Our District 7 Candidates’ Forum takes place next Monday evening. The event is open to all and audience questions will be taken. To help Sunnyside residents understand better the five candidates’ positions and ideas ahead of the event, we present their responses to several questions put to them. Links to each of their websites found at the end of this post.
1. What are the three most important issues facing District 7 that will be a priority for you to address if elected?
Mike Young
1) Public safety: We need more police on the streets and a renewed effort to increase community policing practices.
2) Managing growth: The Westside will be exploding with growth in the coming years. We must ensure these developments make sufficient accommodations for schools, public transportation, traffic mitigation, environmental sustainability, and public safety.
3) Fiscal responsibility: Twelve years ago when I was in the Mayor’s Budget Office, the city budget was $6 billion. Today it has swollen to $9 billion but residents don’t feel they’re received any improved level of service. We need to cut costs where necessary, maximize existing revenue sources, and search for untapped revenue sources.
Ben Matranga
The three most important issues are public safety, quality of life and fiscal discipline. Sunnyside deserves a Supervisor who is hardworking, honest and committed to working with neighbors to tackle these challenges. I’m committed to hiring more police officers to keep our neighborhoods safe, working to protect neighborhood character and investing in our vital infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing city.
Joel Engardio
1) Investigate the budget: At $9.6 billion, the city budget has doubled the past decade and nothing is twice as good. We must review how our money is spent, measure for results and only pay for what works. Your house is not City Hall’s ATM.
2) Stop the Westside crime wave: Push for more police resources in District 7.
3) Revitalize our business districts: Develop a marketing campaign with residents and merchant associations to attract the businesses we want on our commercial corridors.
Norman Yee
People want to feel safe. That is the single most important issue and the one I hear over and over when I talk to constituents. How people define feeling safe is a personal matter: Public Safety, housing affordability, more resources for our parks and roads or feeling like San Francisco and our neighborhoods are under attack by the planning department. I strongly believe that this central value of safety in all its different aspect has to be our priority.
John Farrell
1) Safety. A) Crack down on Crime! B) Address homelessness and help them get assistance; especially the mentally ill. C) Resolve high injury corridors. Improve street designs to prevent accidents. Support Vision Zero.
2) Accountability. As a former Assistant Assessor, Mayor’s Budget Analyst, and Senior Analyst for Harvey Rose, I know the workings of City Hall. Identify overlooked revenues, cut waste, and prioritize essential services and programs.
3) Sustainability. Plan for future generations. Prepare for the City’s projected population increase
2. San Francisco has seen a sharp increase in property crime – for example, car break-ins shot up 31% between 2014 and 2015. What will be your approach to dealing with this distressing trend?
John Farrell
Build a stronger relationship between police and residents via community forums, neighborhood watch groups, businesses, and schools. Promote education on crime prevention and safety. Utilize existing programs to support police and provide them with the equipment and training needed to do their job. Increase police patrolling. Offenders (especially high risk and repeat criminals) must be taken off the streets.
Ben Matranga
As the only candidate endorsed by police officers, firefighters and deputy sheriffs, I will make public safety the top priority. Officers report that a ring of out-of-town criminals commit the vast majority of car break-ins. The City has no coordinated effort to combat these crimes. Sustained cooperation and coordination between the District Attorney, Police Department, neighborhood groups, and elected leaders is needed to address this concern.
Norman Yee
I will continue to both collaborate with the SFPD as well as pressure them to do better. I passed a budget to aggressively grow our police department, funding eight police academy classes. I will continue to advocate for more resources. I strongly believe in community policing and I have been able to secure beat cops for both West Portal and Ocean Ave. I am currently working with SFPD on a decentralized neighborhood crime strategy that give flexibility and is coordinated.
Joel Engardio
Advocate for implementation of the recommendations in this year’s Civil Grand Jury report on the rise in crime and car break-ins. The report called for more coordination between branches of law enforcement and special attention to the tactics needed to fight gang-related crime.
Mike Young
We should demand the District Attorney prosecute crimes as felonies instead of misdemeanors when the option is available. Vehicle burglaries are less common in Daly City since Daly City prosecutes and punishes these crimes as felonies whereas San Francisco prefers to prosecute them as misdemeanors. We can and should do better.
3. The City has a stated priority to decrease car ridership and increase the use of other modes of travel. What will you do to make MUNI in District 7 more efficient, so that it becomes a viable option for people who currently have no real choice but to rely on their cars?
Ben Matranga
Many people choose MUNI, biking or walking when we can. That’s not a real choice for many District 7 families. Parents who drive kids to school and seniors running errands need cars as one of many options. Transit-first doesn’t mean transit only, and I will be a voice for citywide solutions for every San Franciscan.
