Between February and the November election, Mission Local is asking 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.
Because Supervisor Aaron Peskin terms out next January, six candidates have filed to run for his seat to lead District 3, which includes North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, the Financial District, Russian Hill and Nob Hill.
Have a question for the candidates? Meet me on Thursday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m. at Joy’s Place (611 Post St.). Email me at yujie@missionlocal.com.
Question this week: What do you think about the Biking and Rolling Plan and the District 3 portion of the three proposed scenarios?
Five of the six candidates expressed disapproval of the SFMTA’s Biking and Rolling Plan.
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
People should be able to get to their destination along a network of safe and reliable routes and lanes. As a mom in a multimodal family, my vision includes a network that resolves existing conflicts and supports all people on their daily needs to work, shop, play and make family trips, no matter their mode of choice.
However, we need a holistic approach to mobility planning that engages all users. Meetings should be held with all impacted parties, and SFMTA should be responsible for outreach, not outsource it to a neighborhood group, so that there can be trust and transparency.
Endorsed by: Community Tenants Association, Teamsters Joint Council 7, 7 of the current Board of Supervisors … read more here
Eduard Navarro
- Job: Tech startup founder
- Age: 44
- Residency: Tenant in District 3 since December 2021
- Transportation: Walking, public transportation
- Education: CFA Institute: Chartered Financial Analyst, passed level 1. Master’s degree from Columbia University, architecture, concentration in urban design. Master’s degree from Columbia University, real estate development, concentrating in finance. Ecole d’Architecture de La Villette. Bachelor’s degree in architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology.
- Languages: Spanish, French, German, English, Valèncian (Catalan)
Biking and rolling are good things.
The Biking and Rolling Plan, however, must be reviewed in conjunction with all other modes of transportation and streetscaping to ensure a holistic approach. Biking should not be presented or implemented in a vacuum or piecemeal.
Second, outreach must be simpler and more effective; the recent North Beach meeting evidenced that residents feel overrun by the current methods, a missed opportunity to garner support and participation for what should be joyful city improvement.
Third, a simultaneous awareness campaign is essential to educate and inform cyclists about the rules of the road, ensuring everyone’s safety … read more here
Danny Sauter
- Job: Executive Director, Neighborhood Centers Together
- Age: 36
- Residency: Tenant in District 3 since 2014
- Transportation: Public transportation
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Miami University
- Languages: English, Cantonese
Getting around District 3 by foot, bike, or public transit needs to be safer, faster, and more reliable. As Supervisor, I’ll partner with SFMTA to make sure that we bring pedestrian safety and protected bicycle infrastructure to the parts of District 3 that need them most.
We need to slow down dangerous traffic in Lower Nob Hill, protect seniors in Chinatown as they walk, and support families as they travel to school. District 3 is full of what makes San Francisco special: vibrant and walkable neighborhoods full of creative people. As Supervisor, I’ll strengthen this, not roll it back.
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
It is important to offer safe bike paths, but we must also ensure that young families, seniors, and small businesses feel supported.
Seniors require open roads and parking spaces to access medical care and social connections. Young families need more roads, not fewer, to take their children to school and sports practice. Small businesses in Chinatown were irreversibly impacted by the SFMTA’s mismanagement of the Central Subway construction, and we cannot allow that to happen again.
I will always prioritize District 3 neighbors over special interests.
Wendy Ha Chau
- Job: Attorney
- Age: 44
- Residency: Tenant in District 3 since 2009
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: Juris doctor degree from John F. Kennedy University
- Languages: English
NO ADDED BIKE LANES IN CHINATOWN.
This plan does not serve the people of color in District 3.
What needs to happen is the people of the SFMTA need to tell the police to start giving speeding tickets and enforce all traffic laws.
In the TenderNob, the posted speed limit is 20 mph (same in the Tenderloin). No one goes 20. The bicyclists all go over 20, the cars go over 20 … no one uses their signals (which is especially dangerous if you are on a bike and not using hand signals)
There is not a single law … read more here
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 perspectives and interests of all District 3 stakeholders must be considered before decisions are made for our streets. MTA does thorough outreach to bicycle riders, but neglects feedback from residents, small businesses, transit riders and drivers. By the time plans are presented to the greater community, like the Biking and Rolling Plan, they’re often skewed, and soliciting input seems to be a formality rather than a genuine interest by the SFMTA to incorporate the needs of all street and sidewalk users. That must change. Proper community outreach and including neighborhood voices in policy-making is the City’s responsibility.
Endorsed by: San Francisco Tenants Union, Teamsters Joint Council 7, Retired Assistant Police Chief Garrett Tom, Board President Aaron Peskin … read more here
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.
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.
Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
Wow, Wendy Ha Chau—you are a shrill, deeply unserious person. Deeply cynical, too, because you come off as a fancy-pants lawyer who very likely has traveled abroad and thus understands why **street design,** not enforcement, is the secret sauce that other better-run countries use. Vertical bike and transit separation is essential for a safe city that works well for all travelers and all modes.