Mayor London N. Breed recently appointed Carla Short to the position of Director of San Francisco Public Works. With a tenure in Public Works dating back to 2004, Short had been serving as the Interim Director for the past two years, where she led various cleaning and beautification initiatives per the City and County of San Francisco news report.
Beginning her public works career as San Francisco's Urban Forester, Short later held the department's top position in 2015. Her tenure as Deputy Director for Operations commenced in 2019's fall, and she has served as Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Street-Use and Mapping. Carla Short's impressive resume also includes a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Yale University.
The positivity surrounding Short's appointment was echoed in Mayor Breed's confidence in her leadership and abilities. "Carla Short has clearly demonstrated that she is hardworking, collaborative, and committed to improving San Francisco," she stated."
As Interim Director, Short supervised the completion of substantial capital building projects such as the Southeast Community Center and Fireboat Station 35. Additionally, she expanded the CleanCorridorsSF deep cleaning operation and led an initiative for a courtesy graffiti abatement program within neighborhood commercial corridors. Her initiatives have significantly contributed to the improvement of San Francisco's infrastructure.
Aaron Peskin, Board of Supervisors President, lauded Short's appointment. "I am delighted that Ms. Short has agreed to serve as the permanent Director of Public Works. She has the know-how, experience, humility, and respect from all quarters to do an extraordinary job," he stated.
Public Works, with an annual operating budget of $453 million, an active capital portfolio exceeding $3 billion, and employing around 1,800 people, has extensive responsibilities. They range from street cleaning, paving, and tree care to the design, implementation, and maintenance of civic buildings and infrastructure.
The department, under the guidance of Short, will continue to build upon the groundwork she's established during her time as Interim Director. As a diverse, bustling city, San Francisco needs ongoing development to bolster its infrastructure and communities. Short's extensive experience and commitment to improving the city will be invaluable in this challenging role.
