Nepotism is a fact of life, and most people expect it to happen in private industry. Where it isn’t expected, however, is in government and public services. That’s why the story of San Francisco’s controversial District Attorney allegedly hiring an old friend with zero relevant qualifications has caused quite a stir in recent days.
Brooke Jenkins, the ultra-progressive DA in the embattled city of San Francisco, stands accused of hiring nursing professor Monifa Williams for a position that pays $300,00 per year, even though she doesn’t have any relevant experience in law. Specifically, Jenkins was tasked with heading up the Victim Services Division – and she didn’t even have to compete for the role. Reports reveal how Jenkins didn’t advertise the role internally or externally and that her old friend Willis was simply moved into the job without much…or any…consultation with other members of staff.
The story gets even wackier, though. Not only are the pair friends – they both reportedly ran on the same track team in high school and have been seen spending time with one another in public – but Willis is even a former CEO of a marijuana company. And if that wasn’t enough – and apparently being a de-facto marijuana dealer isn’t disqualifying for a job like this – Willis has even been allowed to keep her part-time job at the University of California, San Francisco, which pays $100,000.
So, in total, Willis is earning a whopping $400,000 per year for a job she likely isn’t qualified to hold.
The decision has caused uproar in San Francisco and beyond. Ryan Khojasteh, who is running to replace DA Brooke, blasted the decision as “nepotism.”
In a brutal expose of the whole ordeal by Jonah Owen Lamb at the San Francisco Standard, Willis was revealed to have been first hired by her buddy at the DA’s Office in 2022. Speaking to the outlet, individuals familiar with the story described how Willis was given the position because she “knew the DA” and that Willis has “little knowledge of the law around victims’ rights.”
The same source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, described how things have begun to fall “through the cracks” because Willis is too busy doing two jobs, and that she has even been spotted teaching classes for her university job during work hours.
It feels like the entirety San Francisco’s leadership – maybe even California’s leadership – is completely corrupt these days, doesn’t it?