Joel Engardio
Champion the launch of the M-line tunnel project so we can double rider capacity (four-car instead of two-car trains) and shorten commute time from Parkmerced to Embarcadero in a true end-to-end subway. The tunnel will also relieve traffic congestion on 19th Avenue and St. Francis Circle.
John Farrell
Safety and efficiency are key issues as well as handling future growth. Increase policing and ensure areas are well lit. Muni needs to have minimum interruptions, especially during rush hour, and we must ensure there are enough vehicles to support the system. We must design our streets to better support its traffic in a more efficient and safe way. I support the undergrounding of the M line to increase the services to the 18,000 new residents expected at Parkmerced.
Mike Young
We need to work diligently on the state and federal level to get the metro undergrounded and extended to pass through Parkmerced and to the Daly City BART. The southwest corner of the city is going to get very dense soon so we need to make accommodations for this growth. It’s going to get harder to drive so we’ll need a robust public transportation plan.
Norman Yee
I strongly believe in involving neighbors early and honestly in our transit planning efforts. I think too often decisions are made by SFMTA without involving neighbors who are the expert about what choices would really change the way they travel. I am personally very excited about the work being done to reenvision 19th Avenue and to create a better M line. I think we need more processes like that which involve community from the onset and are bold.
4. Vision Zero is an important part of the City’s plans to make San Francisco a safer place to live. How will you work to increase public safety for ‘vulnerable road users’ – that is, pedestrians and bicyclists?
John Farrell
Immediately address high injury corridors. I support Vision Zero. We must design our streets to better support its traffic in a more efficient and safer way, including pedestrians and bicyclists. Many of our sidewalks need to be resurfaced, widened and buffered from traffic for pedestrian safety. Our streets need to be resurfaced and repaired from potholes as needed to ensure bicycle and pedestrian safety. Modernize MUNI, improve reliability, and ensure there are enough vehicles to support the system.
Joel Engardio
A major expansion of the Bay Area Bike Share program, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, is coming to San Francisco in 2017 and 2018. Families in District 7 will have access to communal bikes for short rides from their home to parks, schools and stores. Commuters can use the service for the last mile or two from a Muni or BART station to their home. We can smartly plan the routes to make them safe while maximizing benefit for all residents, including motorists.
Ben Matranga
As San Francisco’s first Street Safety Director, I oversaw implementation of the Vision Zero plan to improve street safety. During my time at City Hall, I cut red tape and delivered more than 13 miles of street safety improvements on time and under budget. I will be a leader on street safety issues in District 7 and will work with neighbors to identify problem areas and hold departments accountable for project delivery.
Norman Yee
I sponsored the original legislation so Vision Zero is very important to me. We need to continue to allocate more funding to improvements and continue to involve residents so that they feel empowered and part of the process. I believe that we need to see much more coordination among departments and much smarter and community led processes to evaluate and select needed improvement. Here again neighbors are the experts and they should be able to lead these efforts.
Mike Young
Undergrounding the metro will free up precious street space to accommodate more pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares and encourage slower vehicular traffic. We should maximize the use of refuge islands, raised surfaces, and traffic calming techniques.
5. San Francisco’s housing situation is well recognized as posing great difficulties for moderate- and low-income residents. What solutions do you propose to address the affordable housing crisis here? Will you work with other Bay Area cities on this issue?
Mike Young
I am incensed by leaders like Brisbane Mayor Clifford Lentz who said “We’ll provide the commercial….San Francisco will provide the housing.” San Mateo County has created 54,000 new jobs since 2010 but only 3,000 new homes. This is wrong and represents everything that is wrong with America today, this “Me, myself, and I” attitude. Housing is a regional issue and we all have to work together for the benefit of everyone to resolve the housing crisis. If we look at just San Francisco, I’d like to start first with 2 projects: 1. Pass legislation to allow landlords and prospective tenants to enter into three-year, fixed term rental agreements to get a portion of the 18,000 vacant units back onto the market, and 2. Pilot a “tiny apartment” homeless housing solution — housing built with shipping containers, much like the one I lived in while serving in Afghanistan (a.k.a “CONNEX”).
Joel Engardio
We can preserve neighborhoods of single-family homes while helping families stay in San Francisco with a focus on new middle-income housing. With community input, we can build a few stories of housing for families and seniors above retail along Muni lines (only on the street where Muni runs, not in the neighborhoods). The new residents will create demand for more amenities and better retail that everyone can benefit from. Seniors looking to downsize can consider an elevator building nearby and stay in the neighborhood they call home. All cities in the Bay Area must contribute to creating sensible housing.
