Joel Engardio’s future is up in the air. Who might replace him?

Voters in the Sunset have three months to decide whether to boot Joel Engardio from his seat on the Board of Supervisors, but the race to replace the embattled representative is well underway.&nbsp;



More than a dozen names are circulating as potential appointees if Engardio is ousted <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/29/joel-engardio-supervisor-recall-september/">in the Sept. 16 special election</a>. If he is recalled, Mayor Daniel Lurie will select a replacement.



One of the most visible contenders is Albert Chow, a merchant leader and president of the neighborhood group People of Parkside Sunset. He was an outspoken critic of Proposition K, the citywide ballot measure to close the Great Highway, and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/21/engardio-recall-campaign-signatures-great-highway/">a prominent face of the recall campaign against Engardio</a>.



“If the mayor asks me, I will be very interested in this opportunity,” Chow told The Standard.



Another name in the mix is Arthur Tom, who ran for supervisor in 2018 but lost to Gordon Mar. Tom served on city commissions for two decades and worked in City Hall as a tax auditor. A member of the Rent Board Commission, representing landlord interests, Tom may attract support from the real estate sector.&nbsp;



Tom didn’t play a major role in the Engardio recall campaign but said he signed the petition. He confirmed that he’s interested in the appointment.&nbsp;



Both Chow and Tom are moderate and Chinese American — a reflection of the district’s politics and demographics. Every Sunset supervisor since 2000, when district elections were reinstated, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/10/20/sf-district-chinese-american-supervisors/">had been Chinese American</a> until Engardio defeated Mar in 2022.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="1667" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8917722430_sunsetdunesfood-08.jpg?w=1667" alt="A green sign reads &quot;Sunset Dunes.&quot; Below, a person walks a dog on a sidewalk in a neighborhood with colorful buildings and palm trees under a cloudy sky." class="wp-image-390091" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8917722430_sunsetdunesfood-08.jpg 2000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8917722430_sunsetdunesfood-08.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8917722430_sunsetdunesfood-08.jpg?resize=768,1152 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8917722430_sunsetdunesfood-08.jpg?resize=1667,2500 1667w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8917722430_sunsetdunesfood-08.jpg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8917722430_sunsetdunesfood-08.jpg?resize=1365,2048 1365w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1667px) 100vw, 1667px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">After Proposition K passed, a portion of the Great Highway was closed to car traffic and transformed into a park called Sunset Dunes.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greathighway_2025-20.jpg?w=2500" alt="People gather by the ocean, smiling and clapping, as a man holds up a “Sunset Dunes” sign. A band setup is nearby under a clear sky." class="wp-image-387887" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greathighway_2025-20.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greathighway_2025-20.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greathighway_2025-20.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greathighway_2025-20.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greathighway_2025-20.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greathighway_2025-20.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Engardio receives the official plaque of Sunset Dunes.</figcaption></figure>



Moderate political group GrowSF has launched its own search for a replacement for Engardio. After the recall qualified, the group began soliciting names of potential District 4 candidates with certain qualifications — pro-housing, pro-police, and anti-Prop. K. In an interview, GrowSF confirmed that it has conducted outreach to Sunset residents on both sides of the recall and talked to people with interest in the seat.



“This isn’t about opposing Joel,” GrowSF cofounder Steven Bacio said, “but about being ready for the potential June election if the recall succeeds.”



GrowSF has long been an Engardio ally and supported Prop. K but shifted its tone <a href="https://growsf.org/news/2025-05-29-engardio-recall-qualifies/">in a recent blog post</a> urging politicians to “focus on delivering what your constituents want.” Prop. K passed citywide but faced fierce opposition within District 4, where the portion of the now-closed Great Highway is located.



Progressives have remained mostly silent. One name that had floated as a possible wild card — former Assemblymember Phil Ting — appears to be off the table, according to sources. Mar, the former supervisor who lost to Engardio in 2022, did not return a request for comment about whether he is interested in the seat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lurie-s-calculation">Lurie’s calculation</h2>



The mayor’s decision will likely take into account not just political alignment but whether the appointee can win a competitive election afterward. Lurie’s appointee would have to stand for reelection in June 2026.



David Ho, a political consultant who supported Mar in 2022, said he opposes the recall but believes Engardio is likely to be removed. He thinks that Lurie, who positioned himself as a City Hall outsider, could surprise everyone with an unexpected pick who is not from the political world or the recall camp. However, he cited former Mayor Ed Lee’s 2015 appointment of Julie Christensen to represent District 3, which contradicted community input, especially in Chinatown, and Christensen’s loss in the following election.



“If Lurie doesn’t listen to the recall activists, he may pay the price,” Ho said.



Lurie’s office declined to comment.



Joe Arellano, spokesperson for Engardio’s anti-recall campaign, dismissed the current effort to replace Engardio and pointed to the supervisor’s achievements in public safety, education, and small business.



“Sunset voters want results, not opportunists,” he said.



The Chinese American Democratic Club, which was a driving force in opposing Prop. K and supporting the recall, will also start vetting candidates. Its president, Josephine Zhao, and vice president, Selena Chu, are Sunset residents and advocates of the recall.&nbsp;



They told The Standard they won’t run for the seat but insisted that the next supervisor must have the recall campaign’s support.



“We want someone who shares the values of the Sunset and who’s been in the fight with us,” Zhao said. “Not someone moving in from the outside.”

Rafael Mandelman is the new Board of Supervisors president

Rafael Mandelman was elected Wednesday by his colleagues as president of the Board of Supervisors, one of San Francisco’s most powerful roles, with influence over the budget and legislative changes.



The unanimous vote ended weeks of speculation over who would be the next president. Supervisor Myrna Melgar previously expressed interest in the position but chose not to run.



“I feel good. I&#8217;ll take it,” Mandelman told The Standard after the vote. “I&#8217;m happy to have my colleagues&#8217; support. We got a lot of work to do, and it&#8217;s nice to have the whole board coming together.”



The Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch of city government, has 11 members elected from districts across San Francisco. The current board has five new members and is considered slightly more politically moderate than the last one. Working with Mayor Daniel Lurie, who was inaugurated Wednesday, the officials are tasked with resolving a roughly $876 million budget deficit in the coming months.



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Mandelman will serve as president for two years. He promised to play a more cooperative role with the new mayor, saying Lurie&#8217;s success is San Francisco&#8217;s success.



“I think everybody wants to work with Daniel Lurie,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Everyone wants Daniel Lurie to be successful.&#8221;



After the vote, Lurie showed up at the board meeting to congratulate Mandelman and set a friendly tone.



&#8220;We are not going to agree on everything, we know this, and that&#8217;s OK,&#8221; Lurie said. &#8220;I want to commit to you, as your mayor, working alongside the board president, that we are going to have honest, open, and transparent conversations.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/supervisors-fighting-for-presidency-a-black-horse-wins_aar_8.jpg?w=2500" alt="Several people are seated at a large, ornate desk in a formal setting, with two men in suits engaged in conversation. American and California flags are visible." class="wp-image-352574" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/supervisors-fighting-for-presidency-a-black-horse-wins_aar_8.jpg 7161w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/supervisors-fighting-for-presidency-a-black-horse-wins_aar_8.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/supervisors-fighting-for-presidency-a-black-horse-wins_aar_8.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/supervisors-fighting-for-presidency-a-black-horse-wins_aar_8.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/supervisors-fighting-for-presidency-a-black-horse-wins_aar_8.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/supervisors-fighting-for-presidency-a-black-horse-wins_aar_8.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mandelman, left, talks to Mayor Daniel Lurie after he was selected as president of the Board of Supervisors.</figcaption></figure>



The board presidency comes with outsize influence in the lawmaking process, such as the ability to fast-track or slow down proposals. The president also controls committee assignments, setting the stage for key policy debates in the coming year.&nbsp;



Mandelman, who was elected in 2018 to represent the Castro, is the longest-serving supervisor on the board. An attorney, he previously served on the City College Board of Trustees. 



Before Wednesday&#8217;s vote, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/12/18/stephen-sherrill-san-francisco-board-of-supervisors-london-breed/">Stephen Sherrill</a>, Jackie Fielder, Danny Sauter, Bilal Mahmood, and Chyanne Chen were sworn in as supervisors.

SF school district is in chaos. Here are the 11 candidates vying to clean up the mess

You may have heard about the school closures and fiscal crisis in the San Francisco Unified School District, but an important election that could shape the district’s future has gone largely under the radar this year.



It&#8217;s the school board race.



Four seats are up for grabs at the Board of Education, the seven-member governing body overseeing the policies of the K-12 public school district. The top four winners will join the board next January to work with the superintendent to navigate chaos at the district, including closing a nine-figure budget deficit, laying off staff, and restarting the process of closing and consolidating schools after it was put on pause.



As of Nov. 18, Deputy City Attorney Jaime Huling, affordable housing director Parag Gupta, attorney and parent organizer Supryia Ray, and education foundation founder John Jersin, and current board president Matt Alexander were projected to win the election.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timeline-of-chaos">Timeline of chaos</h2>



Those elected will inherit massive challenges that came to a head over the summer when state officials <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/05/07/sfusd-budget-crisis-concerns-warning/">issued a serious warning to the district</a>. Due to its worsening budget crisis, the California Department of Education downgraded the district&#8217;s financial situation to &#8220;negative&#8221; as the deficit mounted to $400 million, prompting state intervention in the district&#8217;s financial decisions, including <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/27/state-control-sfusd-hiring/">reviewing its hiring</a>.



The initial rollout of a school closure announcement <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/12/sfusd-closures-parents-students/">sent parents into panic mode</a>, with families at smaller schools concerned they would be on the chopping block.



In August, then-Board of Education President Lainie Motamedi suddenly resigned, citing personal health reasons. Mayor London Breed subsequently <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/23/phil-kim-school-board-appointment-sfusd/">appointed educator Phil Kim to the seat</a>.



The turmoil continued in September when then-Superintendent Matt Wayne decided to delay the announcement of the school closure list. Breed then <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/22/sf-mayor-assigns-team-to-help-citys-troubled-public-schools/">sent in a stabilization team</a>, led by City Hall veteran Maria Su, in an effort to rescue the district from collapse.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241009-harveymilkprotest_0414.jpg?w=2500" alt="A group of people, including children, hold colorful signs advocating to &quot;Save Our School&quot; near the Castro Theatre, with rainbow themes and messages of hope." class="wp-image-320624" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241009-harveymilkprotest_0414.jpg 4631w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241009-harveymilkprotest_0414.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241009-harveymilkprotest_0414.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241009-harveymilkprotest_0414.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241009-harveymilkprotest_0414.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241009-harveymilkprotest_0414.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The school closure plan sparked a huge backlash with kids and parents protesting the proposal.</figcaption></figure>



On Oct. 8, the district <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/08/school-closure-list-sfusd/">released the closure list targeting 13 schools</a>, prompting widespread criticism of Wayne for a lack of transparency and input in the process. The backlash grew as <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/15/breed-demands-school-closures-plan-be-scrapped/">City Hall leaders</a>, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/09/harvey-milk-school-closure-sfusd/">parents</a>, and the school board lost trust in him. A week after the list announcement, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/17/superintendent-to-resign-amid-school-closure-chaos/">Wayne was forced to resign</a> and the school board <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/18/maria-su-superindendent-sfusd/">appointed Su as the new superintendent</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-are-the-candidates">Who are the candidates?</h2>



Of the 11 candidates running, only two have some level of name recognition — Matt Alexander, the current president of the board and the only incumbent running for reelection, and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/17/ann-hsu-enters-school-board-race/">Ann Hsu</a>, a former school board member appointed after the recall of three members in 2022&nbsp;but who later lost reelection.



&#8220;I&#8217;m proud that during my time on the board, I&#8217;ve been able to build bridges across political lines to get things done for our kids,&#8221; Alexander said in a statement.



