San Francisco Airport Fee will get 1st trans member
The Mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, has sworn in the first trans person on the powerful airport commission and its only current LGBTQ member.
In an October 8 press release, Breed stated that Jane Natoli was sworn in on October 7th. The San Francisco Airport Commission is a five-person body tasked with setting guidelines for airport operations. Subject to the approval, amendment or rejection of the board of directors, the commission has the exclusive power to plan and issue revenue bonds for airport-related purposes, according to a press release from the mayor’s office.
Natoli is a bicycle activist who was turned down by the board of directors to a position on the commission of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency in August 2020. She was also nominated for the post by Breed, but had to go through the board’s rules committee and then a full supervisor vote. During this debate, many of the progressive overseers raised concerns about equity issues related to the city’s public transport system. Most overseers considered Natoli qualified, but some opposition came from progressive groups, including the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club.
This time it was a mayor’s meeting that the guards had 30 days to respond if they wanted to reject it by a two-thirds majority. That didn’t happen, as Natoli told the Bay Area Reporter that she was officially nominated on August 31st.
According to the mayor’s office, Natoli is an advocate for safe and affordable transit and the LGBTQ + community. She currently serves on the board of directors of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center.
“I am proud to welcome Jane Natoli to the Airport Commission,” said Breed. “She is a leading advocate of reliable transportation and is deeply committed to the fight for the LGBTQ community. I am confident that her perspective and commitment to our city will benefit this commission.”
SFO is in the middle of a $ 2.4 billion renovation project for Harvey Milk Terminal 1, which will gradually open through 2024. Some airlines are already using the terminal, in which exhibits about the life and political career of the late gay supervisor are on display.
Natoli moved to San Francisco in 2013 and became involved in local politics and community organization. Since 2019, Natoli has served as mayor on the Committee for the Supervision of Government Bonds for General Obligations.
Natoli said she was proud to serve the city in her new role. She replaces Rich Guggenheim, who has resigned after many years of service, according to the mayor’s office.
“It is an honor to be appointed to the Airport Commission and I would like to thank Mayor London Breed for the nomination,” said Natoli. “I’m looking forward to bringing not only my oversight experience from other boards and commissions, but also my perspective as a transgender person. San Francisco is an LGBTQ + capital and SFO is the first point of entry for so many people who come and move there, and I want to ensure that SFO is as welcoming and inclusive as possible to all people. “
Trans leaders also praised the move.
“I am proud to see that Mayor Breed has appointed a member of the trans community to such a prestigious commission. As someone who fights for the representation of trans women in leadership positions, I look forward to bringing all of Jane’s positive experiences into the.” Airport Commission, “said Khilynn Fowler, interim director for Trans Thrive at the San Francisco Community Health Center.
Natoli is a financial crime analyst at Stripe, where she specializes in anti-money laundering investigations. She holds a BS from Iowa State University and is a resident of Inner Richmond.
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