Candidate for
Member, Board of Supervisors; County of San Francisco; Supervisorial District 8

I am running for Supervisor because I know and love all that District 8 represents. From Duboce Park to Noe Valley, from Glen Park to the Mission-Valencia Corridor, these are not just neighborhoods, but communities. We are young renters trying to get a foothold in San Francisco, professionals starting a life and career while enjoying the cultural distractions the City offers, established residents who have seen it all, and the LGBTQ community that anchors the Castro. We all share a vision of a city that is affordable, livable and sustainable.

While attention to the problems of the neighborhoods is important, I believe that we must solve the problems of the City in order to solve the problems in our neighborhoods. My campaign focuses on fourissues that I feel are critical to the well-being of our district, and to maintaining our economic and cultural diversity: affordable housing, saving the environment, improving public transportation and preventing violence in our communities.

I believe that San Francisco's exceptional character lies in the City's diversity. It is precisely that unique "only in San Francisco" quality that keeps the City's cultural tourism thriving, adds to livability of the City, keeps entertainment fresh and innovative and draws people to the City to enjoy the vivacious energy that we generate through our freedom of expression and zest for life. In his book "The Rise of the Creative Class," Professor Richard Florida establishes why cities without gay communities and rock bands are losing the economic development race. I am committed to maintaining our diversity and will create the legislation needed to prevent the further homogenization of this precious resource.

Every day, the unique character of San Francisco is threatened by the flight of our middle class to more affordable housing destinations. I visualize a San Francisco with adequate affordable housing and first time buyer assistance programs to preserve our working class and prevent this city from becoming an elitist enclave which defines and separates the `haves' from the `have nots'. That is why I will fight to save our renters from being evicted by real estate speculators, and encourage developers to build affordable housing in District 8 and throughout the City.

The environment is a concern for all of us and we must do our part to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. To accomplish that, we must make MUNI a fast and reliable option for most commuters, and we must make our streets safe and attractive for pedestrians and bicyclists. I will push to reform the City's Green Building Ordinance, convert the city and commercial fleets to hybrids/ alternative fuels, and enact legislation that creates incentives for homeowners and landlords to add solar energy sources. I will seek out best practices and make sure that our city takes advantage of environmental grants to supplement this investment in our city's healthy future.

Finally, I think that we are all aware that San Francisco is becoming a more dangerous place to live than it was just a few short years ago. I believe that our communities must forge a solid relationship with our police department and District Attorney and together create a safer community through voicing our concerns and finding permanent solutions. That is why I will provide the political leadership to cause real police reform, and hold convenient and frequent community meetings with our local police and fire officers as well as the office of the Chief of Police, Fire Chief and District Attorney. Through dialogue we can find a better way.

I encourage you to read my position papers on these issues and others in the Vision section of my web site at http://www.votealix.com. Please sign up and volunteer so that together we can keep District 8 the place where there is truly opportunity for all. Again I thank you for your interest and participation and respectfully ask for your vote on November 7th.