The former leader of San Francisco’s Human Rights Commission has been charged with steering millions in city money to her old nonprofit group, which was led by the man she lives with.
Sheryl Davis was responsible for reinvesting police funds to needy Black residents during her tenure on the commission. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said she was accused this week of conflict of interest and misappropriating funds after prosecutors said she sent at least $4.5 million to her former nonprofit, Collective Impact.
Collective Impact’s former executive director was James Spingola, 65, who resides with Ms. Davis, 57. Prosecutors said the two shared finances and a home together since 2015, but clarified that they weren’t sure if the relationship was romantic.
Ms. Davis ran the Human Rights Commission from 2016 to 2024, when a corruption scandal forced her to resign and triggered a criminal probe.
“We have to hold government actors accountable, certainly when they are abusing the trust of San Franciscans, when they are abusing taxpayer dollars, and in this case using funds that are supposed to be targeted towards the black community … and that money was lost,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Monday during a press conference.
Prosecutors said Ms. Davis’ alleged misconduct stemmed from her time running the commission’s Dream Keeper Initiative, which was the brainchild of former Mayor London Breed, a Democrat.
The program aimed to transfer $120 million from San Francisco’s law enforcement budget to Black residents in the form of housing and support services. The Board of Supervisors celebrated the move as the “first true step towards reparations” for the city at the time.
But local media investigations revealed improper spending at Dream Keeper, and Ms. Davis stepped down soon afterward.
Ms. Davis allegedly used her authority to support her son as well. Prosecutors said she instructed Dream Keeper to approve millions of dollars in contracts with the Homeless Children’s Network. Ms. Davis’ son would go on to receive $140,000 while working as an independent contractor with the organization.
Tony Brass, Ms. Davis’ defense lawyer, said most of the blame falls on the city for rushing out the Dream Keeper Initiative and not instructing his client on how to navigate it responsibly.
“[The city] provided her with no guidance about transitioning into government bureaucracy and asked her to develop a robust system to help those in need to advance not only individuals but San Francisco as a city where the black community could thrive,” Mr. Brass said.
“It was not only obvious that Dr. Davis would have conflicts of interest with Collective Impact but was also something she informed the City Attorney about” the defense attorney said.
“She asked for financial supervision, she asked for internal audits and when no one responded, she actually went to Board of Supervisors to ask for funding so that she could staff these positions … For the city to respond with a felony prosecution after 2 years is disappointing.”
