by ELENI BALAKRISHNAN MARCH 26, 2024 (MissionLocal.org)
Here’s the latest in our “Meet the Candidates” series for District 5, where we ask each candidate to answer one question per week leading up to the election, with answers capped at 100 words.
All the responses will ultimately be compiled onto a single page, where readers can peruse the potential District 5 supervisors’ stances on upwards of 40 topics before it’s time to vote in November.
District 5 includes a lot of pedestrian-heavy neighborhoods, bike routes and transit lines. As we saw in the crash in West Portal that took the lives of an entire family, we know these collisions could happen anywhere, anytime in our city. And so far this year, we’ve already seen 11 traffic deaths in San Francisco.
This week’s question is: How important is road safety to you, and how do you plan to improve it?
Note: I will be in District 5 this week on Wednesday, March 27, at 10:30 a.m. at Alamo Square Cafe (711 Fillmore St.). Come say hi and share your thoughts.
Living in D5 since Dec. 2020
Autumn Looijen
Mode of transport: Walking, bus, Lyft, and driving
The tragedy in West Portal leaves a hole where a family once stood — two beloved parents, and two children who will never grow up. Devastatingly sad.
Families I’ve talked with don’t feel safe on our streets. They are worried for their kids.
We don’t yet know the cause of this accident, but we do know that this bus stop was at street level, with little protection from cars. Our streets have been designed to move cars swiftly from place to place, not to keep pedestrians safe… and that puts everyone in danger, kids and adults alike.
We need to redesign … Read more.
Living in D5 since May 2023, lived adjacent since May 2021
Bilal Mahmood
Mode of transport: Walking, public transit
San Francisco needs safer streets. Tragically, we’ve seen traffic fatalities increasing in our neighborhoods.
Living in District 5, with one of the highest rates of traffic collisions in the city, road safety is key to my platform. We need automated speed enforcement cameras to keep our most vulnerable communities safe. Further, safety measures to ensure safe street conditions for our construction workers are essential.
As someone who walks and uses public transportation everyday, I understand and champion improved safety policies for our pedestrians and cyclists. Walking and biking should not be the most dangerous way to travel in our city.
Living in D5 since 1996
Dean Preston
Mode of transport: Public transit
We cannot have tragedies like the West Portal crash. I’ve been a champion for public transportation, a citywide cycling network, slow streets and pedestrian safety. My office secured $17 million to fund the Western Addition Transportation Plan, and $8 million for Tenderloin street safety, created the Panhandle protected bike lane, championed the Golden Gate Greenway, Page Slow Street, and Car-free JFK. We led the way in bringing back bus lines, increasing evening service, stopping fare hikes, and winning free Muni for youth.
I’ve been an everyday Muni rider for 30 years. Green transportation and safe streets are top priorities for me.
Living in D5 since Nov. 2021
Allen Jones
Mode of transport: The finest Swiss-designed electric wheelchair ever, in my opinion
I applaud current city efforts already in the works to maximize road safety. But the recent West Portal bus stop tragedy reminds us all that road safety will always be a challenge. Whether a road accident, criminal road act, or poorly constructed roads that make up the challenge, we all have a responsibility.
I thank all those who sounded the warnings before, not after the tragedy, as too many SF politicians are famous for doing. And I will not wait until elected to do my part to continue to report road safety issues to the responsible SF agency.
The order of candidates is rotated each week. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at eleni@missionlocal.com.
Read the rest of the District 5 questions here, and the entire “Meet the Candidates” 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 5 supervisor race
TAGGED:Election 2024Meet the Candidatesmeet the candidates-D5
ELENI BALAKRISHNAN
REPORTER. Eleni reports on policing in San Francisco. She first moved to the city on a whim more than 10 years ago, and the Mission has become her home. Follow her on Twitter @miss_elenius.More by Eleni Balakrishnan
