| I was born and raised in District 9 (Mission , Bernal Heights , Portola and St. Mary's Park) and still live in the home on Harrison Street that has been in my family for three generations. This District is my home it is our home.
My roots in the District go back to before I was born. My mom was born in San Francisco General Hospital . She made her first Communion at Immaculate Conception and lived in Bernal Heights on Costa Street . My aunts continue to live in Bernal and the Portola area. My doctor had his practice on San Bruno Avenue and I attended the high school dances at St. John's near St. Mary's. This entire district has played an important role throughout my life. For the past twenty years, I have been active in community causes. Today, I am still working with many neighborhood organizations to make things right. But for decades District 9 has been at the bottom of the city's priority list and the time has come for the cycle of neglect to end. It's Time! As a native of District 9, I know the neighborhoods, understand the needs, and am committed to finding solutions. With the help of the community, I plan on finding practical answers to problems that have gone unsolved for too long. With your support, I will be the voice on the Board of Supervisors that District 9 needs. Why Run for Supervisor? I am running because I want to serve our neighborhoods. Our interests have been overlooked, and it's time for our voices to be heard. I am not proposing a large number of new, expensive programs. To do so would be foolish. I am simply proposing to secure the funds that are due to our area and to use them as effectively as possible to solve neighborhood problems and to act on neighborhood opportunities. I will involve people from the neighborhood in the process, establishing a variety of advisory committees to help me keep focused on the key issues we face. Some people run for this job because they want to avenge the incumbent or they want to use it as a platform for launching a bigger career or a higher profile. My only ambition is to work as hard as I can to make our neighborhoods as strong as they can be. The District has given a lot to me. I want to do what I can to give back. My Platform I am running on a platform that gives our community the attention and leadership it needs: Back to the Basics Before we can discuss larger policy issues, we must first address the very basic issues facing our community. District 9 is very diverse and has some basic needs that need to be met. Safe Neighborhoods Many of us remember when we could walk down the street without fear. Neighbors would sit outside their steps and enjoy their communities. We have seen an increase in burglaries, gang activity, and drug dealing in District 9. People want to see our streets made safer. And I will work to do just that. Safety is related to every other issue in the neighborhoods schools, youth programs, business development, parks and open space. In District 9, we have good families and youth and we need to recognize and honor positive role models. To return our streets to the people that live and work here, as Supervisor I intend to: Cleaner and Greener streets Like many residents in District 9, I enjoy walking down the street to shop, walk to work and be in community with others. However, on the way to various destinations, I often find trash and litter on the sidewalks. I also notice that there are not enough trees or greenery along many of the streets. We can improve our streets without draining our energy resources. Through collaboration with city agencies and community organizations, I will work with the residents of our district to: Parks & Open Space The parks and open space in our District are no longer adequate. They have not been maintained and they do not meet our needs. It is very frustrating for our volunteer coaches to see that other neighborhoods have better parks and equipment and to see our ball fields constantly being rented out to large outside groups. Our young children and athletes deserve more than they are currently getting. Some of the things we need to do are very simple and inexpensive while other actions are more complex and require city funding. But we can make our neighborhoods more livable by:
As a native of District 9, I care deeply about having a community that has the opportunities and tools to sustain and develop itself. District 9 is often one of the last places to get City resources and is typically one of the communities that needs those resources most. I intend to put a stop to the cycle of neglect and bring more educational and health resources to this district. In order to bring in the necessary financial support for this effort, I will encourage more small and local business development along our district's business corridors. Educational Opportunities Quality education is an important feature related the quality of life for a neighborhood. People want good schools for their children and grandchildren. Many families are sending their kids to private schools because they feel they don't have any choice but to do so. That's not right. I will keep the community involved in upgrading our schools and curriculum. To provide a quality education for all people, we must address the quality of our schools and educational opportunities. I will:
Increase Access to Healthcare District 9 has a relatively higher population of families and seniors than other districts in San Francisco . We also have more undocumented workers and low-income residents than most other communities. Many in our district are without insurance or not adequately insured. I consider it crucial that, in the City's annual budget process, we prioritize programs and services related to public health and safety. When elected, I will:
Provide Real, Affordable Housing I have watched as the price of a house in San Francisco has grown many times over. I have seen the devastation my community faced during the dot-com years of displacement. I understand the importance of owning a home. I believe that home ownership is one key tool in overcoming the cycle of poverty that plagues so much of my district. I also recognize the invaluable role rent control plays in keeping housing affordable for most San Franciscans. As Supervisor, I plan to:
Promote Arts & Culture Our neighborhoods have rich cultural traditions that need to be celebrated and preserved. Things I will do to honor our past and celebrate our diversity include:
Neighborhood Business Development I believe small businesses are the heart of District 9's economy. Small businesses not only provide texture to local neighborhoods, but they also provide jobs to local residents and tax revenues for vital City services. Neighborhood businesses tend to hire people from the area. And the convenience and personal attention they provide to customers can't be beat. Small and local businesses have always helped our neighborhoods and it's time that we help them. When elected, we will do the following:
Transportation Balance District 9 has long endured being the last community to receive vital transit funds and to see its transportation systems renovated and upgraded. Our community has high numbers of pedestrians and bicyclists but some of the least safe streets in San Francisco . Corridors such as Mission , San Jose , Cortland , San Bruno , and Portrero are dangerous places for many of the district's residents, especially those who choose not to drive to their destination. I believe we need a Supervisor who understands these needs first-hand and who will find common sense solutions through community planning processes that have found success in other San Francisco neighborhoods, such as the Better Neighborhoods 2002 program. As Supervisor, I plan to:
Day Labor A continuing issue within San Francisco is that of the Day Laborers. I know what it's like to be from an immigrant family in San Francisco , and I empathize with the situation so many of our undocumented and newly-arrived workers face. As such, I find it unacceptable that San Francisco spends $200,000 annually for a Day Labor program that provides little employment to our Day Laborers. Right now too many of our Day Laborers are left without work, without pay, and without the resources to be participating members of our society. I plan to change that by:
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