Welcome back to our “Meet the Candidates” series, where District 1 supervisorial candidates who have filed to run respond to a question in 100 words or fewer.
Answers are published each week, but we are also archiving each answer on this page for District 1, to make it easier for voters to browse.
Next Thursday, May 2 at 10 a.m., I will be at Home Coffee Roasters at 2018 Clement St. Drop by and share your thoughts. Can’t make that meeting? I’ll be somewhere in the district every week. Check back here to find out where.
San Francisco is facing a challenge: Meeting its goal of building over 82,000 new housing units by 2031, of which 46,000 are affordable. The state-mandated plan will change zoning rules in the city’s Westside, allowing denser and taller buildings to be built in those neighborhoods — a contentious issue for the city’s westside residents in District 1, 4 and 7.
In a Proposed Zoning Map, released by the Planning Department in March, areas in District 1 are subject to zoning changes with increased height limits and some density limits removed. For example, most parcels along Geary Boulevard have height limits increased from 40 to 85 feet and those on Clement and Balboa streets will be limited to 65 feet.
Supporters, including the YIMBY coalition, believe that upzoning in northern and western neighborhoods will increase affordable housing supply in the city. The opponents, on the other hand, argue that it will result in displacement of small businesses and lower-income tenants. They also point out that current infrastructure in the Westside is not prepared for the influx of residents after taller and denser residential buildings are built.
This week, we ask District 1 candidates: Do you support upzoning in District 1? Why or why not?
Sherman D’Silva
- Job: Owner of a laundromat on Geary Boulevard
- Age: 51
- Residency: Homeowner, living in District 1 since 1973
- Transportation: Driving
- Education: Bachelor’s degrees from San Francisco State University
- Languages: English
Upzoning in certain areas makes common sense. Building heights of three stories seems like a fair compromise in height, in order to achieve a greater number of units in a given area. Business corridors like Geary would work with four or five stories, provided the building is set back from the sidewalk and the levels are tiered, so as not to create a wall effect. The project on Geary and Sixth Avenue, although it will certainly create many units in the neighborhood, feels wrong in scale for the neighborhood given its height.
Jen Nossokoff
- Job: Vice president of a healthcare company and physician assistant
- Age: 38
- Residency: Homeowner, living in District 1 since 2020
- Transportation: Walking, biking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and master’s degree from Samuel Merritt University
- Languages: English
Yes, I strongly support thoughtful upzoning on the Upper West Side of San Francisco. Urban density is an asset; it brings more resources closer to our homes. With greater public transit options, increased attraction for businesses, and endless opportunities for social interactions, higher urban density not only contributes to more sustainable, vibrant and inclusive cities, but also provides more diverse housing options, making cities more accessible and sustainable for people from various walks of life.
Marjan Philhour
- Job: Business owner, former advisor and fundraiser to London Breed
- Age: 49
- Residency: Homeowner, born in District 1 and moved back in 2006
- Transportation: Biking, walking, driving and public transportation
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley
- Languages: English
I support density along major transportation corridors like Geary Boulevard, which will create more vibrant neighborhoods and business districts, as well as continued community review of the initial zoning plan and design standards introduced in March 2024 by the Planning Department.
Unfortunately some elected officials have used the terms “upzoning and downzoning” as a political weapon to advance their historical opposition to creating new homes for families and working people in this city. These leaders have chosen not to focus on real solutions that would allow San Franciscans to create a realistic plan to maintain local control over housing creation … read more here
Endorsed by: San Francisco Police Officers Association … read more here
Jeremiah Boehner
- Job: Marketing specialist and U.S. Army veteran
- Age: 39
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 1 since 2006
- Transportation: Driving
- Education: University of San Francisco
- Languages: English
Upzoning is one of those phrases that mean different things to different people. I support building more market-rate housing. But must be done in a way that preserves the character of the Richmond District.
Connie Chan
- Job: Incumbent District 1 Supervisor
- Age: 45
- Residency: Homeowner, living in District 1 since 2011
- Transportation: Driving and walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of California, Davis
- Languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin
The Richmond deserves a zoning plan that will allow meaningful community input and produce housing that San Franciscans can afford. Right now, the plans coming from Mayor [London] Breed and Senator [Scott] Wiener are based on a one-size-fits-all approach to unilaterally upzone the Richmond without consideration of the potential displacement of our tenants, small businesses and aging homeowners.
We can support density without displacement. That’s what my team and I have done alongside Richmond stakeholders at 4200 Geary, creating 100% affordable housing for seniors, and now the proposed 76 units of additional housing units at the Alexandria Theater. I know we can do … read more here
Endorsed by: San Francisco Labor Council, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, Local 21, Service Employees International Union 1021 … read more here
Money raised and spent in District 1 supervisor race
For
Money spent
Against
Marjan Philhour
$63,735
$136,064
Connie Chan
$11,806
$101,585
$5,360
$72,021
Jen Nossokoff
$11,653
$3,573
Jeremiah Boehner
$0
Sherman D’Silva
$0
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
For
Money spent
Against
Marjan Philhour
$63,735
$136,064
Connie Chan
$11,806
$101,585
$5,360
$72,021
Jen Nossokoff
$11,653
$3,573
Jeremiah Boehner
$0
Sherman D’Silva
$0
$0
$50K
$100K
$150K
$200K
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
Candidates are ordered alphabetically and rotated each week. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at junyao@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.
Is Chan honestly bragging about getting 76 homes built? She knows we’re aiming for ~80,000 right?
It’s embarrassing how completely unserious so many of our public officials are about housing. SF’s population went up by 1,200 last year. We build this wee handful of units through public funds and nonprofits, and supervisors like Chan want to keep out market rate housing because _this_ approach is somehow supposed to serve all our needs. The math doesn’t work.
Transit and D1 how do you all want to address sunset blvd. and linking areas to other districts more sustainably to reduce car use and improve district crossings via mass transit (not just muni bus and transfers) what alternative systems are you talking to the SFMTA about vs a tunnel subway project? Zoo Tram on sunset blvd. increased density and how to alleviate the houses and lacking rental housing built affordable to families seniors and students.