by WILL JARRETT MARCH 4, 2024 (MissionLocal.org)
Welcome back to our “Meet the candidates” series, in which District 9 supervisorial hopefuls respond to a question in 100 words or fewer.
Our week eight question: What have you already done to help District 9?
Julian Bermudez
Working out of Rancho Grande Appliances. Ever since I was able to use a dolly and a pair of pliers, I’ve been working at my family business, which has helped countless D9 residents with their appliance needs.
Blue-collar work is a thankless job that comes with no awards or recognitions aside from going home knowing you helped someone. I will come into City Hall with the same mindset. Results over recognition. I’ve seen mothers cry and kids cheering over appliances because I have made their lives just a bit easier.
h brown
I give a recurring 10% of my monthly income to support D9 community spaces and publications.
I spend over 100 hours monthly picking up trash, dragging furniture to pick up points and cleaning sidewalks, storm drains and gutters.
I’ve watched SFGovTV regularly for over 20 years and walked thousands of miles supporting progressive candidates and issues.
I’ve written over 3,000 columns supporting progressive causes.
I spent a year filling every pothole in Clarion Alley to kill the smell.
I am a diehard Niners fan.
Trevor Chandler
When I discovered Pac Heights had 20% more crosswalk coverage than the Mission, despite less traffic and fewer pedestrians, I successfully led the fight to get our fair share as the D9 Representative on the Eastern Neighborhoods Citizens Advisory Committee. D9 deserves a Supervisor who ensures our neighborhoods get the same treatment as Union Square and Pac Heights.
On the California State Board of Pharmacy, I’ve led the charge against insurance companies to ensure expanded access to HIV treatment and prevention medication. Our Latino community has seen a surge in HIV cases and I am committed to getting us to zero.
Jackie Fielder
As a city commissioner, I’ve worked for low-income CleanPowerSF customers in the district and across the city, and served on the board of Young Women’s Freedom Center, which serves young women and non-binary people around San Francisco.
I have been an advocated against police violence including for Sean Monterrosa, volunteered and fundraised for a tricycle path at the Portola Freeway Greenway, fundraised for a harm reduction program that is empowering Spanish and Mayan speaking communities with Narcan, organized volunteers for Balmy Alley’s Lover’s Lane event, and I regularly connect unhoused people with housing and treatment programs.
Jaime Gutierrez
Every single day of my adult life I’ve been in this district. Every day I’m at SFMTA working as a bus controller: Keeping schedules, calling for resources, saving lives, and making the system work more efficiently.
Before that, I was a bus driver on the 48, 9, 54, 44, and 24 lines taking folks to work, school, and their doctor’s appointments. Most of all, I am in the community talking to people, and hearing what they are most afraid of; that the one place they’ve always felt at home does not feel comfortable anymore. This cannot be the status quo.
Roberto Hernandez
I’ve been helping District 9 residents my whole life.
From growing up in the Mission supporting youth employment and violence prevention, to helping set up the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center and serving as its first director. From our work to launch Carnaval SF and grow it to become a globally-recognized celebration to creating the Mission Food Hub to serve Mission, Bernal, and Portola families. From Our Mission No Eviction’s success stopping evictions and securing 1,300 units of affordable housing to Roadmap to Peace’s proven community-based public safety approach.
My life has been devoted to getting things done for District 9.
Michael Petrelis
Since 1996 when we moved to Clinton Park, picked up trash every week on our block.
Persuaded BART to rid 16th Street plazas of bird poop, enhancing sanitation for all.
Raised funds when the Roxie needed money to operate.
Marched against gentrification, in solidarity with Latin American immigrants and low-wage workers.
Protested SFPD killing civilians at Mission Station.
Learned some Spanish.
Demonstrated against evictions of longtime renters.
Regularly patronized local shops and restaurants.
Annually applauded Carnaval dancers and Dia de los Muertos musicians.
Lobbied SFMTA to create protected curbside bike lanes. Held politicians accountable when they’ve made the wrong decisions.
Stephen Torres
My mom impressed upon me the importance of service and I have tried to find ways to serve my community throughout the years here in D9 and SF. I’ve worked to provide resources at neighborhood, nightlife worker, and LGBTQ community events, worked with city departments and cultural districts to provide access to COVID vaccines and testing, collaborated with Galería de la Raza, advocated for community determination over legacy assets, and worked with Entertainment Commission staff to ensure cultural representation in the nightlife permitting process.
I hope my mother’s guidance has helped me to serve my community in some way.
Candidates are ordered alphabetically. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at will@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.
READ MORE CANDIDATE ANSWERS
Meet the candidates: San Francisco’s District 9 supervisor race
by WILL JARRETTJANUARY 15, 2024, 5:00 AM
WILL JARRETT
DATA REPORTER. Will was born in the UK and studied English at Oxford University. After a few years in publishing, he absconded to the USA where he studied data journalism in New York. Will has strong views on healthcare, the environment, and the Oxford comma.More by Will Jarrett