The other <a href="https://voterguide.sfelections.org/candidate-information/candidates-board-education">nine candidates</a> are business executive Min Chang, nonprofit educator Virginia Cheung, engineer and educator Lefteris Eleftheriou, affordable housing director Parag Gupta, Deputy City Attorney Jaime Huling, education foundation founder John Jersin, college student Maddy Krantz, small business owner Laurance Lem Lee, and attorney and parent organizer Supryia Ray.



The large pool of candidates split the city&#8217;s political camps and endorsements, with Alexander and Cheung securing progressive support as moderates rallied behind Ray. Chinese American candidates Lee, Hsu, and Chang are also running more on the moderate side.&nbsp;



Earlier this year, a <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sf-teachers-union-surprise-endorsement-moderate-19506792.php">political fight erupted</a> after Gupta, Huling, and Jersin formed an alliance with Alexander to win the endorsement of the progressive teacher’s union. The SF Guardians group, which led the school board recall, <a href="https://link.sfstandard.com/view/6436ea099b26044931999510l9zdi.xg/d5cf978a">rescinded its endorsement</a> of Jersin and Gupta after their alliance with Alexander, whom they accused of presiding over a <a href="https://sfguardians.substack.com/p/why-we-had-to-rescind-two-endorsements">series of poor decisions</a> that inflamed the crisis at the district.



Meredith Dodson, director of SF Parent Action, said the current school board has lost parents&#8217; trust and no incumbents should be considered.



&#8220;We really need to see a full reset to the Board of Education with this election,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Parents are hoping that with new, strong leaders, we&#8217;ll see the board get back to the basics.&#8221;

Why Aaron Peskin’s progressive cred may not be enough to win

The Bike Coalition got everything it wanted. Now what?

It was at the corner of Arguello Boulevard and Balboa Street that Christopher White had his brush with death and found his purpose in life.



While bicycling through a green light, a driver in an SUV took a left turn without seeing him. This is it. I&#8217;m gonna die, he thought to himself. White collided with the car and broke its windshield, almost becoming another tragic statistic on the city’s roads.



Sitting in a windowless conference room at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s headquarters on a June afternoon nearly 15 years later, White says the Inner Richmond incident is what sparked him to fight tooth and nail for cycling in this city.&nbsp;



He’s now in the position to do just that: This month, White was <a href="https://sfbike.org/news/meet-our-new-executive-director-christopher-white/">named</a> permanent executive director of the organization. Hailing from the world of theater, White sports a clean-cut beard, glasses, and a button-down shirt that gives you the impression he may have just come from one of the tech offices nearby—no jean shorts or gauge earrings as far as one can tell.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4097" height="5464" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240625-bikecoalitionprofile-tv0530-edited.jpg?w=1875" alt="A man with glasses and a beard, wearing a denim jacket over a light-colored shirt, stands outdoors. Trees, a building, and power lines are visible in the background." class="wp-image-285859" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240625-bikecoalitionprofile-tv0530-edited.jpg 4097w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240625-bikecoalitionprofile-tv0530-edited.jpg?resize=225,300 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240625-bikecoalitionprofile-tv0530-edited.jpg?resize=768,1024 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240625-bikecoalitionprofile-tv0530-edited.jpg?resize=1875,2500 1875w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240625-bikecoalitionprofile-tv0530-edited.jpg?resize=1152,1536 1152w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240625-bikecoalitionprofile-tv0530-edited.jpg?resize=1536,2048 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 4097px) 100vw, 4097px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Christopher White was named the permanent executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition this month after serving in an interim role.</figcaption></figure>



White’s get-up and vibe serve as a good analogy for how the organization may appear to San Franciscans on the outside today. White insists you call the group “scrappy” as he motions to the coalition’s office and its pretty trim staff and loads of bicycles scattered around. 



He’s resolute in how it operates in San Francisco’s politics: “Our approach, our tactics, are more about turning people out for the political processes that make the change happen in the city,” said White. “Showing up, giving public comment, writing to elected leaders, you know, that sort of thing.”



Over half a century after its founding, the coalition is at a turning point. No longer are its members a bunch of angry bikers on the fringes of City Hall engaging in protests like Critical Mass that riled drivers and local electeds like former Mayor Willie Brown. Now, they’ve got a seat at the table with government contracts and the ear of top officials—and have seen several major victories in recent years.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1667" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/jfkdriveparty_110922-22.jpg" alt="A group of people stand on a street holding a large sign that reads &quot;THANK YOU VOTERS!&quot; with hearts. The scene is outdoors with trees and a clear sky." class="wp-image-285836" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/jfkdriveparty_110922-22.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/jfkdriveparty_110922-22.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/jfkdriveparty_110922-22.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/jfkdriveparty_110922-22.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/jfkdriveparty_110922-22.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Bicycle Coalition and its allies notched a political win in car-free JFK, which closed a portion of Golden Gate Park to traffic. | Camille Cohen/The Standard</figcaption></figure>



Its crown jewel? Likely <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/11/08/sf-voters-likely-to-keep-car-free-jfk-drive-according-to-early-returns/">car-free JFK</a>, a fight years in the making that transformed how pedestrians and bicyclists move through the city’s most beloved park. White credited the coalition with helping to bring bicycling to some of the city’s low-income, Black and brown neighborhoods long ignored by cyclists. Other wins include <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/11/29/ambitious-peoples-slow-streets-proposal-calls-for-changes-to-100-miles-of-sf-roadways/">slow streets</a> and <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/12/05/san-francisco-market-street-pandemic-big-plans-collapsed/">car-free Market Street</a>.



Now, the coalition is facing its own questions over what purpose it should serve as the politics behind bicycling have become enmeshed in issues like criminal justice and the city’s economic vitality, advocacy that has put it into conflict with other interest groups at times.



