A spotlight has been turned on SF City Hall again, and guess what? It’s not just your average gossip. Department on the Status of Women director Kimberly Ellis has been put on leave for allegedly pocketing some serious cash from unauthorized gigs, I’m talking about a luxury $10,000 consulting payment from a political action committee, no less. Yikes!

This unfolding drama may have some roots back in the murky waters of city contracting and finance records, all thanks to some diligent digging by the daily paper of record. The Chronicle busted open the case, revealing Ellis had not only taken that cushy payment but also funneled no-bid contracts to pals from her past consultancy. Those extravagant taxpayer-funded conferences? Yeah, you guessed it, her inner circle was cashing in big time.

In true San Francisco style, when the Lurie administration found out the Chronicle was sniffing around, they decided it was time to rattle her cage and place her on leave pending an investigation. A spokesperson stated that the administration maintains certain expectations, code for ‘don’t get caught doing naughty things with taxpayer money’.

Ellis, dubbed “the most powerful unelected person in California Democratic politics” by the Sacramento Bee, was appointed by Mayor London Breed in 2020. She earns a whopping $230,000 annually running a department that’s supposed to combat human trafficking and address domestic violence, not organize fancy parties funded by our taxpayer dollars.

In a shocking twist, the department’s glittering events have been racking up bills like they were on a never-ending shopping spree. Recently, a policy summit she oversaw cost the city nearly $700,000, complete with a $100,000 catering tab while the city was reeling under a $728 million deficit. This included expenses that made any budget planner weep.

Could this be another strike against the Breed administration, or just business as usual in the opacity of City Hall dealings? Time will tell, but let’s all agree on one thing: when the scandal goes live, it’s clear Kimberly Ellis wasn’t throwing budget meetings but lavish parties instead. Looks like City Hall might need to kick back and re-evaluate more than just their contracts. Stay tuned!

And hey, maybe it’s time for our city leaders to practice what they preach about ‘responsibility’ and ‘transparency’, because this scandal has all the nuances of a poorly written soap opera.