Candidate for
Supervisor; District 8

Planning Our Future Together Creating a Vibrant City For All Our Families

San Francisco is renowned for being one of the most diverse cities in the world. Unfortunately, the high cost of living and inadequate planning threaten this diversity. San Francisco must develop long-term planning goals for our future. We must plan well and work hard to maintain safe and affordable neighborhoods, and ensure that San Franciscans of all ages, ethnicities, orientations, and incomes can continue to live and thrive here.

I will ensure that San Francisco preserves diversity for all our families by: ·Adopting children-friendly programs and services, including increased affordable childcare and after-school programs for at-risk youth. ·Developing district and citywide plans to promote recreational, cultural, open space, and small business opportunities for San Francisco neighborhoods. ·Ensuring that development incorporates an integrated planning approach that assesses the impact on jobs, public transportation, housing, schools, and local communities.

A Budget That Reflects Our Needs Creating Priorities To Achieve Our Goals

San Francisco's budget problems are far more political than they are financial. I believe we have the economic resources needed to fund City programs and services, but we lack the political will to fund our collective priorities. We need a fair and equitable budget - one that is created through an open and inclusive forum, involving residents from each district. I will work to bring fairness and honest community input back to the budget process.

I will ensure sensible budget priorities by: ·Adopting a long-term planning vision to the budget process, including prioritizing prevention programs. ·Instituting mission-based budgeting, the elimination of wasteful spending, and the implementation of audit recommendations of city departments to identify misspending and excessive spending. ·Exploring new revenue sources. We must identify a business tax that is fair to San Francisco's residents. We must also ensure that the City Assessor's office is accurately assessing property values, especially in the downtown area, and study the effects of existing tax credits on the General Fund.

Sensible, Effective Housing and Homeless Policies Creating viable housing opportunities for all San Franciscans

In a city as small as San Francisco, we must address the full spectrum of housing issues and needs, rather than piecemeal approaches that pit homeowner against tenant and neighborhoods against the homeless. With diminishing space available for housing, we cannot afford to proceed carelessly. San Francisco needs a comprehensive vision for housing that offers real solutions to homelessness and the housing shortage.

I will help San Francisco create effective housing and homeless policies by: ·Identifying available state and federal monies to develop true homeownership opportunities that do not threaten existing rental stock or rent control. ·Implementing new policies that encourage the creation of more housing of all types (low income, rental, home ownership) while preserving the unique character of our neighborhoods. ·Supporting passage and implementation of local and state affordable housing bonds to build desperately needed housing for low and moderate income residents. ·Pursuing resources to fund and implement the Continuum of Care plan to provide critical substance abuse and mental health programs, and transitional housing opportunities for the homeless.

Providing The Health Care We Need Creating a Healthy Community

Between misallocated resources and state and federal cutbacks, it is clear that our City's health is in crisis. As we fail to implement plans to improve the quality of and access to health services for our residents, our health care system worsens. San Franciscans deserve a public health policy that treats their health sensibly, fairly, and humanely.

I will work to improve our health care system by: ·Strengthening our existing health education and prevention services, and instituting the City's past due plan for universal health care. ·Working with the Board and the Mayor to finally establish a plan, budget and timeline for the City's long-awaited treatment-on-demand program. ·Ensuring the provision of culturally competent HIV/AIDS services and education for at-risk communities and for those hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic . ·Prioritizing the remediation of existing environmental hazards.