Months-Long Conflict-Of-Interest Investigation Forces San Francisco Health Director To Abruptly Resign
The investigation began with a whistle-blower complaint to the San Francisco controller’s office alleging that San Francisco Public Health Director Barbara Garcia had improperly shielded a potential financial conflict of interest involving her wife, Dorotea Reyna.
San Francisco Chronicle:
SF Health Director Garcia Forced To Resign Over Conflict-Of-Interest Allegations
San Francisco Public Health Director Barbara Garcia’s abrupt resignation Wednesday came after a months-long conflict-of-interest investigation into allegations that she had failed to disclose her wife’s income from an educational institution that had been awarded a million-dollar, sole-source contract with the health department, multiple sources have confirmed. (Matier and Ross, 8/23)
In other news from across the state —
Ventura County Star:
County Says Improvements Made After Audit Finds Fiscal Controls Lacking
An independent auditor has found multiple oversight and documentation problems after reviewing physician contracts in outpatient clinics that are part of Ventura County Medical Center. In the report released Tuesday by county officials, the Moss Adams accounting firm said a lack of regular audits and monitoring of physician contracts meant health care managers were unable to determine “whether internal controls are working effectively.” (Wilson, 8/23)
The Mercury News:
Bay Area Air Quality Remains Poor From Wildfire Smoke
Air quality across the Bay Area is expected to be unhealthy again Friday as smoke from wildfires in northern California, eastern Washington and British Columbia lingers in the atmosphere. Late Thursday afternoon, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a “Spare the Air” late through Friday “due to poor air quality conditions developing throughout the region as the result of smoke from wildfires sitting out over the Pacific Ocean and blowing into the region.” (Gomez, 8/24)