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Welcome back to our “Meet the Candidates” series, where we ask the District 9 supervisorial hopefuls in the November 2024 election one question each week. Candidates are asked to answer questions on policy, ideology and more in 100 words or fewer.
Answers are being published individually each week, but we are also archiving the weekly series here.
If you know of other political events, let me know and I will add them to the post.
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I will be at St. Mary’s Pub (3845 Mission St.) at 5. p.m. on Thursday August 1, to say hello and talk about the district, or you can email me at oscar.palma@missionlocal.com.
This week’s question:How would you have voted on the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP), which the full board of supervisors voted on last week?
Jackie Fielder
- Job: Nonprofit co-director at Stop the Money Pipeline. Former educator at San Francisco State University, co-founder of the San Francisco Public Bank Coalition. Democratic Socialist
- Age: 29
- Residency: Tenant, lived in District 9 September 2017 to June 2018, October 2019 to August 2020 ,and April 2021 to present
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in public policy and master’s degree in sociology from Stanford University
- Languages: English and Spanish
Public safety is among the top priorities for District 9 residents, and I don’t think DROP will make the difference that our residents are demanding. Let’s not forget that over the past several years, the Board of Supervisors has approved hundreds of millions of dollars worth of wage increases, retention bonuses, and department budget increases to address this problem of retention and recruitment. With very little results to show for on our streets and in our neighborhoods. Police response times have grown slower, even though the police are fielding nearly 40 percent fewer calls. I fear business will continue as…read more here.
Endorsed by: Former State Representative Tom Ammiano, Former District 9 Supervisor David Campos, Former Mayor Art Agnos, City College Trustee Vick Chung, District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin … read more here.
Julian Bermudez
- Job: Works in and directs his family business, Rancho Grande Appliance
- Age: 27
- Residency: Born San Francisco in 1996, raised on and off in District 9 until he left for college in 2015, then the army in 2019 and now back, living in the Mission
- Transportation: Carpool/catch a ride
- Education: City College of San Francisco, Chico State University
- Languages: English and Spanish
I would have opposed DROP, primarily due to the city’s inability to provide officers with a salary of half a million dollars annually in order to remain on the force due to our looming budget deficit. This money could be allocated to the establishment of programs that promote safer streets, the recruitment of new officers, or the provision of additional benefits for officers. I would prefer to allocate funds toward the recruitment of new recruits and the retention of junior officers.
Endorsed by: No endorsements listed … read more here
Roberto Hernandez
- Job: CEO, Cultura y Arte Nativa de Las Americas (CANA).
- Age: 67
- Residency: Homeowner, born in the Mission in June 1956 and has not left
- Transportation: Car and bicycle
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of San Francisco
- Languages: English and Spanish
It’s a shame it has come down to measures like the Deferred Retirement Option Program at a time when we struggle to adequately pay other essential workers and social service programs take cuts. As Supervisor, I’ll champion training programs and recruitment pathways to attract as many capable community candidates to SFPD as possible.
However, I would have voted “yes” in spite of its flaws, because our leadership must urgently prioritize public safety, and this legislation, while imperfect, will have a positive impact. But we must do better to recruit from within our communities and make appropriate investments in public safety.
Endorsed by: Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Supervisor Myrna Melgar, Supervisor Shamann Walton, State Senator Scott Wiener… read more here.
Trevor Chandler
- Job: Public school teacher since 2023. Former director of government and public policy at Citizen, a public safety app.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 9 since July 2021
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Plymouth State University
- Languages: English
I understand the frustration regarding the costs of overtime and incentives for SFPD. It’s why I’ve made ensuring an accountable, responsive, and fully staffed SFPD a top priority so the money we spend goes further and we get better results.
We’re only just beginning to see increases in our police academy recruitment to close the 500+ officer gap we face. These gains could be erased if we see a mass retirement of eligible officers, which is why I support DROP for officers who work in patrols or investigations. D9 voters want increased patrols and this will help achieve that goal.
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 … read more here
Jaime Gutierrez
- Job: Transit supervisor for SFMTA/Muni
- Age: 57
- Residency: Tenant, born in District 9 in 1967 and, except for three years spent in the Army, has resided here ever since
- Transportation: Bike
- Education: U.S. Army, City College of San Francisco, University of California, Berkeley
- Languages: English and Spanish
Speaking with police officers, one of the often overlooked concerns with staffing is the absence of mentorship for recruits. This mentorship frequently makes the difference between a professional force and a force with problems. The DROP initiative just might retain senior officers with requisite experience to mentor new recruits. This experience is worth more than its weight in gold that regrettably we can not measure. However, with the present scrutiny on our SFPD for proper conduct, we may need to pay up to ensure proper conduct is taught to new academy graduates. Until we are fully staffed we need experience.
Endorsed by: Transportation Workers Union Local 200 … read more here
h brown
- Job: Retired special education teacher
- Age: 80
- Residency: Tenant, at current address for nine years, redistricted into District 9 in April 2022
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in special education from Clemson University
- Languages: English
I’ve been writing opposition columns about this program for 16 years.
I testified twice against it this morning [July 23] in two back-to-back Special Meetings of the Full Board on the issue.
Our D-9 Supervisor, Hillary Ronen, has led Board Opposition to the cops’ heartless cash grab.
She gave a detailed projection of what a Sergeant (it’s only open to sergeants and above) would make.
Over a half million dollars a year for 5 years and that’s not the worst.
Worst is that it keeps the very officers whose generation is all about racism and sexism and homophobia running the department.
Endorsed by: No endorsements listed.
Stephen Torres
- Job: Bartender at Twin Peaks Tavern, customer service at Flowercraft Nursery and freelance writer
- Age: 46
- Residency: Tenant, lived in District 9 summer 2001 to fall 2003, and returned in the summer 2010
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Moorpark Community College and San Francisco City College as work has permitted
- Languages: English and Spanish
Adequately staffed and compensated law enforcement is important and I do agree we need to do more to step up recruitment and retention of officers. While the DROP ballot measure does include provisions to reign in overtime costs and is temporary, I have real concerns about the fiscal impact and long term benefits. And I have to ask if it makes sense to direct so much funding to this program, which we have tried before, when our city is slashing essential funding for programs and departments that serve to strengthen our communities against violent crime, homelessness, and illness.
Endorsed by: Mark Leno, Former State Senator, Aaron Peskin, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Hillary Ronen, Supervisor, District 9 … read 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 oscar.palma@missionlocal.com
Read the rest of the District 9 questions here, and the entire “Meet the Candidates” series here.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
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OSCAR PALMA
Oscar is a reporter with interest in environmental and community journalism, and how these may intersect. Some of his personal interests are bicycles, film, and both Latin American literature and punk. Oscar’s work has previously appeared in KQED, The Frisc, El Tecolote, and Golden Gate Xpress.More by Oscar Palma
