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S.F. supervisors to subpoena no-show Western Addition housing managers

S.F. supervisors to subpoena no-show Western Addition housing managers

Rule Changes San Francisco, CA local

Supervisors voted 2-0 to compel Domus and co-op boards to testify Dec. 3 after they skipped a tenant hearing.

October 2nd, 2026: City Attorney issuing subpoenas, Mahmood says

Overview

Updated Oct 20

San Francisco supervisors voted 2-0 on Oct. 1 to subpoena Domus Management and the boards behind three Western Addition affordable housing complexes after none of the invited managers or owners appeared at a hearing. The subpoenas compel Domus executives Anthony Sandoval and Christine Mason, co-op board members, Allen Community Development Corporation officers and attorney Mercedes Gavin to testify at a continued hearing set for Dec. 3.

Residents from Martin Luther King/Marcus Garvey Square, Thomas Paine Square and Ammel Park described disputed ledgers, refused rent, unrepaired units and a city with little direct authority over the privately owned, federally subsidized buildings. A tenant lawyer said King Garvey ledgers claim up to $47,000 against $6,000 eviction notices, while residents cited 80 building complaints and a new $59 million loan signed without a quorum. City agencies told the committee they can mediate or inspect but cannot force Domus to answer.

Why it matters

Tenants in subsidized housing have few options when managers ignore them. This subpoena tests whether the city can compel accountability.

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Key Indicators

98
Units at Thomas Paine Square Apartments
Low-income complex in the Fillmore owned by Bethel AME Church, managed by Domus.
16
Eviction notices at MLK Garvey Co-Op
Mostly senior residents threatened in 2026 over alleged back rent.
39
Tenants signed petition to remove Domus and W.S.B.
Petition demands removal of the management firm and the church-connected security company.
40
Tenants signed 2022 open letter
Demanded repairs, mold and asbestos inspections, and access to rent payment records.
$47,000
Largest ledger claim at King Garvey
Tenant lawyer said King Garvey ledgers claim up to $47,000 against $6,000 eviction notices.
80
Building complaints cited by King Garvey shareholders
Complaints cited at the Oct. 1, 2026 hearing.
$59M
New loan signed without a quorum
King Garvey shareholders said the $59 million loan was signed without a quorum.

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People Involved

Bilal Mahmood
Bilal Mahmood
San Francisco District 5 Supervisor
Led the Oct. 1 hearing; committee approved subpoenas 2-0 for a Dec. 3 follow-up.
AS
Anthony Sandoval
President, Domus Management
Named in subpoena approved Oct. 1; did not appear at hearing.
BS
Bobby Sisk
Steward, Bethel AME Church; Board chair; Owner, W.S.B. & Associates
Named in subpoena as Allen CDC officer; group declined to appear through attorney Vernon Goins.
 Anona Lee
Anona Lee
30-year resident; Co-chair, Thomas Paine tenants association
Awaiting repairs in her unit
 Jesica Salinas
Jesica Salinas
Tenant, Thomas Paine Square Apartments
Awaiting mold and water repairs
 Christine Mason
Christine Mason
Most recent manager, Domus Management
Named in subpoena approved Oct. 1 for Dec. 3 hearing.
MG
Mercedes Gavin
Counsel, MLK/Marcus Garvey Square Cooperative
Named in subpoena approved Oct. 1 for Dec. 3 hearing.
 Ezra Mozgan
Ezra Mozgan
Board member, Ammel Park Cooperative Homes
Named in subpoena approved Oct. 1 for Dec. 3 hearing

Organizations Involved

Domus Management
Domus Management
Property Management Company
Subpoenaed 2-0 by supervisors; executives named for Dec. 3 hearing.

Lodi-based property management firm for two Western Addition affordable housing complexes.
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Religious Organization / Property Owner
No comment on hearing; steward Bobby Sisk named in subpoena as Allen CDC officer.

Historically Black church in the Fillmore that owns Thomas Paine Square Apartments.
MG
MLK/Marcus Garvey Square Cooperative Apartments
Housing Cooperative
Board members subpoenaed for Dec. 3; ledgers claim up to $47,000 against $6,000 eviction notices.

Affordable housing cooperative in the Fillmore managed by Domus.
SF
San Francisco Board of Supervisors Government Accountability and Oversight Committee
City Committee
Voted 2-0 on Oct. 1 to subpoena Domus, two co-op boards and Allen CDC officers; continued hearing Dec. 3.

