Because Supervisor Aaron Peskin terms out next January, five candidates have filed to run for the seat to lead District 3, which includes North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, the Financial District, Russian Hill and Nob Hill.
Between now and the November election, Mission Local will ask each District 3 candidate one question per week, and candidates will get 100 words to respond. We will compile all responses to the 40-odd questions on a “Meet the candidates” page, so that voters can get a full picture of their stances.
Question four: Do you support Proposition F? Why or why not?
Moe Jamil
Deputy City Attorney, San Francisco City Attorney’s Office
Due to a lack of strong leadership, our city departments have sat idly by while the city’s drug crisis has grown out of control. There’s no denying that something needs to change. Proposition F presents an opportunity to identify individuals who are struggling with substance abuse and addiction and connect them to treatment. While I see this as a supportive approach to achieving our goal of a safer and healthier future, as District 3 supervisor, I will demand accountability from our Mayor and city department heads without wasting time and putting the responsibility on voters’ shoulders.
Sharon Lai
Economic recovery leader at the World Economic Forum, former board member at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
Continued smart investments in treatment capacity and long-term recovery are necessary; evidence shows programs like Care Not Cash have led to better outcomes. Although Proposition F attempts to improve the return on homelessness investments, it’s at risk to have the opposite effect, and instead displace more people from their stability and housing. This measure creates more reporting and bureaucracy for people who are busy trying to get better; if we make things harder, we will see more people back on the streets.
As supervisor, I will improve department coordination and efficiency to get us out of this public health crisis.
JConr B. Ortega
Self-described formerly homeless, DAD democrat, leatherman, boxer
Team JConr endorses Proposition F as a much necessary step in ensuring the city funds and resources are not used to increase drug use and further one’s addiction. Our streets have been turned into a drug den, where drug use and overdoses run rampant. As a result, all the money that the city takes from taxpayers, pays it out to users, which is then used on the same drugs that cause the overdose numbers to climb year after year. This is another much needed step to incentivize users to get clean. We can no longer pay for someone’s drug use.
Danny Sauter
Executive Director, Neighborhood Centers Together
I believe we need to expand access to substance use disorder treatment and, in certain circumstances, mandate these services. However, I am not convinced that Proposition F, as designed, will be effective in reducing drug overdoses and increasing pathways to recovery. Details of how the program will work are scarce, and I fear this may actually result in more people pushed onto the streets and exacerbate food security and homelessness.
Matthew Susk
Former lead with Divvy Homes
I support Proposition F.
It is inhumane to watch two people die, per day, from drug overdoses in San Francisco. San Francisans are the most compassionate people in the world, but we have lost sight of the ball. Compassion is not letting our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers and sons and daughters, die on the street.
The current strategy is not working. Proposition F is a small step in the right direction. We must utilize all available resources to help treat, but not perpetuate, addiction. We must have accountability.
Candidates are ordered alphabetically. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at yujie@missionlocal.com.
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
