Welcome back to our โMeet the Candidatesโ series, where we ask every supervisorial hopeful in the November 2024 election one question each week. Candidates are asked to answer questions on policy, ideology and more in 100 words or fewer.
Answers are being published individually each week, but we are also archiving the weekly series here.
If you know of other political events, let me know and I will add them to the post.
I will be at Noah’s NY Bagels at 2300 16th St, on Thursday, May 30, at 11 a.m. to say hello and talk about the district, or you can email me at oscar.palma@missionlocal.com.
This week’s question: Do you support more on demand treatment centers in the district?
Roberto Hernandez
- Job: CEO, Cultura y Arte Nativa de Las Americas (CANA).
- Age: 67
- Residency: Homeowner, born in the Mission in June 1956 and has not left
- Transportation: Car and bicycle
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of San Francisco
- Languages: English and Spanish
“I absolutely support this. As someone with nearly 30 years of sobriety, I know first-hand that addiction is a symptom of a larger public-health crisis, and one of the most essential interventions available is treatment on demand.
It is abhorrent that our current policies are designed to leave those struggling with addiction to die in our streets. The City must dedicate the resources necessary to provide support as needed to those on the brink of overdose.
As we hold accountable those responsible for dealing deadly drugs, I’m also committed to treatment, rehabilitation and compassionate care for those suffering the most.”
Endorsed by: State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Supervisor Myrna Melgar, Supervisor Shamann Walton, State Senator Scott Wiener, BART Director Bevan Dufty … read more here
Trevor Chandler
- Job: Public school teacher since 2023. Former director of government and public policy at Citizen, a public safety app.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 9 since July 2021
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Plymouth State University
- Languages: English
“I support an all-of-the-above approach to solving our addiction crisis including access to on-demand treatment services 24/7. I also support Assemblymember [Matt] Haney’s AB 2479, which would finally legalize sober, drug-free housing in San Francisco.
As someone in long-term recovery, I know first-hand there is no one-size-fits-all to recovery, but too often we have seen this debate dominated by those on the extremes: Those who believe in a harm reduction-only approach, and those who believe in going back to the failed war on drugs.
I believe most San Franciscans reject those extremes and, like me, believe in balancing compassion and accountability.”
Endorsed by: Latino LGBTQ political organization HONOR PAC, State Senator Scott Wiener, Assembly Member Rick Chavez Zbur, Brownie Mary Democratic Club, Supreme Court Marriage Equality Lead Plaintiff Jim Obergefell … read more here
Jackie Fielder
- Job: Nonprofit co-director at Stop the Money Pipeline. Former educator at San Francisco State University, co-founder of the San Francisco Public Bank Coalition. Democratic Socialist
- Age: 29
- Residency: Tenant, lived in District 9 September 2017 to June 2018, October 2019 to August 2020 ,and April 2021 to present
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in public policy and master’s degree in sociology from Stanford University
- Languages: English and Spanish
“Yes. The overdose crisis is also a racial-equity issue. Black San Franciscans are five times more likely than the overall population to die from an overdose, and Latino San Franciscans still face multiple barriers to accessing life-saving tools, such as naloxone. We need investments in culturally competent and data-driven treatment programs, and for Hispanic and Mayan-speaking residents, translated information in Spanish and Mayan dialects is key. With 2023 as the deadliest year ever for drug overdoses, people need to have access to various types of treatment, whether that’s medication-assisted therapies, step programs, contingency management, or other culturally relevant methods.”
