Building Clean & Safe Communities

By Michael A. Sweet

District 6 is faced with some of our City's greatest challenges. However, in addressing those challenges we have great opportunities.

The residents of District 6 deserve neighborhoods that are clean, safe and secure. As Supervisor, I plan to introduce legislation to provide day programs for the homeless so that they are not forced onto the streets. I will work on creative solutions to reduce nuisances caused by drug and alcohol abuse, strengthening code enforcement at all levels. I will demand that the District Attorney prosecute the drug offenders who threaten our families and our local business # ultimately undermining our community's quality of life. An over-saturation of liquor stores which tolerate, if not encourage loitering, drug dealing and other nuisances to neighbors should be remedied. I will instead promote the retail stores and services that serve our communities.

The police stations that serve District 6 are severely under-funded for the number of calls they receive. Last year, Southern Station, which serves SoMa and Treasure Island received over 200,000 calls for service. This is close to twice the number of calls as were received by the next busiest Station. Yet our representative has been unable or unwilling to secure the resources necessary to keep our streets secure. As Supervisor, I will make sure that the taxpayers in District 6 receive their fair share of resources so that the Police Department is able to protect our neighborhoods and keep our families safe.

San Francisco has an acute shortage of housing working people. I believe that affordable home ownership must be available here in San Francisco. When people own their homes our neighborhoods are stronger. Those strong neighborhoods attract local businesses, and those local businesses employ local people. This is why I support Proposition R on the November Ballot.

For too long, the people who work here in San Francisco haven't been able to afford to live in the City.

As Supervisor I would promote the development of housing along transit corridors and in our city center. I plan to introduce legislation that provides incentives to developers who commit to constructing projects that include quantities of affordable housing units, as well as guarantees that they will provide the local retail services that are vital to our neighborhoods.

Professionals, police officers, teachers, fire fighters and the formerly homeless will be able to build safe, secure and diverse neighborhoods within our community.

Those who only talk about encouraging businesses to come to some of the most challenged neighborhoods in District 6 are missing a fundamental component of the equation. Even the best-intentioned businesses will be hard-pressed to survive unless there is a solid economic base to support them. If we are truly going to revitalize our neighborhoods, it will be through the infusion of capital that will only come with a diverse community.