We must concentrate on positivity, livability, and transcendence.
Dear Neighbors,
At 44, I bring over twenty years of international experience in urban design, finance, investments, development, and entrepreneurship.
I hold a Master of Architecture and a Master of Real Estate Development from Columbia University in Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Georgia Tech. I also studied at the École Nationale d'Architecture de La Villette in Paris and completed Level I of the CFA Institute.
I built my own investment firm, designed new towns, managed several hundred million dollars in investments, and led significant housing and infrastructure projects nationally and internationally, living in Atlanta, New York, Saudi Arabia, and Spain.
I am the only LGBT and only Hispanic candidate in my district. I am proud to present my candidacy and my priorities and platform below. I look forward to your vote this coming November.
Sincerely,
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CLIMATE CHANGEREGIONAL PLANNING
We need a paradigm shift in how we think about public space and homelessness.
Public space is our shared living room, meant for all of us to enjoy, connect, and thrive. It is not an alternative to having a home.
Public space belongs to all of us and should not be occupied permanently; it should be clean and safe. By ensuring these spaces remain clean, safe, and accessible, we foster a sense of shared responsibility and community.
We must move away from the dichotomy of the street as an alternative to a home. Instead, we need to provide appropriate shelter, housing, and institutional solutions and support services for those experiencing homelessness.
This approach ensures that public spaces remain welcoming and usable for everyone, reflecting the vibrant, inclusive spirit of our city. Let’s work together to redefine public space as a place for communal engagement and not as a last resort for shelter.
Addressing homelessness requires a sophisticated and compassionate approach.
Shelter should be more than a temporary solution; it should be a path to community re-engagement.
We can provide comprehensive support for those facing temporary or circumstantial hardships, whether financial, due to divorce or separation, domestic violence, debt, family conflict, chronic illness, physical disability, eviction, legal issues, immigration status, or other array of circumstantial hardships. Our community is ready and willing to help neighbors in need, but this support must be structured and effective.
By offering shelters that provide not just a place to stay but also access to essential services—such as health care, job training, and social support—we can help individuals regain stability and reintegrate into the community.
This dual approach ensures that while our public spaces remain clean and safe for all, we also address the root causes of homelessness with dignity and respect.
Together, we can create a system that not only offers immediate relief but also paves the way for long-term resolution and re-engagement, fostering a healthier, more inclusive community.
For those dealing with or recovering from substance abuse, mental health, or other cognitive dissabilites, however, it’s the government’s role to provide proper institutions. We need institutions in District 3 and in the city that are responsible, professional, and supportive. If quality, innovation, and results ensued, such facilities could become points of pride and reputational, enhancing our community and setting a model for compassionate and effective care.
We should take the following actions:
Combating Hate-Related Crimes:
Increase Funding for Prevention Programs: Allocate more resources to programs focused on preventing hate crimes through education and community engagement.
Strengthen Law Enforcement: Ensure that law enforcement agencies have the necessary training and resources to effectively address and investigate hate crimes.
Community Partnerships: Collaborate with community organizations to build trust and promote understanding between different cultural and religious groups.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch initiatives to raise awareness about the impact of hate crimes and promote inclusivity and respect.
Managing Protests:
Ensure Peaceful Protests: Uphold the right to protest while ensuring that demonstrations remain peaceful and do not disrupt essential services at schools and hospitals.
Dialogue and Mediation: Facilitate open dialogue between protestors, community leaders, and affected institutions to address concerns and find common ground.
Security Measures: Implement security measures to protect schools and hospitals during protests, ensuring the safety of students, patients, and staff.
Support for Affected Individuals: Provide support services for individuals affected by protests, including counseling and legal assistance.
By taking these steps, we can foster a safer and more inclusive environment in San Francisco, ensuring that all communities feel protected and respected.
San Francisco prides itself on its inclusivity. We are at the forefront of policies that support the LGBTQIA+, Black, Latino, Asian, and disabled communities and women.
Inclusive community leadership is vital for fostering a cohesive, vibrant, and equitable society. True leadership involves actively listening to diverse voices, valuing different perspectives, and creating an environment where everyone feels represented and heard. As a leader, I am committed to promoting inclusivity by engaging with all community members, particularly those who have been historically marginalized.
