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TALK SUPES: Click below for one of the interviews with San Francisco's three Asian American Supervisors.
Mabel Teng	Michael Yaki	Leland Yee

Michael Yaki

District 1 incumbent (Inner Richmond, Outer Richmond, Sea Cliff)

Interview by Tom Lee

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Michael Yaki

AsianWeek: In your opinion, what is the most important issue in District 1?

Yaki: I think that obviously pedestrian and traffic safety issues are very high up. We’ve had some unfortunate incidents. People have been killed, others have been injured. I have been working very closely with the Department of Parking and Traffic to establish more stop signals and more stop signs. The cleanliness of the parks and streets are all part of why people live there. It’s why I’ve lived there since the mid1980s. Those issues continue to be a focus of my work on the Board and will hopefully be so next year as well.

AW: How do you propose to address these issues?

Yaki: The most important thing is knowing that not any single person such as myself has the answer. Every single one of the appointees I have control over appointment power has come from the Richmond. They serve as my eyes and ears and sounding board for ideas. I’ve worked very closely with organizations such as Greater Geary Boulevard Merchants Association, Clement Street Merchants, realtors and homeowner groups. That’s the bread and butter of how you find out what’s going on and what needs to be taken care of. I have been doing that for over four years. I’ve been on the board and I hope that my record of achievement in these areas will keep me going another two or four years depending on which straw I draw.

AW: What are some issues that are affecting Asian Americans the most?

Yaki: Well, I think that we all share concerns about pedestrian safety. I think we have concerns about access to services. I sponsored a bilingual services act to try to get city departments to have true bilingual capabilities so no one is at a disadvantage because they speak their primary language.

Crime and safety issues are very important issues as well as access to home ownership opportunities. Overall Asian Americans have to face racism, hate crimes. Having Asian Americans in office gives that safeguard, that ability to make change.

AW: Do you think Asian American voters will vote for you because you are of Asian descent, or are they more likely to vote based on your issues?

Yaki: I think Asian Americans will vote, like any voter, more for issues that concern them. Obviously knowing what those issues are is important. Being an Asian American candidate gives you that advantage. In the end, voters will vote for who they feel represents them best.

AW: What are your thoughts on district elections?

Yaki: I initially was not a big fan of district elections but now I am a fan. I like the fact that I’m developing closer ties with groups and people in the district. I think it’s neat to be able to represent a certain part of the city. But there needs to be a balance with the greater city-at-large issues with the district issues. The experience and knowledge to be able to do both is the key ingredient to success for a supervisor.

AW: How much money have you raised?

Yaki: I have no idea (laughs). I intend to abide by the spending cap which means I will raise close to $75,000.

AW: Where are you getting the majority of your support funds?

Yaki: They range the gamut of the community, parents, educators, people in the community who support and know my work.

AW: Has the change to district elections affected your campaign strategy?

Yaki: I think a major difference is that I don’t have to beat up my car as much traveling to campaign in multiple parts of the city. I campaigned a lot in person four years ago and I intend to do the same now, to get the message out and hope people respond to it.

AW: Is it an advantage or disadvantage being Asian American living in a heavily API populated city such as San Francisco?

Yaki: If you’re an Asian American candidate, I would say it’s a definite advantage because now you have numbers in people who can say ‘I would like an Asian American representing me,’ and be able to make a difference on that. Does that necessary mean they will vote for the Asian American candidate? No. But if that person articulates issues that voters respond to and all things being equal, then having more Asian Americans living in San Francisco is beneficial to an Asian American candidate.

AW: Do you have a role model or someone you wish to emulate?

Yaki: My elders in my family are my role models. I have a father who grew up in a Japanese American concentration camp during World War II, who despite that history became one of the country’s highest-ranking Asian American diplomats. My grandfather on my Chinese side had a long history working to free China from Imperial rule in the early 1900s. He was a diplomat for China through the 1930s and 40s. He has taught me a lot about wisdom, patience and perseverance. My mom is just a golden dragon with all the finest attributes of a dragon. I hope I have some of those attributes as well. These people for me are the best inspirations for how to live life.

AW: During your tenure, what has been the biggest challenge you have had to face?

Yaki: I think the biggest challenge is the one that’s coming up now. How do we reconcile fiscal and economic growth with the virtues of San Francisco that we all know and love, which are the neighborhood character and the smallness of it? That’s why I’m supporting a proposition to restrain, not prohibit, growth in the South of Market, Potrero and Mission areas. These growing pains and how we deal with them are going to be critical to the future of San Francisco.