One of the people most surprised by San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White’s announcement that she was retiring on May 5 was Mayor London Breed. For weeks, Room 200 and Hayes-White had been holding talks on the date of the long-standing chief’s exit. And the two sides were far from a deal. The chief initially wanted to stay on until January 2020 to coincide with the end of her good friend, the late Mayor Ed Lee’s, second term.

SF fire chief Hayes-White retirement announcement surprised Mayor Breed

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SF fire chief Hayes-White retirement announcement surprised Mayor Breed

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