SF human rights chief skimmed funds for luxe travel, UCLA tuition, parties — all courtesy of taxpayers

Disgraced San Francisco city boss Sheryl Davis preached about human rights, but allegedly squandered a fortune in taxpayer funds on luxe travel, sports tickets, her son’s college tuition and personal PR — now landing her in jail on 17 charges.

The former head of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and her longtime live-in partner are facing felony charges for allegedly using money intended to help the city’s black communities for personal benefit.

“This is certainly a lesson for the city that there has to be an infrastructure for checks and balances so things like this don’t happen,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins on Monday.

Davis and Spingola signed contracts steering $4.5 million in city funding to Spingola’s nonprofit, Collective Impact, as part of a “pattern of self-dealing,” according to Jenkins.

A prior audit found the ex-Human Rights Commission director splashed out millions in lavish expenses that included $2.1 million on an ice rink rental, DJ, floral arrangements and catering for a party in Philadelphia, $267,000 on gala tickets and sponsorships, $60,000 for an event at the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center.

She allegedly arranged the sale of 1,500 copies her children’s book, “Free to Sing,” and spent $75,000 to promote her children’s books and other personal projects, per the audit.

Her spending was “frivolous, unethical, and unjustifiable. It unfairly tainted the broader work of the department and requires that trust and confidence now be rebuilt,” San Francisco Controller Greg Wagner said of the audit last year.

Davis was in charge of both the city-funded Human Rights Commission and Dream Keeper Initiative, which was created in 2021 by ex-mayor London Breed.

Dream Keeper was described as a $120 million investment in San Francisco’s black communities after the police killing of George Floyd. Officials initially sought to strip funds from law enforcement to pay for Dream Keeper Initiative, though it was largely funded through general city dollars.

Though some Dream Keeper Initiative funds went towards legitimate programs, such as down payment assistance, the program was plagued by a lack of oversight and questionable spending, according to published reports and city investigations.

Of the roughly $40 million per year allocated to the initiative, some was doled out to community groups that spent money “in ways that have mystified and embarrassed city officials,” the San Francisco Standard reported.

One Dream Keeper funding recipient, nonprofit J&J Community Resource Center, was barred from doing business with the city after it fraudulently tried to bill $100,000 in cigars, motorcycle rentals and other expenses, city auditors said.

Another nonprofit, called Both Sides of the Conversation, attempted to submit invoices for pricey meals, liquor and first-class travel, per the SF Standard.

At one community bowling event sponsored by Dream Keeper and the Human Rights Commission, Both Sides of the Conversation organizers boasted of $20,000 in cash and gift card “giveaways” and posted splashy video of handing out cash to to attendees tossing $1 bills into a crowd of children.

“Shout out to our sponsors, the amazing folks that made this happen. And the honorable Mayor London Breed!” said organizer Jon Henry.

Davis was known to chop up invoices into amounts of less than $10,000 in order to avoid the scrutiny of city bookkeepers, according to the city’s audit.

She regularly violated restrictions on what can be purchased with her department’s money.

In 2023, for example, the Human Rights Commission paid $8,000 to a nonprofit Total Women Empowerment Inc. to fund a “Queen’s Weekend Retreat,” with the stated purpose of helping the unknown participants “serve themselves to continue to service their community.”

The department spent $685,123 on San Francisco Giants tickets, rental of the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center, and air fare. Restaurant rentals and catering cost taxpayers $353,113, and Davis spent $79,950 on a house rental and other fees at Martha’s Vineyard.

Davis also demanded the department pay for weeks-long stays at the luxurious Intercontinental Hotel for a pal, Antione Phillips, who assisted with a department initiative in 2024. The justification provided was that Phillips had “recently lost their job and trying to find a place to stay while they get new employment,” per the city audit.

Davis’ attorney defended her in a statement, saying she was “hand picked due to her experience and connections in the business of helping SF’s black community” and has cooperated with the investigation.

“They 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,” said attorney Tony Brass.

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