“Maybe they’re having an identity crisis,” pondered Jason Henderson, a mobility historian at San Francisco State University and a card-carrying coalition member. “Maybe it&#8217;s the midlife crisis.”&nbsp;



As the coalition’s political power has grown, its membership has declined from a whopping 12,000 in the early 2010s to 6,000 today. In pushing for better bicycle infrastructure, it has incurred the wrath of merchant groups, such as businesses along the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/06/21/valencia-street-bike-lane-didnt-hurt-businesses-report-finds/">Valencia</a> Street bike lane in the Mission District.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3554" height="3554" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231130_amadobarclosing-12-cropped.jpg?w=2500" alt="A sign in a shop window reads, &quot;This Bike Lane is Killing Small Businesses and Our Vibrant Community,&quot; with a QR code and an organization URL at the bottom." class="wp-image-285839" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231130_amadobarclosing-12-cropped.jpg 3554w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231130_amadobarclosing-12-cropped.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231130_amadobarclosing-12-cropped.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231130_amadobarclosing-12-cropped.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231130_amadobarclosing-12-cropped.jpg?resize=2500,2500 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231130_amadobarclosing-12-cropped.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231130_amadobarclosing-12-cropped.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231130_amadobarclosing-12-cropped.jpg?resize=180,180 180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3554px) 100vw, 3554px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mission District bar owner David Quimby says that his sales dropped by 80% after the Valencia center bicycle lane was installed.</figcaption></figure>



Some of the coalition’s detractors view it as an extension of the city’s transportation agency. The group has been scrutinized for some of its contracting with the city and its organizational structure. The coalition is split between a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm and a 501(c)(4) advocacy side, the latter of which can engage in political activity like endorsing candidates in local elections. That setup isn’t uncommon among other organizations in the city.&nbsp;



In <a href="https://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/player/clip/46069?view_id=55&amp;meta_id=1061193&amp;redirect=true">May</a>, multiple SFMTA board members questioned a $1.5 million contract awarded to the coalition for bicycle education. One member, Stephanie Cajina, called it a “red flag” that the coalition was the only organization to apply for and receive the contract.&nbsp;



“I’ve been uncomfortable for some time with this practice,” said SFMTA board member Steve Heminger, pointing out that the organization both receives money from and advocates with the agency. “I’m not alleging any conflict of interest. But I think the appearance weighs on me.”



Last year, former coalition staffer Janice Li and executive director Brian Wiedenmeier were <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/08/15/bart-board-president-named-in-ethics-violation/">fined</a> thousands of dollars by the city’s ethics watchdog after failing to disclose that they lobbied city officials as representatives of the organization’s advocacy arm. After being contacted by investigators, both retroactively registered as lobbyists and disclosed their outreach efforts.&nbsp;



White said “clear distinctions” exist between the coalition’s nonprofit and advocacy arms: For example, the sides have different boards. He also said the coalition is the recipient of an additional $5 million for its Safe Routes to School program, mo...

YIMBYs are feuding over ‘California Forever,’ billionaire-backed utopia in rural Bay Area

A plan backed by billionaire techies that promises to bring hundreds of thousands of new homes to a remote part of the Bay Area is causing a major rift within one of the state’s most influential housing organizations.



The divide spilled into public view on Wednesday after a former member of California YIMBY criticized the organization’s <a href="https://cayimby.org/news-events/statement-in-support-of-the-east-solano-plan/">endorsement</a> of the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/06/11/california-forever-solano-county-city-qualifies-ballot/">East Solano Plan</a>, exposing a split between the broader pro-housing coalition and its more urban-focused wing.



Melissa Breach, who left California YIMBY in April, described the East Solano Plan in an interview as “sprawl” that would cost taxpayers heavily for new roads and other infrastructure.



“Everyone wants to believe there is a golden ticket for 400,000 new homes,” Breach, who served as California YIMBY’s chief operating officer, told The Standard. “Everybody wants to believe there’s a silver bullet. We need to be building predominantly inside our existing communities.”



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is disappointing and short-sighted. Before leaving in April, I spent five years helping grow and lead <a href="https://twitter.com/cayimby?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cayimby</a>&#8211;building YIMBY power, advocating for infill housing, and making building homes near jobs, transit, and community resources faster and cheaper. This is not that. <a href="https://t.co/0VKwZCh0pU">https://t.co/0VKwZCh0pU</a>&mdash; Melissa Breach (@MelissaBreach) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelissaBreach/status/1803473356685189211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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The East Solano Plan, backed by a group calling itself California Forever, is no stranger to criticism. According to its website, the plan hopes to attract 400,000 more people to rural Solano County by providing &#8220;middle-class homes in safe, walkable neighborhoods.” It also calls for communities to be served by a “range of transportation needs,” including cars, walking, bikes and “frequent” transit service.



Some residents have resisted the plan, with concerns about the purchase of large swaths of farmland, initial secrecy surrounding the plan and questions over job prospects in the area. The Sierra Club called the land acquisitions a “<a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/11/27/california-forevers-sierra-club-hostile-takeover/">hostile takeover.</a>”



Now concerns are also coming from some of the state’s housing activists, <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/10/16/yimby-winning-san-francisco-housing-war/">a group that has become increasingly influential</a> at the local and state levels as affordability issues continue to plague the Golden State.&nbsp;



Instead of going all the way out to Solano County to build more housing, the YIMBY critics argue the development should be “infill,” meaning it must happen within cities to capitalize on existing infrastructure and transit lines. That’s in stark contrast to the East Solano Plan, considered “greenfield” development that builds on top of previously undeveloped land.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3992" height="2242" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/riovista09062023_002.jpg?w=2500" alt="Golden fields stretch out beneath a clear blue sky, dotted with numerous large white wind turbines. A few trees and small structures are sparsely scattered around." class="wp-image-284945" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/riovista09062023_002.jpg 3992w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/riovista09062023_002.jpg?resize=300,168 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/riovista09062023_002.jpg?resize=768,431 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/riovista09062023_002.jpg?resize=2500,1404 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/riovista09062023_002.jpg?resize=1536,863 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/riovista09062023_002.jpg?resize=2048,1150 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3992px) 100vw, 3992px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">California YIMBY&#8217;s decision to endorse the East Solano Plan is causing rifts within the pro-housing community.</figcaption></figure>



“I think it is an interesting discussion between people who are very pro-housing and people who are urbanists,” said housing activist Darrell Owens. “That’s the crux of the debate.”



