Welcome back to the “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.
District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí is termed out and running for mayor and, so far, seven candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to replace him as the representative of the Excelsior, Oceanview and the Outer Mission. Read my latest analysis of the race.
This week, we are asking the District 11 candidates: What would be your first moves as supervisor to boost the district’s local business vitality?
Specifically, we encouraged candidates to share and elaborate on their detailed plans on improving issues such as supporting small businesses, addressing empty storefronts and boosting foot traffic on corridors like Mission Street and Ocean Avenue, inviting new businesses to the district, and so on.
Note: Next week, I will be in District 11 for coffee chat at 10 a.m. on May 15, Wednesday, at Excelsior Coffee at 4495 Mission St. Drop by and say hi!
Michael Lai
- Job: Early education director, elected to the San Francisco Democratic Party
- Age: 31
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 11 since February 2024
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in government at Harvard College with coursework at Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Languages: Mandarin
Revitalizing our merchant corridors (Mission Street, Ocean Avenue and Geneva Street) is a top priority. We must increase cleanliness and safety, add foot traffic and cut costs for businesses.
Having talked to dozens of small businesses on the corridors, from long-time businesses like Baby’s Eatery and New Royal Bakery on Mission Street to new ones like Fate Tea House on Ocean Avenue, I keep hearing over and over again that foot traffic is sadly down sometimes more than 50 percent from before the pandemic, while costs are up (PG&E.) As a former business owner who ran more than 30 schools the past five years during the pandemic, I can empathize! … Read More.
Endorsed by: Attorney General Rob Bonta, Senator Scott Wiener, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Supervisors Joel Engardio and Matt Dorsey, NorCal Carpenters Union. read more here
Roger Marenco
- Job: Transit operator
- Age: 42
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 11 since May 2014
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in environmental sustainability and social justice from San Francisco State University. City College San Francisco.
- Languages: Spanish
Allocate more funds for business growth, so that small businesses can apply for loans and grants.
Create monthly community meetings at local shops, so that residents can discuss District 11 issues with their local Supervisor while they enjoy a cup of coffee and some snacks.
Clean the streets from human feces, crime and filth, so that people can feel safe and clean to go out and shop at local businesses.
Sanitize the buses so that we can increase ridership on our public transportation system so that the passengers can feel safe and encouraged to use the buses and shop locally.
Jose Morales
- Job: Sales professional, small business owner
- Age: 28
- Residency: Tenant, born in District 11 in 1995 and has lived there since, except for time away in college from 2014 to 2017 and living in Idaho from 2021 to the end of 2022
- Transportation: Car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics from Sonoma State University
- Languages: Spanish
We’ll initiate a robust recovery plan by strategically setting up business development hubs across the city.
These hubs will serve as centralized resource centers, providing comprehensive support for both existing business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. They will offer access to a wide range of services, including information on grants and funding, business education classes, tax assistance, and guidance in developing business plans. Additionally, these hubs will feature retail and kitchen spaces, allowing entrepreneurs to pilot their ideas. They will also organize community events to engage the local population and shine a spotlight on our vibrant local businesses.
Chyanne Chen
- Job: Worker organizer, community facilitator & educator
- Age: 39
- Residency: Homeowner, landlord, living in District 11 since August 2000
- Transportation: Walk, public transportation, rideshare, and car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from University of California, Davis, master’s degree from Cornell University, doctoral degree in education in progress at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese
I will establish a District 11 small business task force to put forward recommendations for changes that could include more help navigating licensing, lowering or eliminating fees or creating special events to bolster foot traffic and public space activation.
We also need to expand foot patrols, street crisis response teams and community ambassadors to make sure we’re working to make our commercial corridors safer and inviting for small businesses and customers alike.
Finally, I will forge partnerships with District 7 to strengthen initiatives on Ocean Avenue, including more patrols, better lighting and clean sidewalks.
Endorsed by: Assemblymember Phil Ting, former police commissioner Larry Yee, San Francisco Board of Education commissioner Jenny Lam, former supervisors Norman Yee, Sandy Fewer and Mabel Teng.
Adlah Chisti
- Job: Public policy analyst, caregiver
- Age: 40
- Residency: Live with parents and caregive for them, born in District 11 in 1983 and lived there since, moved out in 2013 and back in 2017
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in politics and in dnvironmental science and master’s degree in education from University of San Francisco, master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy, juris doctorate from University of California Law, San Francisco.
- Languages: Spanish, Hindi
The main takeaway is that the vacancy tax is not working and has become a burden on those who are actively trying to rent their storefront. And we need to reevaluate it. And without adequate funding or investment to some of these empty storefronts we may not see the change. We need to:
- Expand the vacant to vibrant grant program for pop-ups to district-level corridors, not just downtown.
- Continue the first year free program which waives the cost of initial registration fees, initial license fee. And I know this because I personally have attended Excelsior Action Group (EAG) meetings …Read More.
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
- Job: Community advocate
- Age: 38
- Residency: Living in District 11 since November 1985 and has lived here always, except for time away at college
In order to boost business viability we have to first provide safe and clean environments for businesses to thrive in. We must work first to remove the graffiti and trash from our streets and storefronts. We must also stabilize the existing businesses who have anchored our spaces. Portions of this can be achieved through dedicated marketing campaigns for Excelsior and Ocean businesses.
We must highlight the spirit of our district by hosting cultural events and markets to attract people from outside of our neighborhood to our corridors. By partnering with the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre and the Cow Palace we can capture attendees after events to increase the nighttime vibrancy.
Endorsed by: Supervisors Shamann Walton and Myrna Melgar, Assemblymember Matt Haney, Former SF mayor Willie Brown Jr., Transit Workers Union Local 250A. read more here
District 11 contribution
Money raised and spent in the District 11 supervisor race
Money raised
Money spent
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
$34,342
$70,501
Chyanne Chen
$0
Adlah Chisti
$0
Roger Marenco
$0
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
Money spent
Money raised
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
$70,501
$34,342
Chyanne Chen
$0
Adlah Chisti
$0
Roger Marenco
$0
$0
$50K
$100K
$150K
$200K
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
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.
