SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR DANIEL LURIE has ordered a pause in grant funding to the nonprofit organization San Francisco Parks Alliance Friday, the same day an investigation into the organization’s finances was announced by the City Attorney’s Office.
City Attorney David Chiu said in a statement that his office and Controller Greg Wagner would conduct a joint “public integrity assessment” at the request of the mayor, the city’s Recreation and Park Department, and the Port of San Francisco.
Chiu referenced recent media reports that alleged that the organization has mismanaged donor money that was meant for specific projects.
“The public reports of financial mismanagement at the Parks Alliance are extremely troubling,” he said. “Any contributions meant to benefit the public should be used for that purpose. We are working together with the Controller to assess compliance with our agreements and ensure transparency.”
San Francisco Parks Alliance is a nonprofit founded in 1971 that raises money from private sources and other nonprofits and receives grants from the city to invest in parks and public spaces, including making small improvements and large-scale public construction projects, according to the nonprofit tracker GuideStar and the City Attorney’s Office.
Wagner said that the allegations about the organization deserved urgent attention.
“This organization was entrusted as a steward of funding for important community projects — we need to get to the bottom of what’s happened,” Wagner said in a statement.
A request for comment from San Francisco Parks Alliance late Friday was not immediately returned.
Lurie on Friday ordered a citywide halt of grants to the organization, which receives money from the Recreation and Park Department and the Port of San Francisco. He also restricted city departments from entering into new partnerships with the organization until the city attorney’s and controller’s investigation is complete.
Most of the funds raised by the organization, including city grants, are restricted to specific uses and cannot be used for salaries or operating expenses. The investigation will determine whether funds controlled by the organization can still be used for their intended projects. The city attorney and controller will issue a “Public Integrity Report” upon its conclusion.
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