Welcome back to the “Meet the Candidates” series for District 11, where we ask each candidate to answer one question every week leading up to the election. They must answer the question in 100 words or fewer. We will link to longer answers.
With District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí termed out and running for mayor, seven candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to represent the Excelsior, Oceanview and the Outer Mission.
The Cayuga Avenue slow street, also known as “Slowyuga,” is the longest among the 19 slow streets in the city, a program proposed and operated by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. It is also the only one of its kind in District 11, where a big population of children and seniors reside.
However, the Cayuga Avenue slow street has one of the highest median speeds and the most traffic, according to a report presented during an SFMTA meeting in April. Slowyuga has an average speed of 19 mph with an average of some 1,200 vehicles passing through on a daily basis. It is among the six slow streets, out of 19, that exceed the limit set by SFMTA, which requires vehicle volumes to be 1,000 per day or fewer, and vehicle speeds to be 15 mph or less.
The agency promised to work with the Department of Public Works to deliver traffic calming later this year. But some neighbors from the districts think it’s too late; they argue that the district has not “received the promised infrastructure,” such as speed bumps, which were promised by the agency more than a year ago.
This week, we are inviting the supervisorial hopefuls to weigh in on the issue: What is your position on Cayuga Slow Street? How would you improve it?
Next week, I will be at Purtea at 1422 Ocean Ave. on Thursday, June 20, at 5 p.m. Drop by and share your thoughts! xueer@missionlocal.com
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
- Job: Community advocate
- Age: 38
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 11 since November 1985 and has lived here always, except for time away at college
- Transportation: Public, car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, Dominican University, master’s degree in public administration from University of San Francisco
- Languages: English, Spanish
Slow streets work well when neighbors come together, hold community process, and commit to the activation of those streets. “Slowyuga” hit those marks, and is unique because of the proximity to local schools.
I would improve it by expanding activation and working with mapping programs to update routes for unfamiliar travelers, as many programs still send cars on those routes.
Endorsed by: Supervisors Shamann Walton and Myrna Melgar, Assemblymember Matt Haney, Former SF mayor Willie Brown Jr., Transit Workers Union Local 250A… read more here
Michael Lai
- Job: Early education director, elected to the San Francisco Democratic Party
- Age: 31
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 11 since February 2024
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in government at Harvard College with coursework at Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Languages: English, Mandarin
I am very supportive of Cayuga Slow Street because our district has more young kids, families and elders than any other. We also need more joy, vibrancy, and community in District 11, and it has been awesome to see parents and community organizers of Slowyuga activate it!
But SFMTA has been slow in implementing more speed cushions and aesthetic improvements like flower planters (e.g. on Page Slow Street). I would push MTA to prioritize these projects for safety reasons, especially since Slowyuga is extra long and has schools on it. I would also look at zoning changes to allow … read more here
Endorsed by: Attorney General Rob Bonta, Senator Scott Wiener, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Supervisors Joel Engardio and Matt Dorsey, NorCal Carpenters Union. read more here
Roger Marenco
- Job: Transit operator
- Age: 42
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 11 since May 2014
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in environmental sustainability and social justice from San Francisco State University. City College San Francisco
- Languages: English, Spanish
I am in support of slow streets, but only on small streets through the different neighborhoods, and only after the neighbors and residents of the streets have had an opportunity to weigh in regarding the proposed changes. These decisions need to be addressed by all parties involved, not just by one entity that is constantly deprioritizing the need for people to use a car as a means of transportation. Slow streets are great, but only on the proper streets.
Jose Morales
- Job: Sales professional, small business owner
- Age: 28
- Residency: Tenant, born in District 11 in 1995 and has lived there since, except for time away in college from 2014 to 2017 and living in Idaho from 2021 to the end of 2022
- Transportation: Car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics from Sonoma State University
- Languages: English, Spanish
I am in favor of the Cayuga Slow street project, as it brings immense benefits to the community. Even in a bustling city like San Francisco, it is crucial for families to have a designated space where they can enjoy a leisurely bike ride or a peaceful stroll without the constant concern of cars zooming past them above the speed limit. I think the current plans will do a good job at keeping everyone safe on Cayuga.
I also strongly support the expansion of the Slow Streets program to other areas within District 11. There is immense potential to provide everyone with ample space to venture out and unwind.
Chyanne Chen
- Job: Worker organizer, community facilitator and educator
- Age: 39
- Residency: Homeowner, landlord, living in District 11 since August 2000
- Transportation: Walk, public transportation, rideshare, and car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from University of California, Davis, master’s degree from Cornell University, doctoral degree in education in progress at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese
“Slowyuga” encourages walking, running, biking and community gatherings, and I believe we need to do more to enhance its safety features.
In my recent conversations, community members have expressed their frustration about the slow and inadequate rollout of signage and other traffic-calming measures. We have seen the city investment on Sanchez Street, and residents want something similar for our neighborhood. As Supervisor, I will work with residents and the city to continue to make these needed improvements — people walking their dogs, teaching their children to ride bikes or taking them to school should feel safer on Cayuga.
District 11 residents … read more here
Endorsed by: Assemblymember Phil Ting, former police commissioner Larry Yee, San Francisco Board of Education commissioner Jenny Lam, former supervisors Norman Yee, Sandy Fewer and Mabel Teng.
Adlah Chisti
- Job: Public policy analyst, caregiver
- Age: 40
- Residency: Live with parents and caregive for them, born in District 11 in 1983 and lived there since, moved out in 2013 and back in 2017
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in politics and in environmental science, and master’s degree in education from University of San Francisco, master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy, juris doctorate from University of California Law, San Francisco
- Languages: English, Spanish, Hindi
I support the Cayuga Slow Street. I believe the Slow Streets initiative from SFMTA is important to keep residents, especially children, seniors and cyclists safe. Designated slow streets increase community engagement and bring together neighbors in activities on the street. Organizations such as Slowyuga have done a great job of organizing activities that bring together neighbors through the Cayuga Terrace, Excelsior, and Mission Terrace Neighborhoods uniting more of District 11.
District 11 contribution
Money raised and spent in the District 11 supervisor race
Money raised
Money spent
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
$34,342
$70,501
Chyanne Chen
$0
Adlah Chisti
$0
Roger Marenco
$0
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
Money spent
Money raised
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
$70,501
$34,342
Chyanne Chen
$0
Adlah Chisti
$0
Roger Marenco
$0
$0
$50K
$100K
$150K
$200K
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
Candidates are ordered alphabetically but rotated weekly. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at xueer@missionlocal.com.
Read the rest of the District 11 questions here, and the entire “Meet the Candidates” series here.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