Inclusive leadership means ensuring that policies and initiatives reflect the needs and aspirations of the entire community. This requires transparency, open communication, and collaboration with local organizations, businesses, and residents. By prioritizing inclusivity, we can build trust and strengthen the social fabric of our neighborhoods.
Moreover, inclusive leadership involves empowering individuals to take an active role in shaping their community. By providing opportunities for participation and fostering a sense of ownership, we can harness the collective potential of our diverse population. Together, we can create a more just, resilient, and thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and succeed.
In this regard, what does San Francisco do well and where could San Francisco do better?
As the only LGBT and Hispanic candidate on the ballot in my district, I recognize the strengths and positivity of San Francisco’s inclusiveness and also its lingering challenges, i.e. the woeful underrepresentation of the Hispanic population in San Francisco and California. This highlights the need for greater diversity in our leadership.
What San Francisco Does Well:
Progressive Policies: Leading in policies that protect LGBTQIA+, Black, Latino, Asian, and disabled communities, as well as women.
Community Support: Strong networks providing essential services, advocacy, and resources.
Cultural Celebrations: Celebrates diversity with festivals, parades, and events.Legal Protections: Robust legal frameworks to protect against discrimination and ensure equal rights.
Areas for Improvement:
Funding for Community Programs: More funding is needed for educational programs, job training, and inclusivity and rights awareness programs.
Housing: High housing costs disproportionately affect marginalized communities; we must prioritize housing, including affordable, workforce and market rate.
Representation in Decision-Making: Increase minority representation in decision-making positions within city government.
Addressing Systemic Inequities: Focus on healthcare disparities, income inequality, and access to quality education.
By enhancing our strengths and addressing these areas, San Francisco can continue to lead as a model of inclusivity and support for all residents.
In San Francisco, law enforcement effiectiveness relies on the cooperation of multiple departments and commissions that are independent of each other and offer little in terms of hierarchy or explicit chain of command.
Using as an example the role of the Chief of Police:
San Francisco Police Department (SFPD): The primary law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public safety, investigating crimes, and enforcing laws. The Chief is hired by the Police Commission.
San Francisco Police Commission: The San Francisco Police Commission has the exclusive authority to hire and fire the Police Chief. They can take action to remove the Police Chief if they determine it is necessary based on performance, misconduct, or other factors.
Office of the Mayor: Sets the overall strategic direction and priorities for the city, including public safety and law enforcement. The Mayor does not have the direct authority to fire the Police Chief, the Mayor can influence the process through appointments to the Police Commission. The Mayor appoints four of the seven commissioners on the Police Commission, which can affect decisions made by the Commission.
Board of Supervisors: Legislates policies affecting law enforcement, budgets, and public safety initiatives. As regards the police commission, the board appoints three of the four commission.
The role of the Chief of Police is thus set and subject only to term limits, unless there is gross negligence or misconduct.
For effective law enforcement, however, in addition to the work of the SFPD, other departments are involved which themselves have various fiefdoms and processes for appointment.
San Francisco District Attorney's Office (SFDA): Prosecutes criminal cases, ensures justice for victims, and works with law enforcement to build cases. The DA is elected.
San Francisco Sheriff's Department (SFSD): Manages the county jail system, provides security for city courts, and serves legal documents.
Public Defender's Office: Provides legal representation to individuals unable to afford private attorneys, ensuring fair legal proceedings.
San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM): Coordinates responses to emergencies, ensuring effective communication and resource allocation among agencies.
San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH): Offers services for mental health, substance abuse, and other health-related issues that intersect with law enforcement activities.
San Francisco Human Services Agency (HSA): Addresses homelessness, child welfare, and other social services, which often overlap with public safety concerns.
For it all to work, not only do the positions have to be filled, they have to get along and want to cooperate.
When these officials clash or hold differing ideologies, it leads to inefficiencies, public confusion, stalled reforms, reduced accountability, and resource wastage.
To resolve this quagmire, as a first step we need
Performance Metrics and Evaluation: Set clear performance metrics and regularly evaluate the effectiveness of interagency cooperation, making adjustments as needed to improve outcomes.
Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Implement formal conflict resolution mechanisms to address and resolve ideological or operational disputes promptly and effectively.
I support hiring more police officers to address the current shortfall and ensure public safety. These are the actions we should take to fill and retain more officers:
Recruitment:
- Competitive Salaries and Benefits
- Outreach Programs: Implement outreach programs in schools and communities to encourage interest in law enforcement careers.
- Streamlined Hiring Process: Simplify and expedite the hiring process to quickly onboard qualified candidates.
Retention:
- Professional Development: Provide continuous training and professional development opportunities to help officers advance in their careers.
- Supportive Work Environment: Foster a supportive work environment that prioritizes mental health and well-being, including access to counseling services.
- Recognition and Incentives: Implement recognition programs and performance-based incentives to reward outstanding service.
By taking these steps, we can ensure that the police department is adequately staffed and that officers are motivated to remain in their positions, ultimately improving public safety in San Francisco.
Addressing public safety in San Francisco requires a balanced approach that handles immediate concerns while also tackling the root causes of crime and instability.
Immediate Public Safety Concerns:
1. Increased Community Policing: To address immediate safety concerns, increasing police presence in high-crime areas can act as a deterrent to criminal activity. Specifically, we should focus on hiring police officers who speak Cantonese to better serve our Cantonese-speaking residents. These officers should also be encouraged and enabled to live locally, fostering stronger relationships with the community. When police officers are familiar faces, residents are more likely to trust them and communicate openly about their concerns, leading to a more effective policing strategy.
Community Engagement:
- Building Trust: Enhance community policing efforts to build trust and positive relationships between officers and the communities they serve.
- Living in the Community: Encourage officers to live in the communities they serve to foster deeper connections and understanding.
- Language Skills: Recruit officers who speak the languages of the community to improve communication and cultural competency.
- Transparency and Accountability: Promote transparency and accountability in policing practices to increase public confidence.
2. Improved Lighting and Surveillance: Enhancing street lighting and installing surveillance cameras in key areas can significantly reduce crime rates. These measures can increase visibility, making it harder for crimes to go unnoticed and unreported.
3. Rapid Response Teams: Establishing rapid response teams that can quickly address violent incidents or large-scale disturbances ensures that law enforcement can act swiftly to maintain public order and safety.
I strongly support in-home attendant care services as an option to hospital care for the disabled community, the elderly community, and other people in need. Providing in-home care not only offers greater comfort and independence for individuals but also promotes better mental health and well-being. It allows for personalized care tailored to the unique needs of each person, fostering a sense of dignity and respect. Additionally, in-home care can be more cost-effective and reduce the strain on hospitalresources, ensuring that those who require acute care have better access. Health care choice and freedom are essential for a compassionate and inclusive society.
Moreover, we live in a time where mass customization is not only a possibility but a reality. We can afford to tailor services to match the needs of individuals in an ever more nimble and engaging way.
Finally, we must not forget that ensuring public space is amenable and approachable can have numerous benefits in terms of inclusion, social participation, and a psychological sense of belonging not only for people in need but for the community as a whole.
Addressing Root Causes:
1. Mental Health and Addiction Services: A significant portion of public safety issues stem from untreated mental health conditions and substance abuse. Expanding access to mental health services and addiction treatment can address these underlying problems, reducing the likelihood of crime.
2. Affordable Housing and Homelessness: Homelessness and lack of affordable housing are critical issues contributing to public safety concerns. By investing in affordable housing projects and providing support services for the homeless, we can create more stable living conditions and reduce the factors that lead to crime.
3. Education and Job Training Programs: Long-term public safety improvements require investment in education and job training programs. Providing opportunities for individuals to gain skills and secure stable employment can reduce economic disparities and prevent crime from occurring.
4. Youth Engagement and Support: Engaging with at-risk youth through mentorship programs, after-school activities, and support services can prevent them from turning to crime. By offering positive alternatives and support networks, we can guide young people towards productive and fulfilling lives.
Integrating Approaches:
While addressing immediate safety concerns with enforcement and visible deterrents is crucial, it is equally important to integrate long-term strategies that address the root causes of crime. This holistic approach ensures that we are not only making our streets safer today but also building a foundation for a more secure and resilient community in the future.
