Will you be seeking the endorsement of the Police Officers Association? Why or why not?
43 Questions is a weekly series — started 43 weeks before Election Day — to question the candidates running for District 9 supervisor. Send us your questions to info@missionlocal.com and let us know in comments or in an e-mail if you think candidates have answered as asked.
Respuestas en español aquí.
Joshua Arce, civil rights attorney and Community Liaison for Laborers Local 261
We need a path forward through heightened tensions between law enforcement and communities of color. Families want safe streets and we all want appropriate reforms in light of recent tragedies. As a civil rights attorney who’s represented victims, and the son of a police officer, I believe I’m uniquely positioned to lead this effort.
I want to be endorsed by every member of our community as the right choice to deliver better outcomes for all our neighbors. In the coming weeks I’ll work with community leaders and the men and women of law enforcement to discuss that path forward.
Iswari España, Training Officer with the San Francisco Human Services Agency
I welcome anyone from any organization to endorse my campaign to fight and protect our neighborhoods. The safety of communities is indeed a number one priority. We want to live in peace and not fear those that protect us. As a candidate, I want accountability and transparency in government services. The community wants action. I want our issues to be proactively addressed and dealt with. We want to be able to give feedback to the police to improve trust between ‘us’ and ‘them’. We want them to embrace our recommendations. I do not want to vent if it does not change the outcomes of problems. If the S.F. POA supports my views and the concerns for the community, I am more than happy to represent them in my district, District 9.
Edwin Lindo, Vice-President of External Affairs at the Latino Democratic Club
As the only candidate in the District 9 Supervisor’s race who grew up in Bernal Heights and the Mission District, I share our community’s concern with public safety. In the wake of the deaths of Alex Nieto, Amilcar Perez-Lopez and Mario Woods, there is increase distrust of our police force. This distrust is particularly high in minority communities who feel targeted by law enforcement and who know that unless systematic changes within law enforcement are made, more young men of color like me will be killed. District 9 residents understand that instances of police brutality will not cease if we elect individuals and politicians who are part of the political establishment. As the next Supervisor for District 9, I intend to work tirelessly to bring community members into the conversation on how to best address the structural changes needed to better police-community relations. If the POA acknowledges that there is tremendous need for improvement and understands that community input and accountability must be part of how we better police-community relations, then I would be open to their support. In the absence of this recognition, I simply do not see a reason to seek POA’s endorsement, and I will continue to work with other community groups and organizations like the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Social Justice Task Force to be a leader for progressive community-centered reforms.
Hillary Ronen, Chief of Staff for Supervisor David Campos
Current leaders representing the POA have used racist language and bullying tactics in response to calls for police reform. I believe that the majority of our officers don’t agree with these extreme views and I’m proud to have worked closely with our captains and police officers to prevent violence and reduce crime in our neighborhoods. I would be surprised to receive the endorsement of the POA. However, if the organization chooses to endorse me, I would welcome the endorsement as I believe it would indicate their desire to work with leaders calling for reforms.
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The POA is the source of the racist corruption in the SFPD and so long as 2/3 of SFPD are commuters, there is no incentive for SFPD reform. The POA exists to insulate SFPD from political demands from residents. The POA has joined every corporate shill in the “San Francisco Alliance for [sic] Jobs” in opposing popular democratic sovereignty.
http://allianceforjobs.org/
We will not see police reform in SF until the POA has been busted. This organization has declared war on San Franciscans and needs to be stopped before it extorts more tax dollars and kills another civilian for sport.