We need a supervisor who will prioritize progress, not
politics.
My campaign is about taking a common sense, neighborhood
approach to City Hall. I will represent the views and concerns
of the neighborhood so we can create smart, effective government
in San Francisco and make substantive progress on the major
issues facing us. My campaign is powered by the strong belief
that we can reject the status quo and create a city that
serves the neighborhoods.
As an attorney and teacher educated at Yale and Harvard
Law School, a former professor in Hong Kong and Congressional
senior policy advisor, I have lived in the Richmond with
my wife for years and am raising my two young sons here.
I have been a neighborhood advocate for the past 10 years
and have focused on obtaining results for the Richmond.
As your supervisor, I will take seriously my role as a
neighborhood spokesman. You can be certain I will fight
for our fair share of city resources. When you contact my
office, you will receive a response.
I will provide leadership and vision on citywide issues.
Let me share my views on some of the major issues we face,
as well as my experience working to address them:
• Homelessness: I see the homeless every day in our
neighborhood. Thus, I was a strong proponent of Care not
Cash and the aggressive panhandling ban. I'll work with
the mayor to provide supportive housing for the homeless
- instead of cash handouts - coupled with counseling for
alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness. In addition,
I'll work to ensure 24-hour access to shelters and to tackle
the root causes of homelessness, such as the foster care
discharge program.
• Neighborhood schools: My son's Richmond District
public elementary school receives inadequate public funding.
Thus, I joined the Alamo School Foundation and helped raise
more than $100,000 per year in private funds. As your supervisor,
I'll make sure the millions in our city budget for public
schools are spent wisely. I will fight to ensure that children
can attend their neighborhood schools.
• Affordable housing: Both as a renter and a homeowner,
I have experienced challenges in finding affordable housing.
I will work for more affordable and moderate-income housing
downtown, and for home ownership opportunities for renters.
I will fight to ensure that development in the Richmond
is appropriate in size and scope, that neighbors are involved
and that we don't worsen our parking problem.
• Cleaning and greening our neighborhood: I care
deeply about our community and have been a board member
of the Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR), a Richmond
representative to the Transportation Authority Advisory
Committee and a Richmond liaison to the Neighborhood Parks
Council. I have organized neighbors and achieved results.
Together, we obtained funding to renovate neighborhood parks,
stopped a plan to make Balboa Street a traffic thoroughfare
and trimmed fat from Muni's budget.
As your supervisor, I will work to ensure our neighborhood
receives the resources it needs to clean and green our streets,
parks and sidewalks, to combat our parking crisis and to
improve pedestrian safety.
I am endorsed by the Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club,
San Francisco Young Democrats, League of Conservation Voters,
City Democratic Club and designated "park friendly"
by the Neighborhood Parks Council.
I love the Richmond District. I do not want to live anywhere
else. Please join me, with your vote, to bring common sense,
experience and a neighborhood view to City Hall.
Together, we will make our neighborhood cleaner, safer
and a better place to live.