Endorsed by: Former State Representative Tom Ammiano, Former D9 Supervisor David Campos, Former Mayor Art Agnos, City College Trustee Vick Chung, D3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin … read more here
Julian Bermudez
- Job: Works in and directs his family business, Rancho Grande Appliance
- Age: 27
- Residency: Born San Francisco in 1996, raised on and off in District 9 until he left for college in 2015, then the army in 2019 and now back, living in the Mission
- Transportation: Carpool/catch a ride
- Education: City College of San Francisco, Chico State University
- Languages: English and Spanish
“I do support on-demand treatment centers in the District. Most people in crisis are taken to a hospital or jail, and discharged with no assistance back onto the streets. Police officers or ambulances could transport someone experiencing a mental health crisis or under the influence of drugs to a treatment center rather than a hospital or jail. On-demand treatment centers can assist residents in achieving sobriety or receiving necessary mental health care. Steps for cleaner streets start with helping those in most need.”
Endorsed by: No endorsements listed … read more here
h brown
- Job: Retired special education teacher
- Age: 80
- Residency: Tenant, at current address for nine years, redistricted into District 9 in April 2022
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in special education from Clemson University
- Languages: English
“Put SUD treatment centers in the spaces rented for flea market vendors.
Prop. T from 2008 made adequate space and funding for those wishing to stop using drugs a legal requirement for San Francisco.
In addition …
Every addict should be offered $10,000 cash to be sterilized.
I worked with behaviorally disturbed people for 40 years, and the problem is worse now than ever.
While there are many talented and hard-working people doing this kind of work, there aren’t enough.
Time to address the problem at its source.
Which is unwanted children.”
Endorsed by: No endorsements listed.
Stephen Torres
- Job: Bartender at Twin Peaks Tavern, customer service at Flowercraft Nursery and freelance writer
- Age: 46
- Residency: Tenant, lived in District 9 summer 2001 to fall 2003, and returned in the summer 2010
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Moorpark Community College and San Francisco City College as work has permitted
- Languages: English and Spanish
“Immediate access to treatment should be available to anyone in San Francisco whether that be basic healthcare, mental health services, or substance-related care. This treatment should be low-barrier and comprehensive in scope and range from emergency response to stabilizing, and long term care. Increasing points of access will benefit the entire City, including District 9, but we must also directly target needs in District 9 by increasing funding for the important access points that have already been implemented, like Ward 86, HealthRIGHT 360, MNHC, and Latino Wellness Center. And we must expand that network by prioritizing bond funding for …” read more here
Endorsed by: Mark Leno, Former State Senator, Aaron Peskin, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Hillary Ronen, Supervisor, District 9 … read more here
Jaime Gutierrez
- Job: Transit supervisor for SFMTA/Muni
- Age: 57
- Residency: Tenant, born in District 9 in 1967 and, except for three years spent in the Army, has resided here ever since
- Transportation: Bike
- Education: U.S. Army, City College of San Francisco, University of California, Berkeley
- Languages: English and Spanish
“I do support on-demand treatment centers, because people are dying daily from either drug addiction or alcoholism. If someone wants to get sober, or needs any help along these lines; it should be available 24 hours a day. This may be the only time you can meet someone where they are at, and truly reach them, is when the window is open. This open window is very limited. Calling a public-health service that will immediately respond, and provide instant access to detox will go a long way to helping to provide a solution to a major problem.”
Endorsed by: Transportation Workers Union Local 200 … read more here
Michael Petrelis
- Job: AIDS and LGBTQ activist
- Age: No response given
- Residency: Has lived on Clinton Park since May 1996, which became part of District 9 in April 2022
- Transportation: Petrelis asked not to participate in the series
- Education: Petrelis asked not to participate in the series
- Languages: English
Petrelis said he wishes not to participate.
Endorsed by: Not seeking endorsements, and I see much of the endorsement industrial complex as corrupt, rife with payola and favor-trading, and for gotcha responses.
