Welcome back to “Meet the Candidates,” where Mission Local asks supervisor hopefuls questions in the lead-up to the November election. In District 7 โ which includes the Inner Sunset, Parkmerced and West Portal โ Matt Boschetto and Stephen Martin-Pinto are running against incumbent Myrna Melgar.
This week, we asked the candidates: What do you think of Aaron Peskin’s housing density bill?
The bill, sponsored by Peskin, the city’s newest mayoral candidate, enforces some density restrictions in selected historic areas in District 3, including Jackson Park and East of Columbus Avenue. It was vetoed by Mayor London Breed in March and, about two weeks later, the veto was overturned by a supermajority of the Board of Supervisors.
Previously, when we asked the candidates what District 7 must do to meet the state housing element, all the candidates agreed that, generally, more housing is needed — especially at larger sites in the district, like Stonestown.
On this week’s question, however, opinions are split.
Melgar was one of the three supervisors to vote against it, siding with Mayor Breed, while Martin-Pinto said he supports the legislation. Boschetto did not respond.
Their responses are below, but I would also like to let you know that I will be in your district next Wednesday April 17, at 11 a.m. at Beanery (1307 9th Avenue). Come and say hello!
And of course, if you have a question for the candidates, let me know: kelly@missionlocal.com.
Matt Boschetto
- Job: Small business owner
- Age: 35
- Housing: Homeowner
- Transport: Car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Saint Mary’s College of California
- Residency: Living in District 7 since 2014
Did not respond.
Stephen Martin-Pinto
- Job: Firefighter/major, U.S. Marine Corps reserves
- Age: 46
- Housing: Tenant in SF, property owner and landlord in Lemon Grove, California
- Transport: Fairly evenly split between car, Muni and walking
- Languages: Spanish, Russian, Georgian
- Education: University of California, Davis
- Residency: Living in District 7โs Sunnyside since 2014, and earlier from 1983 to 1998
Many have an opinion on this legislation, but very few seem to understand it. The original draft was quite ambitious; it placed numerical density limits in the entire area northeast of Columbus Avenue and north of Washington Street, which I wouldnโt have supported. However, it was modified to include only two small historic districts: Jackson Square and North-East Waterfront, home to many buildings from the 1800s. Historic buildings can still be converted into housing according to form-based density limits โ as many units as the building envelope will allow, while preserving exterior appearance. I support Peskinโs legislation in its amended form.
Endorsed by: Former District 7 Supervisor Tony Hall, former Planning Commissioner Michael Antonini, former Police Chief Tony Ribera, drug policy advocate Tom Wolf, BART Board Director Debora Allen … read more here
Myrna Melgar
- Job: District 7 supervisor
- Age: 56
- Housing: Homeowner
- Transport: Bike
- Languages: Spanish, French, Swedish
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, Excelsior College; master’s degree in urban planning, Columbia University
- Residency: Living in Ingleside Terraces since 2011, and lived in District 7 while in college at SF State between 1987 and 1991
I voted against the legislation to reimpose restrictions in certain areas of District 3. The legislation exempted affluent neighborhoods where we should be adding housing, particularly affordable housing. We have committed to building 83,000 housing units in SF over the next decade; half of that should be affordable. If we build less in a particular area, then more has to be built elsewhere. We have agreed to retain certain restrictions in some neighborhoods: The Mission, Chinatown, Fillmore, Bayview, etc., because past government policies have concentrated density in those areas. Everywhere else, we should be building more housing.
Endorsed by: SF Labor Council, SF Tenants Union, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Hillary Ronen, Supervisor Connie Chan, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor Catherine Stefani, Senator Scott Weiner, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins … read more here
The order of candidates alternates each week. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar.
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.