SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco garbage collection and disposal companies face accusations of attempted bribery with money, meals and other accommodations to San Francisco city employees in an attempt to influence decisions that impacted them, according to documents filed on March 4 in the San Francisco County Superior Court.
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis J. Herrera helms the suit on the behalf of the people of the State of California; the City and County of San Francisco are plaintiffs as well.
The defendants - which are Recology San Francisco, Sunset Scavenger Company and Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling Company - are also accused of omitting substantial revenues in their application for an upward adjustment of their rates, resulting in higher-than-appropriate rates charged on the residents and businesses of San Francisco since 2017.
The waste removal companies allegedly offered the city employees responsible for approving rate adjustments gifts in exchange for favorable treatment.
The defendants are charged with violating the Business and Professions Code and violating San Francisco's Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code. The plaintiffs are requesting civil penalties of $2,500 for each violation of the former and $5,000 for each violation of the latter.