Bevan Dufty
Bevan Dufty began a 40-year public service career in 1976 when he joined the staff of legendary Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), the first African-American woman elected to Congress and 1972 Presidential candidate.
Bevan then became Chief Legislative Assistant to freshman Rep. Julian Dixon (D-CA) in 1979. Dixon served on the House Appropriations Committee and led the effort to fund the Metro Red Line, returning rail transit to Los Angeles.
Over the next eight years, Bevan coordinated the Southern California delegation’s efforts to appropriate Metro Rail funding and then served
Bevan Dufty began a 40-year public service career in 1976 when he joined the staff of legendary Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), the first African-American woman elected to Congress and 1972 Presidential candidate.
Bevan then became Chief Legislative Assistant to freshman Rep. Julian Dixon (D-CA) in 1979. Dixon served on the House Appropriations Committee and led the effort to fund the Metro Red Line, returning rail transit to Los Angeles.
Over the next eight years, Bevan coordinated the Southern California delegation’s efforts to appropriate Metro Rail funding and then served from 1989-1993 leading all federal affairs for the LA Metro agencies.
In 1993, Bevan returned to the Bay Area (he graduated from Menlo-Atherton H.S. and UC Berkeley) and helped his friend, Susan Leal, win appointment to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This began a 23-year City Hall career, including Legislative Aide to Supervisor Leal, Director of Neighborhood Services for Mayor Willie Brown, and his election to the Board of Supervisors for two terms (2002-2011) representing District 8.
From 2012-2015, Bevan served as Director of HOPE for the City and Mayor Lee, to innovate the City’s response to homelessness and he established the Navigation Center model and helped lead the effort that has housed over 500 formerly homeless veterans in San Francisco. Bevan partnered with Larkin Street Youth Services to open the Castro Young Adult Housing program that continues today at the Perramont Hotel. Bevan has worked extensively with families helping them to overcome hurdles and barriers in the below-market rent and SF Housing Authority housing placements.
In 2016, Bevan was elected to the BART Board of Directors representing the East Side of San Francisco and he was re-elected in 2020. Bevan has supported new approaches to engage with and help unhoused individuals such as the Ambassador program and addition of Crisis Intervention Specialists.
Bevan was born in New York City. His Father was a newspaperman and later co-authored “Lady Sings the Blues” with Bevan’s godmother, Billie Holiday. His Mother, Maely, managed Jazz musicians and worked in the Civil Rights Movement for A. Philip Randolph and the 1963 March on Washington.
Bevan is the proud parent to Sid Goldfader-Dufty along with co-parent, Rebecca Goldfader, NP.