31 argument, causing a bruise.
He was sentenced to three years’ probation and other penalties, and was suspended without pay by Mayor Ed Lee on official misconduct charges.
Mirkarimi has a right to a hearing before the city’s Ethics Commission on the charges.
The Ethics Commission will then make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, which will decide whether to uphold the charges and remove Mirkarimi from office or reinstate him to his position.
The next Ethics Commission hearing on the case is scheduled for May 29. The purpose of that hearing is only to address rules and procedures and to schedule future proceedings, which could take months.
Mirkarimi served for seven years on the Board of Supervisors before being elected sheriff last November. While he is suspended, Vicki Hennessy, a former chief deputy with the department, is serving as interim sheriff.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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