Porn Scandal Fallout: Planning Department Seeking New Higher-Up

By Joe Eskenazi Mon., May 24 2010 at 7:45 AM

Categories: Government

As SF Weekly first reported last week, senior city planner Craig Nikitas received an odd promotion. After admitting to us that he had taken part in the sending or receiving of porn e-mails that led to veteran zoning administrator Larry Badiner tearfully boxing up his office, Nikitas was, inexplicably, installed in Badiner's job.

Shortly after SF Weekly began making calls to the Planning Department and Planning Commissioners on the matter, the following in-house e-mail was sent out on Friday afternoon by Planning Department head John Rahaim, indicating Nikitas' tenure as Acting Zoning Administrator would be short-lived:

Hello all --

Please note that Kelley Amdur will serve as Acting Zoning Administrator from Monday, May 24th through Friday, June 4th. Starting on Monday, June 7th, Scott Sanchez will serve as Acting Zoning Administrator. Please give Kelley and Scott your full support.

Union rules dictate that anyone serving in a higher-profile job for two weeks or more is entitled to that job's pay.

The e-mail also noted that Badiner's full-time replacement is being sought:

"In addition, we will be conducting a recruitment for the Zoning Administrator position in mid June. I will get you more details soon.Thank you for your support and professionalism during this transition."

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Badiner is fighting for reinstatement -- the above e-mail would indicate that may be an uphill battle. Nikitas, meanwhile, has supposedly handed in his resignation effective June 30.

SF Weekly has not been able to reach Nikitas. But sources within and close to the Planning Department tell us that, by June 30, Nikitas will have reached 10 years of service, a plateau for city pensioners.

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