Sam Greenberg, who describes himself as a pro-housing organizer, said the East Solano Plan is incompatible with his vision of what more development in the state looks like.



“I personally do not believe that this project is the right solution to the regional housing crisis,” said Greenberg. “Looking at history, there haven’t really been examples of successful new cities like this in the United States. The movement that has advocated for other new cities in the modern era has not really resulted in places that are that much more sustainable than existing places.”&nbsp;



In addition, Greenberg cited a lack of trust in the people behind the East Solano Plan.&nbsp;



“I think there are a lot of folks who don’t have trust that their intentions are purely altruistic,” said Greenberg. “I think they&#8217;re looking to just make a profit.”



Investors in the project include major Silicon Valley technologists and venture capitalists, like Marc Andreessen, Chris Dixon, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Stripe’s co-founders Patrick and John Collison, philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs and Michael Moritz, The Standard’s chairman.&nbsp;



Other investors include Nat Friedman, a co-founder of California YIMBY and a current board member. Brian Hanlon, who leads the organization, said Friedman had no influence on California YIMBY&#8217;s endorsing of the East Solano Plan.



“This was a staff-led decision,” he said.&nbsp;



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A spokesperson for California YIMBY described the pro-housing movement as “a really big tent.”



“The thing we all agree on is there is a housing shortage and an affordability crisis causing harm across California,” said spokesperson Matthew Lewis. “It is not a surprise we don’t all agree on everything. Yet, I think we still love each other.”



In its <a href="https://cayimby.org/news-events/statement-in-support-of-the-east-solano-plan/">letter</a> explaining the decision to endorse the plan, California YIMBY said “most greenfield development in California over the past century has left much to be desired.”&nbsp;



But the East Solano Plan, the organization argues, would establish walkability that is much better than past greenfield developments. The letter also addresses the schism within the YIIMBY movement.



“We sympathize with the reflexive skepticism of the project among members of our coalition, including friends in the environmental movement,” the letter states. “When it comes to solving our housing crisis, our focus remains on making it easier to build housing in existing cities—near quality jobs and public services.”



The East Solano Plan qualified for the ballot this month after receiving the required signatures. On Tuesday, the Solano County Board of Supervisors will decide whether to adopt the plan outright, place it on the November ballot, or order a report to assess the project’s impacts before it is placed on the ballot.&nbsp;

Inside the cutthroat race to win over San Francisco’s frustrated Asian voters

Wearing a traditional bright red Chinese dress, San Francisco Mayor London Breed was extremely excited at the annual Chinatown parade celebrating the Year of the Dragon. “This is the best Lunar New Year parade in the world!” Breed <a href="https://twitter.com/lihanlihan/status/1761595458852638783" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">yelled passionately</a> into a microphone, looking to the sky as her float arrived at the grandstand.&nbsp;



Her recent calendar reflects that enthusiasm. In total, Breed attended almost 30 Lunar New Year events across the city this year as she looked to garner support from the Asian American community, which helped her win the mayoral race in 2018. On Feb. 10, the first day of the Chinese New Year, she hit up six events within four hours in Chinatown, her office told The Standard.



Behind Breed’s strenuous effort to maximize exposure in the Chinese community are <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/01/31/san-francisco-mayor-race-breed-lurie-poll/">plummeting poll numbers and a crumbling base of Asian American</a> support as the city has struggled with crime caught in viral videos and <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/02/27/san-francisco-macys-closing/">downtown store closures</a>. Over the past few years, the Asian American community has been increasingly outspoken about public safety and what they see as lawlessness—and the mayor’s inability to fix it.&nbsp;



Meanwhile, sharks are circling Breed as her competitors aggressively target the moderate, pro-police and pro-business Chinese and Asian voters that could decide the mayor’s race.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lurie-s-impressive-gains">Lurie’s impressive gains</h2>



Two days after the parade, nonprofit founder and Levi’s heir Daniel Lurie, a political newcomer, held a rally to announce his policy platform to address drug abuse in San Francisco.



But Lurie did not choose the Tenderloin or SoMa, the epicenters of the drug crisis. He chose Chinatown to unveil his plan, capitalizing on his impressive gains with the Chinese community.



Prominent Asian American law enforcement officials attended Lurie’s event, including Asian Firefighters Association President Stan Lee and retired San Francisco Police Department Commander Paul Yep. Also present were a dozen other Asian leaders from community nonprofits, political clubs and private businesses.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4000" height="2667" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man converses with someone in a street lined with red lanterns and festive flags." class="wp-image-253741" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg 4000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined01_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 4000px) 100vw, 4000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayoral Candidate Daniel Lurie campaigns in Chinatown in January.</figcaption></figure>



Many of them, such as recall activists Leanna Louie, Selena Chu and Chinese American Democratic Club leader Wilson Chu, are loyal moderates and former Breed supporters.



“We share a commitment to restoring safety, supporting small businesses,” Lurie said in a statement, “and increasing [Asian American Pacific Islander] representation throughout city government.”



Tommy Yang, owner of the famous Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant, was among those in attendance at Lurie’s event. He told The Standard in Chinese that he believes Lurie is the fresh face City Hall needs to get San Francisco back on track.



Mark Farrell, a former supervisor and mayor challenging Breed, has also actively campaigned in Chinatown and with the Chinese community. But so far he lacks Lurie’s momentum of picking up prominent Chinese American supporters, though <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2024/sf-mayor-poll-takeaways/">a San Francisco Chronicle poll</a> shows that Farrell and Lurie have comparable support among Asian voters.



