San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder received a warm welcome back to City Hall Tuesday after stepping away from her duties for an extended leave of absence for her mental health.
“Thank you for your grace in extending an excuse for my absence for extended leave,” she said in a speech to her colleagues at the Board of Supervisors meeting. “Thank you all so much for your grace, and I’m so proud and honored to be back.”
In late March of this year, Fielder’s staffers announced she was taking a leave of absence to address an “acute personal health crisis” after missing a few weeks of meetings.
In a video statement she posted to social media last week announcing her return, she mentioned that the pressure of serving as a supervisor took a toll on her mental health.
“It’s not something that I wanted to do,” she said at the meeting. “It’s something that my doctor recommended, and I’m very glad I did take the time to protect my mental health.”
Before the meeting, a large crowd of her supporters escorted her from her office to the legislative chambers, holding signs while chanting “Jackie! Jackie!” Supervisor Chyanne Chen was by her side.
Fielder represents District 9, which includes the Mission District, Bernal Heights and Portola neighborhoods. Dozens of residents from the district rallied behind her as she walked into the board meeting, an outpouring of support that made her teary-eyed.
Colleagues shook her hands and hugged her before the meeting started.
“It’s good to have you back,” said Board President Rafael Mandelman.
While Fielder was away, her staff continued to do some of the work in her district.
“I want to thank you for your dedication and all the hard work that you’ve done to ensure our constituents continue to be served in District 9,” she said in her speech.
For the first time in three months, Board Clerk Angela Calvillo took roll call and declared that “All members are present.”
