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Welcome to โMeet the Candidates,โ 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’s question: Name one specific transit shortcoming in District 7, and tell us, how would you address it as supervisor?
Also, please come join me for coffee next week to talk about District 7: I will be at Java on Ocean (1700 Ocean Ave.) at 10 a.m. on Friday August 2. You can also reach out to me at kelly@missionlocal.com.
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
In hilltop neighborhoods, public transportation is sparse. Midtown Terrace, Forest Knolls, and Miraloma Park rely on only the 36 Teresita, and Golden Gate Heights relies on the 66 Quintara and the 6 Haight-Parnassus, all of which come relatively infrequently. The cost-versus-benefit ratio prevents more frequent service. However, if we can lower costs by using smaller SFMTA-paratransit-type vehicles to supplement service, operating costs can be lowered, and quality of service increased. Furthermore, transit can be significantly upgraded if the M-Ocean View is put underground and extended to Daly City BART, which will provide for high-volume rapid transit on the Westside.
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
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.
Endorsed by: San Francisco Police Officers Association
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
One specific transit shortcoming is the low frequency of North-South options on the Westside. The 18, 29, 28, 44 service all need to be improved.
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.
Do you have a question for the candidates? Let me know: kelly@missionlocal.com
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
