Welcome to “Meet the Candidates,” where Mission Local asks supervisor hopefuls questions in the lead-up to the November election. In District 7 — which includes the Inner Sunset, Parkmerced and West Portal — Matt Boschetto and Stephen Martin-Pinto are running against incumbent Myrna Melgar.
A new bike lane is underway in District 7, and not everyone is happy about it. Last month, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) board approved the “quick-build” project: A protected bike lane along Frida Kahlo Way from Ocean Avenue to Judson Avenue, along the east side of City College of San Francisco’s Ocean campus.
The project drew opposition over the removal of parking spaces, namely from City College officials. To make room for the bike lane, 29 parking spots will be removed from the corridor, which represents about one percent of the total parking supply on campus.
This week we asked the candidates: Do you support the Frida Kahlo bike lane project?
Do you have a question for the candidates? Let me know at kelly@missionlocal.com, or come to meet me for coffee. Next week, I’ll be at Spressa Coffee (51 Cambon Dr.) on Wednesday, June 26, at 6 p.m.
Stephen Martin-Pinto
- Job: Firefighter/major, U.S. Marine Corps reserves
- Age: 46
- Housing: Tenant in SF, property owner and landlord in Lemon Grove, California
- Languages: Spanish, Russian, Georgian
- Education: University of California, Davis
- Residency: Living in District 7’s Sunnyside since 2014 and, earlier from 1983 to 1998
I do not support the Frida Kahlo bike lane as proposed. I have concerns that SFMTA did not hold community meetings in good faith, and outreach was done only as a formality to sell its proposal. Furthermore, this proposal is incomplete and currently ends at the MUNI turnaround, sending bicyclists into the very dangerous Geneva-Ocean-Frida Kahlo intersection. Bicycle traffic needs to be diverted onto the much-safer Lee Avenue extension immediately south of Archbishop Riordan High School, where it will connect with Holloway Avenue. If safety is truly the concern, the Lee to Holloway connection needs to be completed immediately, but it’s unclear … read more here
Endorsed by: Former District 7 Supervisor Tony Hall, former Planning Commissioner Michael Antonini, former Police Chief Tony Ribera, drug policy advocate Tom Wolf, BART Board Director Debora Allen … read more here
Myrna Melgar
- Job: District 7 supervisor
- Age: 56
- Housing: Homeowner
- Transport: Bike
- Languages: Spanish, French, Swedish
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, Excelsior College; master’s degree in urban planning, Columbia University
- Residency: Living in Ingleside Terraces since 2011, and lived in District 7 while in college at SF State between 1987 and 1991
I unequivocally support the Frida Kahlo bicycle and transit improvements. It will benefit the City College climate action plan and advance what we must do in District 7, which is make progress on building infrastructure that helps more people get around while being less dependent on cars.
Endorsed by: SF Labor Council, SF Tenants Union, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Hillary Ronen, Supervisor Connie Chan, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor Catherine Stefani, Senator Scott Weiner, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins … read more here
Matt Boschetto
- Job: Small business owner
- Age: 35
- Housing: Homeowner
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Saint Mary’s College of California
- Residency: Living in District 7 since 2014
Like many residents in District 7, I support safer roads and better public transit. However, the SFMTA has often ignored neighborhood voices, sidelining those most affected by their plans. For instance, the CCSF Board of Trustees proposed alternate solutions for Frida Kahlo Way, but these were repeatedly ignored. This exclusive process leads to overreach, potentially harming more city corridors. A more democratic approach would yield effective, locally supported solutions. I support the neighbors and CCSF trustees’ calls for a solution that has the support of all stakeholders, and urge the SFMTA and City Hall to engage inclusively with District 7 residents.
Endorsed by: San Francisco Police Officers Association
The order of candidates alternates each week. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar.
Do you have a question for the candidates? Let me know: kelly@missionlocal.com
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
Took the Frida Kahlo Way route multiple times last week by bike with my kid, and we’ll be taking it more this summer. I must admit it is true that the Ocean Avenue crossing is a little hairy – we were headed for Holloway and wound up cutting through the gas station to Harold.
That said, I don’t believe that More Process would have improved this. A protected lane will definitely improve the trip, and I’m glad Sup. Melgar is standing up for the safety of SF cyclists.
Not everyone has extra money to pay to park in the parking lots.The MTA regularly has meeting with the only notice being small pieces of paper taped to traffic sign poles.The best hope SF people have is to vote people out of office that you do not agree with.