District 9 contributions
Money raised and spent in the District 9 supervisor race
Money raised
Money spent
Jackie Fielder
$31,954
$112,742
Roberto Hernandez
$11,443
$100,577
Trevor Chandler
$72,682
$90,840
Stephen Torres
$13,848
$5,949
Julian Bermudez
$740
Michael Petrelis
$0
Jamie Gutierrez
$0
h Brown
$0
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
Money raised
Money spent
Jackie Fielder
$31,954
$112,742
Roberto Hernandez
$11,443
$100,577
Trevor Chandler
$72,682
$90,840
Stephen Torres
$13,848
$5,949
Julian Bermudez
$740
Michael Petrelis
$0
Jamie Gutierrez
$0
h Brown
$0
$0
$50K
$100K
$150K
$200K
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
Candidates are rotated alphabetically. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at oscar.palma@missionlocal.com
Read the rest of the District 9 questions here, and the entire โMeet the Candidatesโ series here.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
Why is h brown advocating for eugenics..
Carla,
Those gangs of kids running through high end stores in Union Square and various Drug Stores and Safeways around town would not exist if I had my way.
They’re my Students or were and the one thing they have in common is that they were raised in drug and crime filled chaos by parents or guardians who did not want them in the First Place.
Then you get to pay me to teach them about Real Justice through my Special Ed programs at the Last period in their lives they can be saved which is Middle School age.
Teachers like myself can succeed but there are just not enough of us.
So ?
Cut the population.
I also support Legalizing the SF Sex Industry a’ la Amsterdam and Germany.
h.
Honestly, I’m not sure who to vote for but I do believe we need a shake up in City Hall.
The top 3 contenders all have really big issues and feel like more of the same.
I will not vote for Roberto. He could have shown true leadership in the Mission by showing he stands with victims of sexual assault. Instead he and his band of OGs hung out with and platformed Jon Jacobo. To date he has stayed silent, even serving on the Calle24 Board with him. He also won’t say who he favors as mayor but the whole community knows he has always been a Breed supporter.
I will not vote for Jackie. I’m trying to figure out Jackie’s history here in D9. Every time she talks she brings everything except the district she supposedly wants to represent. Nobody knows what or cares about no fracking public bank! Also her recent bilingual English/Spanish flyer prominently featured District 11 resident and former Supervisor John Avalos. Again showing she has no true connections here. The last Latino D9 Supervisor was David Campos, not Avalos. But also we need to end the Tom Ammiano pipeline, he pushed for Campos and Ronen and now wants to anoint Jackie.
Trevor just creeps me out and not just because he is a former AIPAC lobbyist. If you meet him, you’ll see how off-putting he is. Plus he is one of those doom loop guys. Quit trying to frighten people to vote for you and give us a vision of hope. However, unlike Jackie he has been involved in organizations and groups within the district. I will definitely not vote for him.
I don’t know enough bout the others to comment yet. Hopefully ML can host a real debate with all the candidates so we can get to know them better.
It is really messed up, either the Mission continues to subjugated to the Bernal Mafia that maintains the nonprofit mafia as colonizers or it is direct rule by the nonprofit mafia or we get an AIPAC/HRC supervisor. What a mess.
What does “connections to the community” even mean in the Mission, maintaining oneself in the good graces of a few dozen city funded nonprofiteers?
Benny,
Yesterday Roberto Hernandez got about a hundred thousand people out for Carnaval.
That, my friend, is Grass Roots Organizing.
I like Fielder’s Visionary outlook but to Protect vulnerable Seniors on the Streets and deal with the Rogue Hill Bombers and other Counter Culture groups we need someone who knows the people personally on the pavement and that’s Hernandez.
h.
Agreed on all the points. Jamie Gutierrez sounds like he makes some good points, but the $0 campaign funds makes him irrelevant. Hoping that changes with the next filing.
JBS,
Gutierrez lost me when he said that prison was not enough of a punishment for our local political corrupt politicians.
Statistics say that Reform Works and Revenge doesn’t.
Wrong mindset.
h.
Not one of the candidates said that we should welcome one such facility in the Mission (or the TL, SOMA or Bayview, for that matter) for every one such facility sited in in any of D1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 or 11?
Looks like the containment zone is here to stay.