As a Supervisor, I am committed to implementing these strategies to ensure that San Francisco is a city where all residents feel safe and supported. By combining immediate action with long-term solutions, we can create a safer, stronger, and more united San Francisco.
Improving transit in San Francisco is essential for fostering connectivity, reducing congestion, and promoting sustainability.
As an example, extending the Central Subway to Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach will enhance access to these major cultural and economic hubs, boosting local businesses and tourism. To make this extension viable, we must adopt creative and appropriate financing strategies. My experience in acquiring a significant tunnel in Europe positions me to lead this effort effectively, ensuring necessary funding is secured while minimizing the financial burden on our community.
Additionally, we should invest in comprehensive transit solutions across San Francisco and the Bay Area, providing competitive alternatives to car travel. By enhancing our public transportation infrastructure, we can create a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and accessible city. Prioritizing these improvements will ensure a vibrant, connected, and sustainable future for all residents and visitors.
To address San Francisco’s housing crisis, it’s essential to leverage innovative strategies and a deep understanding of urban design and real estate development. My extensive entrepreneurial background in urban design, architecture, and real estate investments uniquely positions me to tackle this pressing issue effectively.
Creating more housing in San Francisco requires a multi-faceted approach. First, we need to incentivize development by providing streamlining the permitting processes and removing subjective components of the permitting process such as arbitrary lawsuits and appeals. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles and temporal uncertainty, we can encourage developers to invest in creating more housing units. Collaborating with private developers and nowill also be crucial. These collaborations can help us increase the supply of both affordable and mixed-income housing, ensuring a diverse range of options for residents.
How we achieve this involves exploring the architecture and urban design of the city. By smartly utilizing available space and implementing thoughtful urban design principles, we can build 82,000 housing units without the need for skyscrapers. This approach respects the existing character of San Francisco while addressing the urgent need for more housing.
With 70% of our first responders, teachers and nurses living outside of San Francisco because of the high cost and limited supply of available housing, we must prioritize workforce-specific housing and be creative in creating attractive offers that settle these workers and professionals into our neighborhoods.
Creating affordable and workforce housing specifically for these workers and professionals can profoundly impact our community's socioeconomic fabric. When first responders, teachers, and nurses live locally, they enhance the safety, education quality, and health services available to residents, building stronger, more resilient communities and a greater sense of identity.
We can get there by earmarking funds specifically to assist and finance the construction of housing for these professionals and working with public-private partnerships including non-profit developers specifically for the development of these properties.
San Francisco's open spaces, parks, and plazas are the essence of our urban fabric. Emphasizing thoughtful design, texture, and space-making, we must transform these areas into unique environments that build on our city's strong character.
By creating new parks and plazas, and meticulously manicuring our landscapes and streetscapes with native species and urban furniture, we can craft spaces that encourage social interaction and enhance urban life. Incorporating public art into these spaces can further enrich our cultural landscape and provide residents with a deeper connection to their environment. Our monuments and landmarks should be preserved and seamlessly woven into the urban landscape, serving as enduring tributes to our rich history and culture.
Enhancing neighborhood identities through tailored design interventions will foster community pride and connectivity. By leveraging the distinct character of each area, we can create spaces that resonate with residents and visitors alike.
Thoughtful urban design can transform underutilized spaces into vibrant, functional areas that contribute to the city's overall aesthetic and livability. Prioritizing design, texture, and space-making will ensure San Francisco remains a dynamic, inclusive, and beautiful city, with each neighborhood offering its unique charm and character.
Creating a robust city design framework and a transparent permitting process is essential for maintaining San Francisco's unique character while promoting growth.
To achieve this, we must eliminate subjectivity and uncertainty in project approvals. A comprehensive, objective design framework will ensure that every development aligns with our city's values and aesthetics.
Our approach must protect our natural topographic beauty, safeguarding iconic views, light, air quality, and biodiversity. By setting clear, standardized guidelines, we can streamline the permitting process, reduce delays, and foster sustainable development.
This balance will preserve San Francisco's distinct identity and natural environment while accommodating innovation and progress, ensuring our city remains vibrant and livable for generations to come.
