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 two: Do you support Proposition E? Why or why not?
Moe Jamil
Deputy City Attorney, San Francisco City Attorney’s Office
Yes, I support Prop. E. Public safety is the #1 concern of residents and businesses in San Francisco, and protecting our communities is just common sense. In my years of experience working with community organizations, I’ve heard the frustrations of my neighbors and local businesses as our police department struggles to recruit and retain officers to protect our communities. While strong leadership should achieve these goals, I support Prop. E as another pathway to strengthening our public safety departments and putting San Francisco back on track.
Sharon Lai
Economic recovery leader at the World Economic Forum, former board member at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
I’m a strong proponent of giving our police officers the tools and technology they need to keep us safe. However, I’m concerned that passing these reforms as a ballot measure could have unintended consequences and make it extremely difficult to make even small changes at a later date, as it may require a vote by voters again. If Prop. E doesn’t pass, I will make passing a similar enhancement of the availability of sensible technology at the board an urgent priority, instead of legislating through the ballot box.
JConr B. Ortega
Self-described formerly homeless, DAD democrat, leatherman, boxer
We at team JConr endorse Prop. E. As someone who regularly attends the San Francisco Police Commission, I am very aware how the commission itself prevents the San Francisco Police Department from doing its job to keep our community safe. I warned the police commission that if they did cease their uncooperative behavior with SFPD, we would see a ballot measure that will circumvent the commission and give SFPD the tools they need in order to go after criminals. Unequivocally, I stand in support of Prop. E and stand with our men and women of the San Francisco Police Department.
Danny Sauter
Executive Director, Neighborhood Centers Together
Yes, I am supporting Proposition E. I believe it is a step forward to improve our city’s public safety.
Prop. E will result in less time spent for officers filling out paperwork at the station and more time spent out in the community, something that makes us all safer. It also allows the police department to use the latest technology to solve and prevent crimes. Finally, it includes new options for community feedback so all future SFPD changes are vetted by community members to ensure they serve our city’s safety.
Matthew Susk
Former lead with Divvy Homes
I support Prop. E. I’ll explain the key elements below.
(1) Increased community meetings and (2) eliminating redundant paperwork when body camera footage exists are smart policy updates. They will build trust and save the city millions.
(3) Vehicle pursuits only when a suspect committed a felony or violent crime and (4) surveillance cameras only after holding a community meeting are more nuanced, but I believe that equipping officers with these tools for deterrence will prevent crime before it happens.
I agree with what Mayor Feinstein once said: “Safety is the first thing you need to guarantee.”
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.
Over the last 15 years, families whose loved ones were gunned down by cops in San Francisco fought long and hard to get transparency and accountability. The Police Commission doesn’t need to have a warm and fuzzy relationship with SFPD. The police are always a problem if they are not held to account.
Having seen so many crimes in SF where police are present and do nothing, including the selling of obviously stolen merchandise on Mission Street, the selling of drugs at United Nations Plaza and more, I can’t see how more information is going to get the police to actually do their jobs. Mission Street is vendor-free because of policy, not the police arresting those selling stolen merchandise. UN Plaza is better because it was bulldozed, not because of police action.
None of these candidates impress me. “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety,” is a great quote from B. Franklin. Nobody is talking about the threat to civil liberties. I’m with the ACLU on this.
But THANK YOU to Mission Local for this great resource.
Campers,
Prop E is an SFPOA’s wet dream.
For couple of instances:
I’d like to know how many Laterals Transfers are on SFPD, what the Protocal is for hiring them and how many of them have shot people or been accused of brutality at their last posts ?
I’d like to know why the Earth/Foot Patrol grounded Patrol Specials can’t fill a couple of hundred of those empty SFPD slots ?
Once Prop E passes the Police Commission cannot Agendize these items without have meetings at each of the 10 station houses moderated by a ‘Facilitator’ (played by Harvey Keitel ?) chosen by the mayoral appointed Police Chief.
Last chance to see San Francisco’s ‘uncut’ Police Commission with Max Carter-Oberstone in an hour on SFGTV channel 26.
Or, go to SFGTV’s archives and watch any of the commissions last few meetings.
I wonder how many of them actually support Prop E, and how many of them are just reeds who know which way the wind is blowing.
Campers,
How many Lateral Transfers are on SFPD ?
How many of these LT’s shot citizens or were accused of brutality at their previous posts ?
Why not hire Patrol Specials to provide the Foot Patrol coverage the Public has been clammoring for for years ?
These are the kinds of question that Prop E is designed to keep off the Police Commission Agenda.
Watch them in an hour and a half to see them before they are hamstrung by this Pro-Cop and Anti-Citizen measure.
SFGTV channel 26 at 5:30pm.
The Max Carter-Oberstone Show !!!
Watch the cops squirm and obfuscate like snakes in a pit.
Katie Porter for U.S. Senate !!
h.