Because Supervisor Aaron Peskin terms out next January, five candidates have filed to run for the seat to lead District 3, which includes North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, the Financial District, Russian Hill and Nob Hill.
Between now and the November election, Mission Local will ask each District 3 candidate one question per week, and candidates will get 100 words to respond. We will compile all responses to the 40-odd questions on a “Meet the Candidates” page, so that voters can get a full picture of their stances.
Question five: What’s your plan to revive shopping districts like Union Square, as a lot of shopping has moved online?
Moe Jamil
- Job: Deputy city attorney, San Francisco City Attorney’s Office
- Age: 46
- Residency: Owner-occupied condo owner, living in District 3 since May 2014
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: University of California, Berkeley, and law school at Santa Clara University, K-12 public school
- Languages: English, Cantonese
The closure of the Union Square Macy’s location left residents concerned about the future of the historic shopping district. However, this moment presents an opportunity to rethink, redevelop and revive Union Square. As supervisor, and through collaboration with the Union Square Alliance, I will:
- Explore federal, state and local tax incentives for adaptive use of historic buildings.
- Support conversion of buildings to mixed-use, residential, food and beverage, and event space for businesses and activities that attract residents and visitors.
- Promote development incentives offered through the city’s Downtown Adaptive Reuse legislation.
- Support the redesign of Powell Street, the gateway boulevard to Union Square.
Endorsed by: San Francisco Tenants Union, Teamsters Joint Council 7, Retired Assistant Police Chief Garrett Tom, Board President Aaron Peskin … read more here
Sharon Lai
- Job: Economic recovery leader at the World Economic Forum, former board member at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
- Age: 41
- Residency: Tenant and owner, living in District 3 since 2023, first moved to SF in 2005
- Transportation: Walk and Muni when solo, drive when with kids
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from University of California, Berkeley, development studies and city and regional planning; master’s degree in public administration, Harvard Kennedy School
- Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese
We must cultivate a welcoming environment to mitigate retail decline. My work on downtown revitalization prioritizes diversifying the economy, growing green jobs that won’t be exported, and supporting small businesses to improve resilience.
Leveraging my two decades of public, private, nonprofit and people-partnership experience, I will align resources to:
- Provide clean and safe streets.
- Improve foot traffic via event activations and incentives.
- Prioritize the retail experience with tenants that relies on in-person shopping business models.
- Relax regulations, reduce the burden on businesses and create a one-stop shop for approvals.
- Expand support to small businesses and connect neighborhoods.
Endorsed by: Community Tenants Association, Teamsters Joint Council 7, 7 of the current Board of Supervisors … read more here
JConr B. Ortega
- Job: Self-described formerly homeless, leatherman, boxer
At jconr.com, I outline my plan to not only bring back our businesses, but to save San Francisco! What we need to do to revive Union Square and our businesses is, we need to shut down retail theft, clean up the streets from tents, and arrest drug dealers. We must allow SFPD and protect security guards that chase down those who steal from our stores. Now Prop. 47 prevents us from jailing thieves, but what we can do is to fine thieves the equal amount of property stolen, same with thieves who are minors.
Danny Sauter
- Job: Executive Director, Neighborhood Centers Together
- Age: 35
- Residency: Tenant in District 3 since 2014
- Transportation: Public transportation
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Miami University
- Languages: English, Cantonese
- Provide clean and safe streets — We need to drastically improve our street conditions for shoppers to feel welcome and merchants to feel safe as they run their businesses.
- Streamline permitting — We need to make most permits over-the-counter so that they are processed more quickly, and we also need to limit the instances where competitors and neighbors can block small businesses from opening.
- Attract businesses — We need to proactively recruit businesses, large and small, to our city and roll out the red carpet to those who want to operate here.
Endorsed by: Nor Cal Carpenters Union, Senator Scott Wiener, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Operating Engineers Local 3 … read more here
Matthew Susk
- Job: Former lead with Divvy Homes
- Age: 32
- Residency: TIC owner, first moved to District 3 in 2007. 2007-2009 while in high school, 2014-2016 after college, 2023-present with his wife.
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University, master’s in business from Georgetown University
- Languages: English
Reviving Union Square will require filling vacant retail space and incentivizing shopping in the area. There is ample affordable retail space, but potential vendors and visitors don’t want to enter the market because Union Square is no longer safe.
To address this, we must enhance the local police presence, and then provide complimentary parking and activation events to draw visitors back.
Bolstering the SFPD will minimize theft, and help retailers and shoppers feel safe. Activation events like music series, ballet previews, and movie nights will attract people again. Free parking in Union Square garages will encourage longer shopping visits.
Money raised and spent in the District 3 supervisor race
Money spent
Money raised
Sharon Lai
$9,493
$86,241
Danny Sauter
$7,904
$74,566
Moe Jamil
$16,015
$71,672
JConr B. Ortega
$0
Matthew Susk
$0
Eduard Navarro
$0
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
Money raised
Money spent
Sharon Lai
$9,493
$86,241
Danny Sauter
$7,904
$74,566
Moe Jamil
$16,015
$71,672
JConr B. Ortega
$0
Matthew Susk
$0
Eduard Navarro
$0
$0
$50K
$100K
$150K
$200K
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
Candidates are ordered alphabetically. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at yujie@missionlocal.com.
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
