Welcome back to our “Meet the Candidates” series for District 11, where we ask each candidate to answer one question per week leading up to the election, with answers in about 100 words.
Last week, I talked to the Chinese uncles at Claddagh Coffee in the Excelsior, and asked what they think of this year’s election and what issues are on their mind. One of the phrases that a lot of them mentioned was “public safety.”
So in week 6, we are asking: What are your plans to address public safety in District 11? Tell us some details.
Note: Next week, I’ll be in District 11 at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9, at Excelsior Coffee, at 4495 Mission Street. Drop by and share your thoughts!
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
Community Advocate
Creating safe communities for ALL is a priority.
First, this means that we fully staff all public safety departments (SFPD, SFFD, sheriff, 911 operators, paramedics and mental health professionals).
For law enforcement, this means increased presence outside of vehicles and inside of our communities.
A renewed focus on public transportation safety is critical along with creating dedicated spaces to evaluate mental health.
We will activate corridors with community-lead programming to put additional eyes and ears on our streets while focusing on the cleanliness of those spaces.
Thoughtful investments into traffic calming to make walking, driving and biking our neighborhoods safer is a must.
Endorsed by: Supervisors Shamann Walton and Myrna Melgar, Assemblymenber Matt Haney, Former SF mayor Willie Brown Jr., Transit Workers Union Local 250A. More here.
Roger Marenco
Transit Operator
We need to start by understanding that criminals need to be punished, not coddled.
Everyone is tired of seeing the same criminals committing the same crimes. We will work on reforming Proposition 47 so that we can put criminals in jail.
We will work on legislation to defund drug dealers, homeless vagrants and criminals so that we can re-fund our emergency response services.
Due to insane policies that protect criminals, we now live in a society that locks up the Cheetos and sets the criminals free. The time has come to free the cheetos and lock up the criminals.
Chyanne Chen
Worker Organizer, Community Facilitator & Educator
Ensuring the safety and well-being of our community is paramount, and it demands a multifaceted approach.
Addressing the vacancies among our city’s first responders, including law enforcement, 911 dispatchers and paramedics, is crucial for swift, effective emergency responses.
Simultaneously, building resilient communities where residents are informed of available crisis resources, collaborate with law enforcement and actively participate in safety measures is essential.
Additionally, we must invest in crime-reduction and -prevention programs through public education, youth recreation, and job training to provide young people with stronger opportunities.
By tackling these issues collectively, we can create a safer, healthier environment for all community members.
Adlah Chisti
Public Policy Analyst /Caregiver
My perspective is a unique one.
To begin with, I am a POST certified and former public-safety dispatcher. At the same time, I am a parent, and a caregiver to seniors.
Public safety, as such, is a basic necessity for families, children and seniors to feel safe. Post pandemic, I support measures to staff SF City police at 2100.
I support a comprehensive public safety plan that would:
- Increase foot and bike patrols, visibility is cost efficient and vital to prevent crime.
- Include strategies increasing recruitment and retention incentives for officers.
- Continue expansion of ambassador programs and community policing …Read more
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.
