Welcome back to our weekly “Meet the Candidates” series, in which 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 week, I will be at Blue Danube Coffee House at 306 Clement St. at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31. Drop by and share your thoughts, or reach me at junyao@missionlocal.com.
Last week, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority held its first virtual town hall to discuss a potential new rail subway under Geary Boulevard and 19th Avenue, connecting the city’s westside to downtown San Francisco. As the city builds more housing units in the westside, “bus alone won’t be enough to serve the appetite for travel in this corridor,” said Jesse Koehler, rail program manager at the transit authority.
The project is still at its very early stages of planning and is at least over 15 years away. But the city is conducting a study to outline the benefits, costs and risks of the project.
It will be an expensive project, planners said, with an estimated cost of $15 to $25 billion. At last week’s town hall, residents shared similar concerns, pointing out that the Central Subway went way beyond its timeline and budget to build.
This week, we asked the candidates: Do you support the Geary/19th Subway? Why or why not?
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, public transportation, driving
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and master’s degree from Samuel Merritt University
- Languages: English
I strongly support the Geary/19th Subway Project. Investing in public transit is a smart, efficient, and responsible choice for our community. A world-class subway in our neighborhood will benefit small businesses by increasing access and foot traffic. It will reduce traffic congestion and parking demands while lowering emissions for cleaner air and better public health. Moreover, it will enhance mobility for the elderly, disabled, low-income individuals, and those without driver’s licenses. And while strategic long-term planning is a crucial component of a holistic transit plan, it must be combined with fast, cost-effective measures that promote commuting by bus, biking … read more here
Marjan Philhour
- Job: Business owner, former advisor and fundraiser to London Breed
- Age: 50
- 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
Residents of the Richmond District deserve safe and reliable transit corridors that connect them to all parts of our city, whether for work, school, or fun. The Geary/19th Avenue Subway project is a critical opportunity to expand transit options in the Richmond District, giving residents better access to parts of our city that currently take too long to reach via MUNI. The MUNI 38/38R line, which connects the Richmond District with Downtown, serves over 55,000 residents daily. Richmond District residents who commute downtown or need to connect with BART or Caltrain deserve a direct underground rail stop … read more here
Endorsed by: San Francisco Democratic Party, TogetherSF, 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
In general, yes I support building a subway to the Richmond. However, until the city can balance the budget and build infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner, I would not approve such a project at this time.
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
Yes, I support the Geary/19th Ave. Subway Project. Building a subway to the Richmond District would improve public transit access and help residents rely less on their cars. However, oftentimes, while stakeholders can all agree on the vision of transit development of this scale, the challenges have always been about staying on budget, completing on time and mitigating negative impacts in advance. This is why before the city moves forward with a Geary/19th Ave. Subway, we must evaluate lessons learned from the Central Subway, Van Ness BRT [bus rapid transit] and other large scale transit projects, to make sure we have … read more here
Endorsed by: Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco Labor Council, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, Local 21, Service Employees International Union 1021 … read more here
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
The idea is captivating, but this project will not happen in my lifetime or yours. It will be a bottomless pit of money that will cost double or triple whatever we are told. Millions were spent on the Van Ness BRT [bus rapid transit] and metro platforms at Sonestown and SFSU, but there is trash and graffiti on the platforms everyday. Thousands have been spent on the Valencia [center bike lane] project, which has been in continual disrepair since it was installed. Transit agencies do not have a good track record and are unable to maintain the current infrastructure. Adding more does not make sense.
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.
