How does the Bayview integrate with the growth of Mission Bay?
District 10 and specific neighborhoods, especially Bayview Hunter’s Point, is often overlooked by the rest of the city. Many long time San Franciscans have never been to Bayview and are unaware of what our community has to offer.
One of my top priorities as Supervisor is to make District 10 a destination point for the rest of the city and the Bay Area. We have wonderful culture, from our Soul Food to our Opera House to share and we need to promote this. By inviting people to visit our neighborhoods we will dispel the myths that reinforce the negative impression many have about our communities.
To this end, my campaign created the Sweet Treasure Hunt, an initiative I would continue as Supervisor. This very fun event brought people from all over the city to the district to compete for prizes by finding some of the great treasures District 10 has to offer from the real crookedest street in SF to the original Planter’s Peanut Factory.
Another key component to connecting D10 with the rest of the city is ensuring 3rd Street is safe and vibrant all the way from the Financial District to Bayview. This means it’s critical that Mission Bay, which connects downtown to the Dogpatch is also a nice and safe neighborhood that makes people feel comfortable traveling further down 3rd street.
How does Bayview leverage the Shipyard Development for the benefit of the community?
Growing up, both my parents worked at the Shipyard. When they Shipyard closed there was no economic engine to replace it. My father was forced to commute to Washington state to work. To this day our community still hasn’t fully recovered and we still lack an economic engine. The development of the Shipyard is our chance.
While on the Redevelopment Commission, I voted for the Shipyard development. The developer proved to have the capabilities to properly execute this project. Most importantly, they agreed to the many expectations and obligations we set that will benefit the residents of District 10.
The improvements planned for the Shipyard will provide critical resources to District 10. Most importantly, this development will mean good jobs, both during construction and in the businesses that are planned for the area.
The shipyard will also bring new housing to the district. This includes both affordable housing and market-rate housing. We will ensure there are places for long-time residents looking for affordable options, but we will also make our district stronger and more economically diverse.
The next Supervisor must be a leader who can shepherd this project through. This includes ensuring proper environment testing and regulation during development to make sure the development does not create environmental hazards for local residents. It also means ensuring developers maintain their commitment to hire local residents.
As Supervisor I will ensure the developer’s work meets these criteria and that they live up to their word. I will hold then accountable for the project I signed off on as a Redevelopment Commissioner.
How do you address the diverse needs of many different neighborhoods in District 10?
Having been born and raised in District 10, I remember an era when the district looked very different. Before the close of the Navy shipyard, we had a much lower rate of unemployment and a stronger middle class where residents could afford to invest in their neighborhoods. Our schools were healthier, our parks were more full and our community was safer. I believe all parts of the district should have that again.
My campaign’s focus on jobs, pubic safety and resources for our next generation is part of a roadmap for improving all of District 10 and especially serving the working families earning moderate incomes. My vision is an economically stronger community with a more secure middle class, which will mean a safer district and more to offer our next generations.
While I look forward to working with all communities to advocate for their specific concerns, I do believe that these elements – jobs, public safety and resource for our kids – are the essential building blocks for all communities in all parts of District 10 and San Francisco.
How as supervisor can you support the revitalization of the 3rd Street Corridor?
The current economic climate has hurt demand for businesses’ products and stifled access to the credit necessary to operate, invest and expand. During my 22-year career as a community banker, I worked every day to find creative financing solutions for small business owners in District 10 to help them promote and grow their business. San Francisco’s small businesses are our best job-generators and they deserve greater support from City Hall and Downtown. I support enterprise zones and programs for Third Street that add opportunities to grant tax credits to support our small businesses. We need to use redevelopment funds to allow our businesses there to eliminate blight, improve facades, and make investments. I will be working at City Hall and with the community to support our small businesses on Third Street and allow them to be the economic engines that uplift our communities.
What do you propose for Candlestick Park should the 49’ers move?
I am very hopeful that the 49ers will stay in San Francisco. I will work to ensure this is the case.
What new technologies and industries would you attract to District 10?
District 10 is poised to lead the way in the Green Collar economy.
We have a gift here, this district has right the right resources and zoning for light industry and manufacturing. Let’s use it to make products that will save our planet and put our residents to work. We cannot thrive without clean air, clean water and a stable climate. The challenge of environmental protection can also provide new opportunities for our residents. Alternative energy, energy reduction and waste management will produce green collar jobs and I will work to ensure those jobs are brought to District 10.
How do you leverage the new Lowe’s and other development to bring jobs to District 10?
It has become standard practice in San Francisco for new businesses to come into communities with the promise of local hiring. While the initial round of hiring is often done this way, over time these workers are replaced without regard for regional preference.
As Supervisor, I will ensure that local jobs stay local. I will legislate for an institutional compliance process to ensure businesses, like Lowe’s keep their word on hiring locally over the long term.
How do plan to address continuing crime and safety issues in District 10?
The need to make our community safer is absolutely critical. At the very core, we should not need to constantly worry about our family and friends we love so dearly who could, much to easily, become a victim of unnecessary violence. Too many tears have been shed.
Making District 10 safer is also critical to improving the economic engine here. Not until our streets are safer will businesses want to bring their offices or jobs here.
The problem is, of course then, cyclical. We cannot bring jobs without improving safety, but we cannot improve safety when so many people are out of work and lured by crime. We must address both the need for economic improvement and safety at the same time.
In addition to job creation, I will also ensure we take all steps necessary to make our community safer. This includes bringing back the very successful TURF program that places young people on public transit vehicles to monitor them. I will also use the office of the Supervisor to coordinate local watch groups.
Affordable Housing vs. Development – how do you ensure there is adequate affordable housing units reserved without straining a community’s infrastructure and economic planning?
With 80% of development slated to be in District 10 in the coming years, I believe there is a great opportunity to increase affordable home ownership by focusing our efforts there while also ensuring the communities we build are inviting to new residents of all economic backgrounds.
Working with development companies and S.F. authorities, we can ensure that new development includes affordable homeownership opportunities.
What is the number one issue addressed by your platform?
Jobs. The need for job creation will be my number one priority as Supervisor. I believe as many people as possible should be able to make a living and live in San Francisco.
The climate is right to bring manufacturing back to District 10, not the jobs of the past but the clean tech and green jobs of the future.
We must also take the steps necessary to attract a diverse set of new businesses to District 10 and ensure those businesses create good jobs for local residents.
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