In July 2020, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 190044, authorizing grant funding to four nonprofits to provide district coalition services. Due to reports of suspicious activity, abuse of power, conflicts of interest, lack of transparency and inequitable practices, Commissioner Chloe Eudaly recommended withholding funding consideration for Southwest until completion of a forensic audit of Southwest Neighborhoods. Inc. (SWNI). View letter to groups affiliated with City-contracted SWNI services.  

In November 2020, an independent financial crimes consulting firm Marsh Menick, P.C., released an evidence-based Forensic Audit of SWNI Findings Report to City Council. 

In January 2021, Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty was assigned to oversee the Office of Community and Civic Life. After a due diligence review, Commissioner Hardesty directed that Civic Life provide services to neighborhood associations in Southwest. View memo to SWNI Board. City Council approved Ordinance No. 190321, authorizing the addition of two coordinator positions in the Office of Community and Civic Life, to ensure the delivery of services to neighborhood associations in Southwest. 

In October 2021, Arnold Creek Neighborhood Association terminated membership in the SWNI coalition, following similar action by Southwest Hills Residential League (June 2021), South Burlingame Neighborhood Association (July 2021) and Bridlemile Neighborhood Association (September 2021).

In February 2022, Civic Life Interim Director Michael Montoya clarified that SWNI is not a District Coalition Office (DCO) recognized by the City and doesn’t have ONI Standards authority. This was in response to SWNI’s misrepresentation as a City DCO. Neighborhood assiciations do not need to follow ONI Standards to terminate membership in the SWNI coalition. SWNI does not serve as a City DCO in the ONI Standards grievance process. View Letter from Civic Life.