A predictable and fair process benefits the real estate industry, residents, and the community alike, promoting trust and collaboration in shaping our shared urban landscape.
We should focus on the following strategies:
Financial Assistance and Incentives:
- Grants and Loans: Provide grants and low-interest loans to help small businesses recover and expand.
- Tax Incentives: Offer tax breaks and incentives for businesses that open in empty storefronts and hire local employees.Streamline Regulations:
- Simplify Permitting: Simplify and expedite the permitting process for new businesses to encourage entrepreneurship.
- Support for New Ventures: Provide resources and guidance for startups and small businesses navigating regulatory requirements.
Promote Local Shopping:
- Marketing Campaigns: Launch marketing campaigns to encourage residents to shop locally and support neighborhood businesses.
- Events and Promotions: Organize local events, markets, and promotions to draw customers to commercial districts.
Enhance Infrastructure and Safety:
- Streetscape Improvements: Invest in beautification projects, such as improved lighting, street cleaning, and pedestrian-friendly designs.
- Public Safety: Increase police presence and community patrols to ensure safe and welcoming environments for shoppers and businesses.
Support Digital Transition:
- Online Presence: Assist small businesses in developing an online presence to reach a broader customer base.
- Digital Training: Provide training programs on e-commerce and digital marketing to help businesses adapt to changing consumer behaviors.
These strategies will create a vibrant and resilient local economy, supporting small businesses and revitalizing our neighborhood commercial districts.
We should focus on the following strategies:
24/7 City District
Mixed-Use Development:
- Combine Residential and Commercial Spaces: Develop mixed-use projects to create a vibrant, 24/7 community.
- Housing: Include market and affordable housing units in new developments for diverse and inclusive neighborhoods.
Enhancing Public Spaces:
- Beautification Projects: Invest in green spaces, public art, and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and public gathering spaces.
- Safe and Clean Streets: Enhance sanitation services and community policing to keep downtown clean and safe.
Support for Businesses:
- Small Business Grants: Provide grants and low-interest loans to support new and existing small businesses.
- Flexible Leasing: Work with property owners to offer flexible leasing options to attract diverse tenants and fill vacant storefronts.
Public Transportation Improvements:
- Efficient Transit: Improve public transportation options, including better bus routes and expanded bike lanes.
- Parking Solutions: Develop innovative parking solutions to meet the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors.
Cultural and Recreational Activities:
- Events and Festivals: Organize regular events, markets, and festivals to draw people downtown and support local businesses.
- Entertainment Venues: Promote and support entertainment venues, museums, and theaters to enhance downtown’s cultural vibrancy.
These strategies will help create a dynamic and thriving downtown, attracting residents, businesses, and visitors to the heart of San Francisco.11. What would you do to create more ho
I am committed to reversing climate change. My goals and objectives include:
Goals and Objectives:
- Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: We must support the expansion of carbon capture and storage technologies and significantly reduce emissions by transitioning to renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency.
- Promote Sustainable Transportation: Encourage the use of electric vehicles, public transportation, biking, and walking.
- Enhance Green Infrastructure: Increase green spaces and invest in urban greening to improve air quality and support biodiversity.
- Waste Reduction: Implement comprehensive recycling and composting programs to minimize waste.
Actions to Achieve Goals:
- Renewable Energy Transition: Support policies promoting solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources.
- Incentives for Electric Vehicles: Provide incentives for electric vehicles and expand charging station networks.
- Public Transportation Improvements: Invest in public transportation infrastructure to make it a more attractive option.
- Urban Greening Projects: Fund projects that increase green spaces, such as planting trees and creating parks.
- Sea Wall: We must advocate for the development and implementation of comprehensive sea-level rise adaptation plans, including infrastructure projects like the San Francisco Embarcadero Sea Wall, to protect vulnerable coastal communities.
- Education and Outreach: Launch campaigns to raise awareness about sustainable practices.
- Legislation and Policy: Advocate for strong environmental laws at the local and state levels.
- Climate R&D: Finance and invest in research and development of technology to combat climate change.
