SF Zoo Leader Resigns Amid Mounting Pressure and Financial Questions From the City

Tanya Peterson, CEO of the San Francisco Zoo, plans to retire in August amid increasing pressure from board members and city officials. This decision follows an attempted coup by several board members and a 97% vote of no confidence from unionized workers. Mayor Daniel Lurie called for new leadership to navigate the zoo's ongoing challenges and highlighted potential opportunities, such as the introduction of pandas. Peterson's tenure has been marred by allegations of mismanagement, including safety concerns and nepotism related to hiring her daughter and paying her fiancé for concerts. The zoo's board thanked Peterson for her leadership but acknowledged the difficulties faced during her time.

The conflict stems from a lack of cooperation with the city's budget analyst's office, which has been seeking documents for audits. Supervisor Myrna Melgar threatened to freeze the zoo’s funding due to reported dysfunction on the board. This situation underscores broader governance issues within nonprofit organizations in San Francisco.