The day after Breed <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/02/20/san-francisco-mayor-change-chinatown-sober-housing/">backed off a controversial plan</a> to create a sober housing facility in Chinatown, Farrell <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkFarrellSF/status/1760522052308783334" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">met with vocal business owners</a> who rallied against it.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3000" height="2001" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man speaks at a podium with &quot;Mark Farrell for Mayor&quot; signs, a woman stands behind him, and microphones are in front." class="wp-image-253742" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg 3000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined02_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mark Farrell, who formally announced his candidacy for San Francisco mayor in mid-February, has actively campaigned in Chinatown and with the Chinese community.</figcaption></figure>



Though he doesn’t currently hold office, Farrell made his way into the Chinese New Year parade wearing a traditional Chinese outfit and posing with the police lion dance team.



Retired Deputy Police Chief Garret Tom publicly supports Farrell and appears in his ads, calling him “a very smart guy and a local boy who loves the city,” with experience in both City Hall and the private sector. But Tom said that Farrell, who only recently began campaigning, has yet to garner much Chinese American support. A loyal moderate, Tom said he would consider Lurie or Breed as his second or third choice under the city’s ranked-choice voting system.



Meanwhile, Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, despite announcing his candidacy almost a year ago, has struggled to find prominent Chinese American supporters to side with him. On his donor’s list, Gorretti Lui, a philanthropist and board member of the Chinese Historical Society of America, stood out.



Lui said she supported Safai and Breed because they helped Chinatown during the pandemic, especially by setting aside budgets for a small museum like the historical society during a challenging time when no one was visiting the neighborhood. Lui said the museum received city funds for its building renovation and the curation of a <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/04/22/sf-martial-arts-icon-bruce-lee-used-his-platform-to-build-cross-cultural-bridges/">Bruce Lee exhibition</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-potential-wild-cards">The potential wild cards</h2>



Potential wild cards who could disrupt the mayoral race and <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/01/30/san-francisco-mayor-election-asian-chinese-vote/">split the Chinese votes</a> include Chinese American City Attorney David Chiu and longtime Chinatown representative and current Board President Aaron Peskin.



Chiu filed for city attorney reelection in November, meaning he’s not currently challenging Breed. In a statement about Asian American votes, he said the community wants leaders who understand them, have deep local roots, deliver results and have a compelling vision.



Peskin has long been rumored to be plotting a dark-horse run for mayor but <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/01/26/san-francisco-progressive-supervisor-aaron-peskin-not-running-mayor/">repeatedly deflected the reports</a>, saying he’s focusing on policy work. However, one source in Chinatown told The Standard that Peskin told them that he will definitely run.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4500" height="3000" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a suit speaks at a clear podium, gesturing, with a blurred woman in the background." class="wp-image-253743" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg 4500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/inlined03_20240229-splitchinesemoderate.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, ht...

Elections to drastically change in San Francisco if ex-mayor gets his way

A new campaign to radically alter local elections kicked off Tuesday morning with a retired judge and a former San Francisco mayor pitching a major overhaul of how supervisors are elected.&nbsp;



The veteran political crew has a combined 255 years of life experience: <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/09/19/political-veteran-wants-to-change-how-san-francisco-votes/">Quentin Kopp</a>, 95, is a retired San Mateo County judge, former state senator and San Francisco supervisor; Frank Jordan, 88, served as mayor in the 1990s; and Robert Guichard, 72, is a businessman. The group rallied Tuesday at City Hall to bring back citywide voting for the Board of Supervisors.



The trio of political veterans plans to gather signatures to place their proposal on the November ballot. If passed, the measure has the potential to reshape the city’s politics drastically.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5472" height="3648" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_029.jpg?w=2500" alt="Three elderly men in suits are gathered in a room with classical architecture and warm lighting." class="wp-image-238372" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_029.jpg 5472w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_029.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_029.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_029.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_029.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/featured_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_029.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 5472px) 100vw, 5472px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Former Mayor Frank Jordan, retired Judge and former Supervisor Quentin Kopp and businessman Robert Guichard are pushing an overhaul of Board of Supervisors elections.</figcaption></figure>



Based on the idea of “at-large from district,” the measure would allow all voters to weigh in on the elections of all 11 supervisors. San Francisco is divided into 11 districts, and currently, voters in each district elect their own supervisors, who also must live in the respective district. 



The new proposal would keep the districts intact, but open the door for all voters to elect their supervisors—meaning they each can vote 11 times in 11 districts, no matter where they live. Candidates for supervisor would still be required to live in the district they’re running for, however.



“I believe it is more effective when you have representation of a person living in the district, but having a citywide election,” Jordan said. “That&#8217;s a key factor in this because there is strength in unity.”



The push to change district elections comes from frustration with City Hall, which is often accused of being too dysfunctional to solve the city’s most pressing crises. 



While district elections are considered helpful in ensuring minority representation, critics argue the current system pushes the powerful Board of Supervisors into silos with insufficient attention to citywide issues.



“It will provide all 11 districts with their supervisor,” Kopp said, “but with the vote of all people who are registered to vote.”



The political trio’s experiment of voting across district lines may be influenced by <a href="https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/supreme-court-clarifies-california-1947541/">a recent California Supreme Court decision</a> that reaffirms the state’s Voting Rights Act, which favors district elections to protect against diluting minority votes.



This is the <a href="https://www.sf.gov/reports/march-2024/potential-local-ballot-measures">third time</a> Kopp has tried to launch this ballot measure initiative with the Department of Elections. The previous two attempts were withdrawn.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4942" height="3295" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/inlined03_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_003.jpg?w=2500" alt="An elderly man with a warm smile, wearing a suit and tie, stands before a light background." class="wp-image-238375" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/inlined03_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_003.jpg 4942w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/inlined03_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_003.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/inlined03_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_003.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/inlined03_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_003.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/inlined03_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_003.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/inlined03_supedistrictreform-01092024_jy_003.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 4942px) 100vw, 4942px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Retired Judge and former Supervisor Quentin L. Kopp is rallying support for a ballot measure that would change district elections.</figcaption></figure>



It’s unclear whether this proposal will face any legal challenges. The City Attorney’s Office said it generally does not comment on the legality of potential ballot measures. Current Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/09/19/political-veteran-wants-to-change-how-san-francisco-votes/">previously told The Standard that Kopp’s idea would violate federal law</a>.



