Sausalito City Manager’s Dramatic Ocean Adventure: A Voyage Unveiled

In a surprising turn of events, the newly appointed City Manager of Sausalito, Elaine Forbes, found herself under arrest by Marin County Sheriff’s deputies. Just days into her new role, Forbes was implicated in a felony burglary incident that unfolded at the Sausalito Yacht Harbor. Responding to a noise complaint, law enforcement discovered her on a 75-foot yacht that she did not own.

The allegations suggest that Forbes had boarded the yacht without the owner’s consent, proceeding to loudly blast the vessel’s horn for an extended duration, starting around 5:30 a.m.

The racket disrupted the slumber of nearby residents and sounded an unexpected alarm for city officials, bringing to light a sudden and significant personnel dilemma.

What makes this incident even more unusual is Forbes’s distinguished career trajectory; she is far from an amateur. Forbes has earned respect through her extensive work in nonprofits and senior positions within public administration.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Forbes holds a master’s degree in urban planning. Her career includes tenures at reputable institutions like the Urban Strategies Council, the Budget Analyst’s Office for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the Planning Department, and the San Francisco Airport. Her journey took a significant step forward in 2010 when she joined the Port of San Francisco, eventually becoming its executive director in 2016.

At the SF Port, she oversaw roughly 270 staff and miles of city waterfront, advancing major initiatives on sea-level rise resilience and post-pandemic recovery.

Colleagues praised her vision — until the plot twist arrived.

Last September, Forbes announced that she was stepping down from the SF Port, citing the demanding nature of leading a complex public enterprise. Fair enough.

Fast-forward to May 2026. The city of Sausalito selected her as its next city manager, a $275,000 annual role, to start July 1.

Running Sausalito can’t be easy, but it’s a little more laid back. Forbes must have seemed like a good fit to everyone, including herself.

But on Saturday, July 18 — not even three weeks later — yacht captain Bill Aubrey found Forbes inside a boat’s wheelhouse after she had locked herself in.

And of course, as we now know, it was not her yacht.

He described her demeanor as “normal, friendly,” and not disheveled; she “wasn’t staggering,” though the previously full bottles of Grey Goose vodka and tequila were now empty.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

The sheriff’s deputies, who had been searching for Forbes for four days following a missing-persons report, noted that she had initially claimed the vessel was hers, and said she was having “a bad morning.” There was no apparent damage or theft.

Just days before her arrest, following a closed-session City Council meeting, Sausalito placed her on administrative leave through Sept. 8 and appointed an acting manager.

Why? We don’t know, and the city has kept its reasons under wraps, citing privacy interests.

But the timing — mere days before the yacht incident — raises questions about whether there had already been problems with Forbes’ performance or behavior during her short tenure.

Notably, Forbes’ long-term relationship with Angela Calvillo, clerk of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, ended in October 2024. Personal turmoil can lead to professional stress.

In a statement after Forbes’ arrest, a spokesperson for the family said, “Elaine is experiencing a mental health crisis. “We ask that no one rush to judgment based on limited information.”

Mental health challenges deserve compassion and should not automatically disqualify individuals from service, particularly when supported by appropriate treatment.

At the same time, when an official in a position of public trust faces criminal allegations tied to erratic behavior, we have to ask whether she was honest during the hiring process.

We also have to ask whether the elected leaders who hired Forbes did a thorough job of vetting her.

Forbes’ situation may not be unique. San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Jackie Fielder only just returned to work after taking time off for mental health reasons.

These are delicate situations. Even public officials are entitled to some personal privacy, but their needs have to be balanced against residents’ interest in capable leadership.

Richie Greenberg is a political commentator based in San Francisco.