City committee that voted 2-0 to subpoena parties that skipped its Oct. 1 hearing on three Domus-managed complexes.
W.S.B. & Associates, Inc.
W.S.B. & Associates, Inc.
Security Company
Contracted at Thomas Paine; 39 tenants demand removal

Security company owned by Bobby Sisk, contracted at Thomas Paine.
Ammel Park Cooperative Homes
Ammel Park Cooperative Homes
Housing Cooperative
Board member Ezra Mozgan subpoenaed; families face eviction over HUD subsidy claim.

Third Fillmore complex managed by Domus, newly included in the city probe.
AC
Allen Community Development Corporation
Nonprofit community development corporation
Officers subpoenaed; declined to appear through attorney Vernon Goins.

Nonprofit whose officers were subpoenaed after it skipped the Oct. 1 hearing.

Timeline

2022 October 2026

8 events Latest: October 2nd, 2026 · 1 month ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. City Attorney issuing subpoenas, Mahmood says

    Latest Government

    Supervisor Bilal Mahmood says the City Attorney's office is issuing subpoenas and the next hearing is planned for early December.

  2. Domus skips hearing; supervisors approve subpoenas

    Government

    Domus Management and other invited parties do not appear. The Government Audit and Oversight Committee votes 2-0 to subpoena them and tentatively sets a continued hearing for Dec. 3.

  3. Mahmood announces fall hearing

    Government

    Supervisor Bilal Mahmood calls for a Board hearing on conditions at both Domus-managed complexes.

  4. Domus threatens 16 MLK Garvey tenants with eviction

    Legal

    Domus issues mass eviction notices, mostly to seniors, over alleged back rent at the co-op.

  5. Security cameras catch staff stealing gifts

    Incident

    Camera footage shows Domus staff appearing to steal Christmas gifts from tenants at Thomas Paine.

  6. Mission Local publishes initial exposé

    Media

    Mission Local details resident complaints about conditions at Thomas Paine, including mold, violence, and harassment.

  7. Tenants testify before Board of Supervisors

    Testimony

    Thomas Paine tenants tell their stories in public at a Board of Supervisors session.

  8. Tenants sign open letter demanding repairs

    Organizing

    40+ Thomas Paine tenants sign an open letter to Domus and the church demanding repairs, mold inspections, and rent records.

Scenarios

1

Subpoenaed Domus executives testify under oath

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local; The San Francisco Standard

The board issues subpoenas to Domus leaders, including president Anthony Sandoval. Executives testify in a public hearing about maintenance failures, eviction practices, and the W.S.B. security contract. The testimony goes on the record, and the city attorney's office uses it to pursue further action despite the city's limited authority over the privately owned buildings.

2

City passes new oversight laws for subsidized housing managers

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Supervisor Bilal Mahmood; The Sun-Reporter

The hearing surfaces gaps in city oversight of private managers. Mahmood introduces legislation requiring managers of HUD-subsidized housing to report maintenance issues, respond to city inquiries, and face penalties for non-compliance. The board passes the ordinance, giving the city new enforcement tools.

3

Domus resists; city authority proves too limited

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: SF Mayor's Office of Housing; Domus Management

Domus challenges the subpoena in court, delaying or blocking testimony. Even if executives appear, the city's limited authority over privately owned, HUD-subsidized housing means the hearing produces no structural change. Tenants' conditions persist, and the story continues as a cycle of media coverage, hearings, and complaints without meaningful consequence.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1979-1984

Boston Housing Authority receivership (1979)

A Massachusetts court placed the Boston Housing Authority under receivership after a decade of findings that the agency failed to fix lead paint, plumbing, and safety hazards across its more than 14,000 units. Judge Paul Garrity appointed a court receiver to run the agency.

Then

The receiver, Lewis Spence, overhauled BHA operations, hiring, and maintenance. Conditions improved under judicial oversight.

Now

The receivership lasted until 1984 and became a model for court-appointed housing management reform in the U.S.

Why this matters now

Shows how external intervention escalates when housing management fails. San Francisco's board has no receivership power, but the subpoena is the entry point for outside accountability.

May 1995

Chicago Housing Authority federal takeover (1995)

After decades of mismanagement, crime, and deteriorating high-rises, HUD seized control of the Chicago Housing Authority, the nation's second-largest public housing system. HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros appointed a federal receiver.

Then

The federal takeover displaced the local board. HUD demolished high-rise projects and installed a stricter management structure.

Now

The CHA became a case study in federal intervention, showing both the possibilities and costs of takeover, including resident displacement.

Why this matters now

Illustrates what happens when housing management failure becomes severe enough that external authorities step in with full control.

Sources

(10)
+4
Mission Local The San Francisco Standard The Sun-Reporter Local News Matters CivicIQ Davis Vanguard Locunity LinkedIn SF Daily Brief Mission Local