For Mayor (rank up to three)
» Gavin Newsom:
The mayor showed leadership in saving Japantown and fighting hepatitis B. In his next term, he should increase his record of Asian American appointments and consult the community on them.
For District Attorney (unopposed)
» Kamala Harris:
Harris’ office is prosecuting the Melcher hate-crime murders of three APAs. She has increased diversity in the department and is hapa herself.
For Sheriff (rank up to two)
» Mike Hennessey
(first ranking):
Has the best affirmative action hiring practices in the nation, where 19% of officers and 30% of deputies are APA. Hennessey has a progressive rehabilitation record using agencies in the community.
» David Wong
(second ranking):
In a post-Hennessey era, we would endorse the president of the Deputy Sheriffs Association. Wong has strong community credentials, extensive law enforcement experience and has demonstrated leadership abilities.
Propositions (vote Yes or No)
A – Transit Reform, Parking Regulation and Emissions Reductions
» No on A: Literally a blank check that tries to accomplish too much in one measure. Voters would have no voice in the amount of revenue bonds and any other debt.
B – Limiting Hold-Over Service on Charter-Created Board and Commissions
» Yes on B: Eliminates lame duck commissioners and encourages positions to be filled quickly. In a city more than one-third APA with a charter mandating racial diversity, we need improved outreach, requiring that the mayor and supervisors interview at least one qualified APA candidate for openings.
C – Public Hearings on Proposed Last-Minute Measures
» Yes on C: APA viewpoints have not been represented on measures that qualified on the ballot at the last minute without any hearings. Measures often ignore the impact on a large APA small business community and its employees.
D – Renewing Library Preservation Fund
» Yes on D: Educational resources are vital to growing Asian American families, as well as new immigrants. Help make sure libraries are funded
E – Requiring Mayor to Appear Monthly at a Board of Supervisors’ Meeting
» No on E: If San Francisco wants to adopt English parliamentary practices, then it should also allow the mayor to dissolve the Board of Supervisors, which has only one APA member.
F – Amending Retirement Benefits for Police Department Employees who were Airport Police Officers
» Yes on F: As Police Chief Heather Fong has argued in AsianWeek, the city’s police department is undermanned because the lack of new police cadets. AsianWeek endorses this measure to help retain 60 officers with improved benefits.
G – Establishing Golden Gate Park Stables Matching Fund
» Yes on G: Left out of a $185 million neighborhood park bond for next February’s election, this is as important as Chinatown and Palega Recreation centers, Sunset Playgrounds and other facilities in APA neighborhoods.
H – Regulating Parking Spaces
» No on H: This is incompatible with city transit and parking policies. APAs have historically battled to save major traffic arteries leading to our neighborhoods and for safer ways of taking children to school. Large APA households use autos and need parking.
I – Small Business Assistance Center
» Yes on I: Helps reverse recent admissions in AsianWeek by the Department of Public Works, highlighting the anti-small business attitude permeating city government. APA contractors in San Francisco face 89 unique requirements not mandated outside of the city.
J – Adopting a Policy to Offer Free City-Wide Wireless High-Speed Internet Network
» Yes on J: Only a policy statement, but free Wi-Fi poses immense benefits for personal and commercial uses in a highly tech-savvy APA community, and APAs still on the other side of the digital divide.
K – Adopting a Policy to Restrict Advertising on Street Furniture and City Buildings
» No on K: Prime example of what Proposition C would stop. Four supervisors qualified this measure at the last minute without hearings. Would cost the city tens of millions in revenue.