Others have floated a “hybrid” concept that would split the Board of Supervisors into a mix of district elections and at-large seats. But such a proposal may result in fewer and larger districts, and Kopp said that because of the California Supreme Court decision, his campaign wants to keep the 11 districts.



San Francisco had citywide elected supervisors before 2000. But at the time, the system led to concerns that certain neighborhoods got greater representation. In 2000, the city moved to adopt district elections.



Kopp’s proposal would also bring back odd-year elections in San Francisco, starting in November 2025.



To qualify for the ballot, organizers must gather about 50,000 signatures by July. Kopp said the campaign is expecting over 70,000 signatures and has set up a headquarters in the West Portal area.&nbsp;



Guichard, who sponsored a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/21/archives/election-of-officials-by-districts-repealed-in-san-francisco-vote.html">successful 1980 campaign to repeal district elections</a>, is also confident the proposal will resonate with voters.

San Francisco residents could vote on drastic reforms to City Hall next year

The very structure of San Francisco’s government could be a major issue in next year’s elections, as up to four ballot measures aimed at making drastic reforms to City Hall are in the works for the November 2024 ballot.&nbsp;



TogetherSF Action, a moderate political advocacy group, held a press conference at its Mission District headquarters Monday to announce a campaign for two of the measures, one that would give the mayor more authority over hiring and firing of department heads, among other changes, and another that would dramatically decrease the number of city commissions.&nbsp;



TogetherSF Action Executive Director Kanishka Cheng cited issues such as the city’s drug dealing and overdose epidemics, along with public safety and housing affordability, as driving the need for “bold reforms” in the way the city makes and implements policies.&nbsp;



“There&#8217;s a common but often overlooked thread that&#8217;s holding San Francisco back from making the type of progress that we all expect and deserve,” Cheng told reporters at the press conference. “Our outdated city charter and overtly politically driven measures over the years have caused excessive bureaucracy and impeded progress on our top challenges. … It&#8217;s been acknowledged across political lines that something must be done.”



Max Young, a business owner and member of San Francisco’s Open Air Drug Dealing Task Force, spoke in support of the measure.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4032" height="3024" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_0042.jpg?w=2500" alt="Max Young, a bar owner, stands behind a podium next to a women with a sign reading &quot;get it together SF.&quot;" class="wp-image-227414" style="width:670px;height:auto" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_0042.jpg 4032w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_0042.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_0042.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_0042.jpg?resize=2500,1875 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_0042.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_0042.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Max Young, a SoMa bar owner, is among a group of residents advocating for sweeping reforms to City Hall in 2024.</figcaption></figure>



“We find ourselves in a place where our city&#8217;s policies are hindering the growth and sustainability of businesses of all sizes,” Young said. “My bar, Mr Smith’s, had to shut down because drug dealers took over my corner. I spent almost two years on the task force, and five years later, my corner is still a mess every night.”&nbsp;



“We&#8217;ve got a governance structure that&#8217;s outlived its usefulness,” added Bill Maggs, a tech executive who is also a 25-year resident and parent. “It hasn&#8217;t been adjusted for a while and needs to be adjusted now. As somebody who&#8217;s trying to solve problems for myself as a homeowner, I&#8217;ve been astounded to learn that there are four commissions responsible for homelessness.”



Some of the goals of TogetherSF’s ballot measures overlap heavily with a separate measure, also proposed for the November ballot <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/10/31/san-francisco-city-hall-ballot-measure-reforms-rafael-mandelman/">by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman</a>. Mandelman’s version also wants to grant the mayor more authority over department heads and commission appointments but would additionally remove the ability of the mayor or four or more supervisors to directly place measures on the ballot.&nbsp;



When reached by The Standard, Mandelman said that he wanted to “more carefully digest” what TogetherSF is proposing before commenting on its plans. He’s hoping to get the support of a majority of his board colleagues to put his reform measure on the ballot—reflecting hopes for what he called a “meaningful consensus.” TogetherSF plans to place its measure on the ballot through voter petition, requiring them to gather signatures from around 50,000 registered voters by July 8 to qualify.&nbsp;



TogetherSF’s proposed reforms piggyback on <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23921679-tsfrosereport23report">a report</a> the group <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/08/22/does-san-franciscos-mayor-need-more-power-this-group-says-yes/">published in August</a>, which identified various inefficiencies within City Hall that impede its “ability to meet current challenges.” In particular, it noted a “large, complex, and burdensome” commission system—San Francisco has <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/07/06/only-1-person-at-sf-city-hall-knows-the-answer-to-this-simple-question/">183 different boards, commissions and advisory bodies</a>—along with “procedural rules and norms” that allow groups and individuals to block decision-making.&nbsp;



The report also identified the current structure of the Board of Supervisors as problematic, recommending alternative plans for electing supervisors, including a hybrid scheme that includes some district and some at-large supervisors. That was not included in either of TogetherSF’s measures, however.&nbsp;



“We did explore dealing with the idea of changing the structure of the Board of Supervisors,” Cheng said. “We chose not to proceed with that measure at this time and just advance these two because we feel like these two will have the biggest impact most immediately.”



Michael Moritz, who is chairman of The Standard, has provided funding to the 501c3 nonprofit TogetherSF and its political arm, TogetherSF Action.



TogetherSF and Mandelman aren’t the only ones looking to put major governance changes before voters next year.&nbsp;



Another voter initiative, supported by former state Sen. Quentin Kopp, could <a href="https://link.sfstandard.com/click/33567157.531/aHR0cHM6Ly9zZnN0YW5kYXJkLmNvbS8yMDIzLzA5LzE5L3BvbGl0aWNhbC12ZXRlcmFuLXdhbnRzLXRvLWNoYW5nZS1ob3ctc2FuLWZyYW5jaXNjby12b3Rlcy8_dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNGK1N0YW5kYXJkK1Bvd2VyK1BsYXkmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9cC10ZXh0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1TRitTdGFuZGFyZA/64c990adfdb9f77eaca92aa7Bffd68b92">enable voters citywide to select each district supervisor</a> if proponents are successful in gathering sufficient signatures.&nbsp;



San Francisco last made major one-time reforms to the city charter in 1995, when voters passed <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Prop-E-Would-Rewrite-S-F-City-Charter-3021185.php">Proposition E</a>. That measure, which was based on the recommendations of a special commission, gave more power to both the mayor and the Board of Supervisors while lessening the power of commissions and department heads.