Norman Yee
We need more affordable housing. We need to continue to invest in affordable housing and we need to ensure that our affordable housing programs serve the people that need it. I want the city to more aggressively invest in first time home ownership programs and once again involve neighbors and residents. I do think housing is a regional issue and I continue to believe that all Bay Area counties have to take on their fair share.
Ben Matranga
I support housing construction, and am proud to be endorsed by the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council. Our community will generate thousands of units of housing at Parkmerced and through other local projects. I support housing development citywide as well, and reject Supervisor Yee’s plan to stop Mission district housing.
John Farrell
I will work closely with other Bay Area cities to address our housing situation. I will identity overlooked revenue sources, hold City departments accountable, cut waste, and allocate funds to build housing. Support increasing height limits in commercial districts to build more affordable and middle-income housing. Allow legalization of in-law units, as long as they are up to code. Many already exist and provide housing without changing neighborhood aesthetics. Support expediting the permit/appeals process.
6. What will you do to increase quality of life for District 7 families?
Norman Yee
More investment in public safety because people need to feel safe in their homes. More investment in parks and open space and better management of our existing parks and open space. A fair share of the City Budget because people in District 7 are not just a piggybank and deserve better. More investment in childcare because we simply need so much more. Finally more family friendly housing that goes beyond the planning department’s definition of a 2 bedroom condo.
Mike Young
Impending growth coming to District 7 threatens the rhythm of life that made us all fall in love with this place to begin with. We’ve had to endure an increase in property crime; languishing business corridors at West Portal and Lakeside Village; growing congestion on Ocean Avenue; the felling of trees at Parkmerced; and the gradual loss of neighborhood character like sand slowly seeping away from between our fingers. We’re undergoing a demographic, generational shift and I think we need to manage this with a sense of dignity. I say slow down the growth –- longtime residents have worked hard to build San Francisco into what it is today and deserve to have their voices heard. Keep the trees; slow down the growth to maintain a sense of tranquility in our neighborhoods; slow down the traffic to ensure safety and encourage a slower pace of life.
Joel Engardio
Homelessness/mental health: Work to increase the capacity of the Behavioral Health Court so we can give more mentally ill homeless people the treatment they need to get off the streets, stay out of jail and succeed in job and housing programs. Parks: Make recreation for people and pets the priority for open space in an urban city. Schools: Endorse school board candidates who will support neighborhood elementary schools. Our confounding school assignment system makes families commute across town and fails in its diversity objectives.
John Farrell
My wife and I have raised two daughters and I understand the challenges families face. Our neighborhoods must be safe. I support increasing police and making sure they have proper training and tools. I support building more middle-income housing. Address family issues and ensure necessary and quality services like child care, health care, education, safety and job opportunities. I will oppose new taxes and fees that affect our families. Improve our parks. Help displaced families stay in the neighborhood.
Ben Matranga
As we build our family here in the neighborhood, the greatest challenge is cost of living. So many families leave San Francisco for the suburbs because the housing, transportation, education and other costs all add up. I’ll stop the City from nickel and diming residents, and ensure young families can stay here in San Francisco.
7. (Nonincumbents) What one thing that Supervisor Yee has done for District 7 during his term do you endorse and admire?
Joel Engardio
His dedication to helping seniors and expanding community services.
Ben Matranga
I endorse Supervisor Yee’s commitment to ensuring that every person has access to government whether English is his or her first language. My great grandparents arrived in San Francisco from Italy and built a life for all of us through our culture of inclusion. It is essential that every resident have that same chance today.
Mike Young
I appreciate the neighborhood Participatory Budgeting process. Although the sums are rather small, they allow neighborhoods to engage directly in the governance process. This is precisely the thing we need more of to reinvigorate civil society in America and to keep communities engaged in the governance process.
John Farrell
Participating Budgeting. It is great to get the community involved in voting on which neighborhood projects should be funded. Even though this should be part of the whole budget process and all viable neighborhood projects should be on the table.
7. (Incumbent) What one thing are you proudest of doing for District 7 during your term as supervisor?
Norman Yee
Involving District 7 residents in the City’s processes makes me the most proud. Whether it was when we were able to finally move forward with the Safeway on Monterrey redesign or when I created a community process for the development at the Balboa Reservoir or when I involved residents in deciding how to spend over one million dollars through my participatory budgeting program. I am so proud of us when we work together.
For more information about each candidate:
- Joel Engardio: http://www.engardio.com
- Mike Young: http://votemike.org
- Norman Yee: http://www.normanyee.com
- John Farrell: http://www.johnfarrell4supervisor.com/
- Ben Matranga: http://benmatranga.com
Note: All list-ordering of candidates’ names or responses on this page was done using randomizer at Random.org.
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association 