By taking these steps, we can significantly impact climate change and create a sustainable, healthier San Francisco
To secure a prosperous future, we must recognize and harness the Bay Area's potential as a regional power through comprehensive regional planning. This approach is essential for addressing the interconnected challenges and opportunities that transcend city boundaries, including transportation, housing, environmental sustainability, and economic development.
By fostering collaboration among the diverse municipalities and counties within the Bay Area, we can create cohesive strategies that maximize our collective strengths. Regional planning allows us to coordinate infrastructure investments, streamline transit systems, and ensure the equitable distribution of resources, leading to improved efficiency and quality of life for all residents.
Understanding the Bay Area as a unified regional power enables us to leverage our combined economic and cultural influence on the global stage. By working together, we can drive innovation, attract international talent and investment, and address critical issues such as climate change and social equity.
Our commitment to regional planning will ensure that the Bay Area remains a vibrant, competitive, and sustainable region, where every community can thrive. Together, we can build a future that reflects our shared values and aspirations, positioning the Bay Area as a model for regional collaboration and success.
I am a firm believer in the use of technology to enhance our capabilities as humans, to become more able, more efficient, and do more. We have the opportunity in San Francisco to craft the conversation, pioneer, and make sure technology is employed according to San Francisco values.
The use of technology, including cameras and drones, in policing San Francisco must balance public safety with privacy and civil liberties. Cameras can be valuable for deterring crime, gathering evidence, and ensuring police accountability. However, their use must be governed by strict policies to prevent misuse and protect citizens' privacy rights. Drones can enhance situational awareness and assist in search and rescue operations, but their deployment should be transparent and regulated to avoid overreach and ensure they are used responsibly. Community input and oversight are essential in developing and implementing these technologies to build trust and ensure they serve the public interest effectively and ethically.
1. Fortify San Francisco’s Tech, Innovation, and Venture Capital Leadership:
Innovation Hubs: Establish and support hubs and incubators to foster tech startups and attract high-paying jobs.
Public-Private Partnerships: Promote collaborations between tech companies and educational institutions for training and job opportunities.
Venture Capital Support: Encourage venture capital investment in local startups by creating a favorable business environment and offering tax incentives.
2. Promote a Robust Small Business Service Economy:
Tourism and Hospitality: Invest in marketing to attract tourists and support the hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants, and entertainment.
Workforce Training: Provide training programs to upskill workers in the service sector for high-quality service and job stability.
Infrastructure Improvements: Enhance infrastructure to support tourism, including public transportation and cultural attractions.
3. Support Tech-Enabled Industry Disruptors that can flourish into San Francisco aligned, green, new industry hubs:
Transit Innovations: Encourage tech-enabled transit solutions for efficiency and sustainability.
Affordable Housing Initiatives: Support innovative housing solutions incorporating technology for affordability and accessibility.
Renewable Energy Projects: Invest in renewable energy projects aligning with San Francisco’s values of equality and inclusivity, creating green jobs and promoting sustainability.
These strategies will strengthen San Francisco's economy, create diverse job opportunities, and uphold the city's values of equality and inclusivity.
I envision a future for San Francisco where our city continues to be celebrated as a beacon of social freedom, technological innovation, and sustainable growth. In this vision, San Francisco leads the way in inclusivity and diversity, fostering an environment where every individual can thrive regardless of their background.
Our city will be a model for a fully functioning urban center that embraces people from all socio-economic backgrounds, breaking new ground in design and happiness. By prioritizing affordable housing, accessible healthcare, and quality education, we will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Our commitment to public safety will be matched by our dedication to creating a vibrant, joyful community.
San Francisco will continue to be a global leader in technology and innovation, attracting talent and investment from around the world. By nurturing a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship, we will drive economic growth and ensure that San Francisco remains at the cutting edge of progress.
We will also focus on expanding our reach and impact, serving as a hinge point between the West, Asia, and the Spanish-speaking world. By bringing together diverse cultures and perspectives, we will enhance our global influence and foster international collaboration.
Together, we will build a San Francisco where achievements in technology and innovation go hand in hand with a steadfast commitment to social freedom and equity, making our city a model for others to follow. A city where diversity is celebrated, and every resident can experience safety, happiness, and prosperity.