“In San Francisco, there’s always going to be a tension between efficiency and oversight in government,” Mark Mosher, a political consultant who worked on the Proposition E campaign, said in an interview. “It’s a conflict between the desire to get things done and stopping priorities that San Franciscans are conflicted or uncomfortable about.”&nbsp;

95-year-old political veteran wants to change how San Francisco votes

A San Francisco political veteran has submitted a ballot measure for the March 2024 election that could radically change the makeup of the Board of Supervisors if it became a reality. The question is: Will voters buy into the idea?&nbsp;



Quentin Kopp is a San Francisco political legend. There’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_380_(California)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a freeway named after him</a>. He’s been a member of the Board of Supervisors, a state senator, Superior Court judge, state rail commissioner and city ethics commissioner.&nbsp;



A staunch independent, he’s witnessed the trajectory of the city’s politics from the rise of the Phil Burton Democratic machine to today’s angst-ridden, tech-driven politics. And at 95 years old, he’s still practicing law and <a href="https://westsideobserver.com/23/5-A-spring-collection-of-newsy-bits.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">making his opinions known</a>.&nbsp;



And he just made one of the most provocative proposals the city has seen in a long time.



Kopp’s measure is <a href="https://sf.gov/sites/default/files/2023-09/20230914_Legal%20Text_Charter%20Ammendment_At-Large%20Elections%20from%20Districts.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a charter amendment</a> that would “let all voters participate in electing all 11 members of the Board of Supervisors, while ensuring every neighborhood has representation on the board, by providing for election of supervisors at-large from districts,” he said in an interview.



In other words, all San Francisco voters would be able to vote for all the district supervisors, no matter where they lived. To understand the potential impact of this, it helps to look at some of the numbers involved.



The average population of a supervisorial district before last year’s redistricting was around 70,000, and the average number of registered voters was 44,000. In the last supervisorial election before redistricting, November 2020, Supervisor Hillary Ronen received the largest number of first-choice votes to win her largely uncontested supervisorial contest, with 27,481 votes.&nbsp;



By contrast, the number of votes for elected members of the Board of Education, whose members are elected in a citywide vote, ran from 144,000 to 195,000 votes in the November 2020 election.&nbsp;



But there’s growing dissatisfaction with district elections, with stakeholder groups floating ideas to alter the current system, which has been <a href="https://www.spur.org/publications/urbanist-article/2000-02-01/district-elections-san-francisco" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in place since 2000</a>.&nbsp;



The moderate political group TogetherSF <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/08/22/does-san-franciscos-mayor-need-more-power-this-group-says-yes/">recently commissioned a report</a> on reforming San Francisco’s governance, including recommendations to move toward a “hybrid system” of electing supervisors with a combination of district and at-large seats.&nbsp;



Kopp is proposing a different sort of hybrid board altogether. But like the TogetherSF proposal, it’s influenced by a recent California Supreme Court decision, Pico Neighborhood Association v. City of Santa Monica, <a href="https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/supreme-court-clarifies-california-1947541/">reaffirming the state’s Voting Rights Act</a>, which allows for the institution of district elections to protect against diluting minority votes.



“What I really wanted to see is the return of at-large election [of supervisors] without districts,” Kopp told The Standard in a phone call. “But the Pico case blocks that. So we’re proposing district supervisors elected at-large.”&nbsp;



“We expect it will pass,” he added. “Everyone I’ve talked to supports a return to at-large because of the condition of the city.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-changing-board">A Changing Board</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1530" height="1020" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/105162023BOSRoundup-050.jpg?w=1530" alt="An older man with glasses and a beard sits at a desk, flanked by an American flag and a person working on a laptop." class="wp-image-161685" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/105162023BOSRoundup-050.jpg 1530w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/105162023BOSRoundup-050.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/105162023BOSRoundup-050.jpg?resize=768,512 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1530px) 100vw, 1530px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Supervisor Aaron Peskin, center, listens to public comment at a board meeting at the Supervisor&#8217;s Chamber at City Hall on May 16, 2023. </figcaption></figure>



The author of the proposal is Robert Guichard, who wrote a charter amendment establishing at-large supervisor elections that barely passed in an August 1980 special election.&nbsp;



The city has switched up Board of Supervisors elections multiple times over the years. San Francisco had approved district elections of supervisors in 1976, a political victory for progressives. The following election in 1977 saw the election of a very diverse board, including Harvey Milk, San Francisco’s first gay supervisor.&nbsp;



Dan White, a social conservative, was also elected in 1977. He would <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/11/28/harvey-milk-remembrance-castro-2022/'">murder both Milk</a> and Mayor George Moscone over a political grudge the following year.&nbsp;



A <a href="https://www.spur.org/publications/urbanist-article/2000-02-01/district-elections-san-francisco" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2000 article</a> by the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) noted that “the tragic assassinations severely damaged the image of the district electoral system.”&nbsp;



Despite Kopp’s enthusiasm, the measure may have an uphill battle. In order to get on the ballot, supporters would need to secure the votes of six members of the current board of supervisors, or <a href="https://sfelections.sfgov.org/sites/default/files/110822_InitiativeGuide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at least 49,794 petition signatures</a> of registered voters, by this November.&nbsp;



So far, not too many of the city’s political world are ready to comment on the proposal. But Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who was <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Off-to-Fast-Start-District-3-Supervisor-Aaron-2952368.php">first elected to the board in 2000</a>, isn’t a fan.&nbsp;



“Apparently, former San Mateo County Judge Quentin Kopp doesn’t seem to be concerned about violating the federal Voting Rights Act,” he said.

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