Welcome back to our “Meet the Candidates” series, in which District 9 supervisorial hopefuls respond to a weekly question in 100 words or less.
You can see all previous questions here.
This week, we’ve added a chart on how much money the candidates have raised and spent. As you will see when you scroll down, Jackie Fielder, Trevor Chandler and Roberto Hernandez have raised the most money, and Chandler has spent the most. The next report is out July 1.
Is there other information you would like on this page? Let me know at oscar.palma@missionlocal.com
Also, this week I will be at Charlie’s Cafe at 3202 Folsom St. on Thursday the 11th at 11 a.m. Drop by to say hello and talk about the district.
This week’s question: Do you agree with Valencia’s Center bike lane? Why? And if not, why not?
Lived in District 9 Sept. 2017 to June 2018, Oct. 2019 to Aug. 2020 and April 2021 to present.
Jackie Fielder
Nonprofit Co-director. Former educator at San Francisco State University, co-founder of the San Francisco Public Bank Coalition. Democratic Socialist. Tenant
“I live around the corner from the bike lane’s most dangerous intersection, where a driver killed an elderly pedestrian making a (prohibited) left-hand turn and, just recently, a car rammed into El Buen Sabor’s corner pillar.
Valencia is featured on Vision Zero’s High Injury Network, so I think the center bike line is a good step in the right direction, but needs some serious work.
It’s clear SFMTA needs to be with the community in the room — cyclists, pedestrians, neighbors, public housing residents, and small-business owners to solicit feedback and come up with a new design to satisfy everyone’s concerns. As District 9 supervisor, I would like to work with SFMTA to bring in mediators to town hall discussions to ensure everyone is heard and push for a working group that is representative of the various constituencies affected by the bike lane.”
Endorsed by: California Nurses Association, SFPTE Local 21 (Municipal workers) AFT 2121 (City College faculty and staff, D9 Supervisor Hilary Ronen.More here.
Born in the district in 1967 and, except for three years spent in the Army, has resided here ever since.
Jaime Gutierrez
Transit supervisor for SFMTA/Muni; Tenant
“As a daily bike rider. I do not support the Valencia center bike lane. It is dangerous, and not intuitive for bike riders, pedestrians or cars. A life was taken already! (Editor’s note: The accident involved an 80-year-old woman and a driver. It does not appear to be connected to the bike lane.) How many lives were lost in the previous design?
A true bike “route” could be created on Capp Street so bikes would not feel the threat of fast-moving cars while they are leisurely enjoying a ride through the neighborhood. A city-wide bike route could be established so folks would know which streets are bike-friendly. Or go back to the original bike lane design. Nothing was wrong.”
Endorsed by: Transportation Workers Union Local 200More here.
Born in the Mission in June 1956 and has not left.
Roberto Hernandez
CEO, Cultura y Arte Nativa de Las Americas (CANA). Homeowner.
“I’ve long been an advocate for cycling in San Francisco: I participated in some of the earliest Critical Mass rides, I worked on the first bike lane on Valencia Street, and I helped arrange for more than 2,000 bicycles to be donated to kids during the pandemic.
But the Valencia center bike lane is a disaster, and SFMTA’s top-down approach to its implementation disregarded the needs of our community. As District 9 supervisor, I’d champion a community-driven task force to create a ‘bike master plan’ that ensures we prioritize safe, sustainable bike lanes citywide that benefit commuters, pedestrians, and businesses alike.”
Endorsed by: State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Supervisor Myrna Melgar, Supervisor Shamann Walton, State Senator Scott Wiener, BART Director Bevan Dufty
Has lived on Clinton Park since May 1996, which became part of District 9 in April 2022.
Michael Petrelis
AIDS and LGBTQ activist
Petrelis declined to respond.
Endorsed by: Not seeking endorsements and I see much of the Endorsement Industrial Complex as corrupt, rife with payola and favor-trading, and for gotcha responses.More here.
Lived in District 9 Summer 2001 to Fall 2003 and returned in the Summer 2010.
Stephen Torres
Nightlife worker in addition to LGBTQ activism, journalism and events. Tenant.
“This week saw the latest in a string of multiple crashes, near misses and, sadly, deaths. It is hard to see how the center bike lane has improved safety for pedestrians, cyclists or drivers. It has created a high-risk environment for the corridor and the economic impacts are also endangering businesses. It has limited accessibility for those who are dependent on autos, including first responders, seniors and families. I grew up in a transportation family, and I believe that we need more streets dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists, but we must do so with a comprehensive vision informed by the community.”
Endorsed by: Mark Leno, Former State Senator, Aaron Peskin, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Hillary Ronen, Supervisor, District 9,More here.
Born SF in 1996, raised on and off District 9 until he left for college in 2015, then the army in 2019 and now back, living in the Mission.
Julian Bermudez
Works in and directs his family business, Rancho Grande Appliance. Tenant
“No, I do not support the center bike line. Primarily, because local businesses, residents, and even bikers do not like how it is structured, how it affects business and the flow of traffic. As a local who’s driven on Valencia before the bike lane, I agree with the local businesses and residents in the Valencia Street area.
My plan for Valencia Street is to move the bike lane to Capp Street and return to its original state (2 lanes with a center turning lane), with added infrastructure for bike lanes on the side. This also comes with making Shotwell Street into a one-way going north with a bike lane, and adding more lighting in the area, and cutting down some of the tree overgrowth on Shotwell.” Read more.
At current address for nine years, redistricted into District 9 in April 2022
h brown
Retired special education teacher. Tenant
h brown wrote:
“hate the Valencia Bike Lane Design!
Two things particularly trouble me.
First, the Center Bike Lane forces cars to make a much tighter right turn at every single intersection.
I pick up trash and clean storm drains and the like every day.
My dog goes with me, and it’s gotten more dangerous.
Second reason is that they did not complete it from “4 Barrels” to 14th, and daily parents on bikes bearing kids on back going to school are in danger.”
Has lived in District 9 since July 2021.
Trevor Chandler
Former director of government and public policy at Citizen, a public safety app. Substitute teacher at SFUSD. Tenant
“The data has shown the center bike lane is not the correct answer for Valencia Street small businesses or cyclists, it’s time to change course. I am most optimistic about the “floating parklet” option that would allow for both a protected bike lane and the preservation of parking for Valencia Street customers.
Any bike lane on Valencia must have sturdier bollards than the plastic ones currently being used, and be capable of preventing vehicles from entering the bike lane and injuring cyclists.
By creating safe streets we can increase foot traffic to Valencia, and support our community and small businesses.”
Endorsed by: Latino LGBTQ political organization HONOR PAC, State Senator Scott Wiener, Assembly Member Rick Chavez Zbur, Brownie Mary Democratic Club, Supreme Court Marriage Equality Lead Plaintiff Jim Obergefell. More here.
Candidates are rotated alphabetically. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at lydia.chavez@missionlocal.com.
Contributions
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
