Illustration of District 3 Supervisorial Race 2024 candidates: Moe Jamil, Sharon Lai, Danny Sauter, Wendy Ha Chau, Matthew Susk, Eduard Navarro. Background shows landmarks including a trolley and buildings.

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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. 

Question this week: Do you support Sen. Scott Wiener’s AI safety bill? Why or why not?

Currently awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision, Sen. Scott Wiener’s AI safety bill, SB 1047, has been controversial among San Francisco politicians. Its opponents include Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Mayor London Breed, and mayoral candidates Aaron Peskin and Mark Farrell. 

Among the six District 3 candidates, only Wiener’s pick, Danny Sauter, supports the bill.

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

I do not support Weiner’s bill.

It is complete garbage in an attempt to hide the real motives of the potential shakedown a government entity can pull on any AI company who lacks legal representation to fight this unconstitutional bill.

The same way Aaron Peskin (who endorsed some of my challengers) controls the water rights (hurting the Native American peoples) on the Truckee River, Pyramid Lake and Summit Lake, Weiner wants to hold AI companies hostage by potentially making claims the energy usage is somehow a WMD or will create mass amounts of deaths … when it is all fake … read more here

A cartoon of a man in a suit.

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

San Francisco and the Bay Area are the epicenters of the AI revolution. This new technology crosses state and international borders. This will require federal and international regulation, rather than a state-by-state patchwork approach. California should be a major stakeholder in that national and global conversation.

Endorsed by: San Francisco Tenants Union, San Francisco police Officers Association, San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, Board President Aaron Peskin … read more here

A cartoon of a woman in a business suit.

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

[No response submitted.]

Endorsed by: Community Tenants Association, Teamsters Joint Council 7, 7 of the current Board of Supervisors … read more here

Illustration of a bald man with a beard from District 3 wearing a blue jacket.

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)

No. We must not govern from fear. It’s too early to regulate AI, when harms are hypothetical and the industry is still nascent. 

Instead, the state should invest resources in developing the science of “AI Safety and Security” to prevent catastrophes, much like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, rather than imposing bureaucratic hurdles on private companies through committees and task forces that may lack industry expertise. 

In this new world, we must unite as a species, not assign blame or stifle exploration and enterprise. Like fire in human development, both terrifying and transformative, if catastrophe strikes, blame will not undo the damage.

A cartoon of a man with a beard.

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

AI presents incredible opportunities for growth and innovation, but it also poses risks and unintended consequences. Lawmakers are right to be taking this seriously and working to find a way to support innovation while placing reasonable safeguards alongside new technology. I support SB 1047 because I believe it balances these needs well. It only affects the largest AI companies, and is narrowly scoped to avoid critical harm that could be caused by AI models.

Endorsed by: Nor Cal Carpenters Union, Senator Scott Wiener, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Operating Engineers Local 3 …  read more here

A cartoon of a man in a suit.

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

I support efforts to ensure AI safety, but state-level AI policy should target risks California is uniquely positioned to manage, rather than those needing nationwide solutions. While I’m open to reasonable AI regulation, I’m concerned Sen. Wiener’s bill could stifle innovation in San Francisco’s AI industry and push companies to relocate. AI is advancing rapidly, and we need policies that address risks without hindering innovation or responsible risk-taking, ensuring continued growth in this critical field.

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.

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I’m a staff reporter covering city hall with a focus on the Asian community. I came on as an intern after graduating from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and became a full-time staff reporter as part of the Report for America and have stayed on. Before falling in love with the Mission, I covered New York City, studied politics through the “street clashes” in Hong Kong, and earned a wine-tasting certificate in two days. I'm proud to be a bilingual journalist. Follow me on Twitter @Yujie_ZZ.

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1 Comment

  1. Scott Wiener needs a job in the private sector instead of selling his interest$ in the public sector masquerading as public service.

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