San Francisco has mandated that all city employees get vaccinated, with few exceptions.
Susannah Greason Robbins, executive director of the San Francisco Film Commission, has not qualified as one of those exceptions, according to reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle.
She will be required to leave her job by Dec. 31 after 11 years in the role because she is refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The commission permits and facilitates filming that takes place in San Francisco, and works to attract new movie and TV projects.
Robbins attempted to get religious exemption from the city rule, to no avail. As a result, she was asked to formally resign from her post at the Film Commission, she told the Chronicle.
"I'm sad to be leaving because I love this job and this city and the film community we have here," said Robbins in a statement to the Chronicle on Tuesday. "I also feel that we've built San Francisco into a city where productions know they can do the work they want because of the effectiveness of my staff and the relationships we've created with other city agencies and key city stakeholders."
For Robbins, who was raised as Christian Scientist, getting the vaccine goes against her foundational beliefs.
While not actively practicing, she still feels that getting vaccinated should be a personal choice.
"I am incredibly grateful for having had this job for the past 11 years and thankful to have been able to do something daily that I have loved," she told the paper. "I have a great team in the film office who will keep the work moving forward with the support of the commission and know that the city will do everything to support their work to keep production flowing in San Francisco."
