The San Francisco we want to build is a city with vibrant communities, rich with culture and ripe with opportunities; where families can thrive and put down roots, businesses can open their doors and keep them open and seniors can age in place. However, all this depends on people feeling safe in their daily lives.
In April, I called a hearing into the denial of healthcare by Blue Shield for our employees, retirees and their families. These denials came to light after a retired firefighter, Ken Jones, shared his story about being denied care as recommended by his oncologist for his Stage IV lung cancer. Firefighter Jones served and protected our City for almost 20 years, and to be denied treatment, particularly at this most critical time of care, is unacceptable. Across our country we are seeing access to healthcare being cut, made unaffordable or inaccessible. We must push back – we cannot allow insurance companies to put profit over people.
A few weeks ago, I launched what I called a “Dumb Laws” contest. I asked San Franciscans to tell me about the city rules and regulations that frustrated them most. The permits that took too long. The fees that made no sense. The codes that seemed designed to make life harder instead of easier.
In 30 days, San Francisco residents will begin to receive their vote by mail ballots for the June 2 primary election. This midterm primary election carries a significant importance for our City and state’s future.
Last week, I convened an oversight hearing to get answers. PG&E’s CEO came to City Hall. So did representatives from our Fire Department and the Department of Emergency Management. What we learned was troubling.
In the Richmond District, a group of 22 students are helping bring youth perspectives to their leaders. The District 1 Youth Council (D1YC) was founded in February and aims to help young San Francisco residents, aged 13 to 18, get involved in local politics.
This year we have seen more and more attacks and violence from the President Donald Trump’s administration on our rights and our communities. He is a threat to our immigrant community, to our access to health care, our education system, our most vulnerable and so much more. Locally we have been pushing back, making our voices heard and allocating additional funds to offset federal cuts, but we have so much work left to do.
Last month, a ballot measure that would have restored weekday vehicle access to the Upper Great Highway (UGH) fell one supervisor’s signature short of making it onto the ballot.
In December of last year, the Richmond District experienced six blackouts, lasting more than 40 hours for most residents and almost twice that for others.
I first took office as District 1 supervisor in 2021, first became a member of the Board of Supervisors’ Budget Committee in 2022 and became the Committee chair in 2023. Since then, I have overseen three fiscal years of the City’s budget during some of the most volatile times in San Francisco – from COVID-19 recovery through the attacks and funding cuts from the Trump Administration.
There is nowhere in San Francisco quite like the Sunset District. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean, Stern Grove and Golden Gate Park, it’s the kind of place where fog softens the mornings, small businesses know their customers by name and neighbors look out for one another. This is a community built by working families – immigrants and longtime San Franciscans alike – who put down roots and stay.
You have all heard me say it before, but small businesses are the backbone of our neighborhoods. They are where we find community and gather for celebrations. We rely on them for everyday essentials, delicious meals, special treats, local artisan products and so much more. Which is why I have been working to find ways to both protect and support our small businesses and neighborhood commercial corridors.
Westside voters may soon determine the composition of the United States House of Representatives – or, at least, one 435th of it.
Last month, Marc Benioff, the billionaire owner of Salesforce, decided to put his own wealth above the residents of San Francisco and declare that the Trump administration should send the National Guard to San Francisco, creating chaos and jeopardizing our immigrant community. He has since walked back his comments, but at what cost to our City?
When I gave the commencement speech for political science graduates at San Francisco State University last year, I told the class:
“You are charged with analyzing and navigating some of the world’s most intractable issues. But if you want to practice your skills for the State Department or the United Nations, go to any neighborhood association meeting in San Francisco and ask the following questions: ‘Should the Great Highway be a highway for cars or a park for people? Where should we build housing? How high can the buildings be?’”
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 