KQED Live Events
2024 San Francisco Mayoral Debate Hosted by KQED and The San Francisco Chronicle
9/19/2024 | 58m 3sVideo has Closed Captions
2024 San Francisco Mayoral candidates debate live onstage at KQED Headquarters.
Candidates for the city’s 2024 Mayoral election join KQED and The San Francisco Chronicle onstage for a live debate to share their policies and ideas for taking on the most critical issues facing the city. Moderated by KQED’s Scott Shafer and Marisa Lago, along with the Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli.
KQED Live Events is a local public television program presented by KQED
KQED Live Events
2024 San Francisco Mayoral Debate Hosted by KQED and The San Francisco Chronicle
9/19/2024 | 58m 3sVideo has Closed Captions
Candidates for the city’s 2024 Mayoral election join KQED and The San Francisco Chronicle onstage for a live debate to share their policies and ideas for taking on the most critical issues facing the city. Moderated by KQED’s Scott Shafer and Marisa Lago, along with the Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli.
How to Watch KQED Live Events
KQED Live Events is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipFROM KQED AND THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE THIS IS THE 2024SAN FRANCISCO MAYORAL DEBATE.
IN THE FIRST MAYORAL ELECTION SINCE THE PANDEMIC SAN FRANCISCO IS AT A CROSSROADS.
THE NEXT MAYOR WILL FACE MANY CHALLENGES, HOMELESSNESS, DRUG OVERDOSES, BLIC SAFETY AND THE HIGH COST OF LIVING IN THE BAY AREA.
TONIGHT THE FIVE LEADING CANDIDATES SHARE THEIR VISIONS FOR THE CITY'S FUTURE.
INCOMPETENT SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR, LONDON BREED.
FORMER INTERIM SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR, MARK FARRELL.
SAN FRANCISCO SUPERVISOR FROM DISTRICT 11, AHSHA SAFAI.
NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE, DANIEL LURIE.
AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PRESIDENT AARON PESKIN.
THE WINTER OF NOVEMBER 5th RANK CHOICE ELECTION WILL SET AN AGENDA AFFECTING THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 800,000 RESIDENTS.
NOW THE CANDIDATES SHARE A STAGE JUST DAYS BEFORE VOTING BEGINS.
COMING TO YOU FROM ED HEADQUARTERS IN THE CITY'S MISSION DISTRICT HERE ARE YOUR MODERATORS, KQED'S SCOTT SHAVER AND MARISSA LOVE US.
AND THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE'S JOE GAROFOLI.
>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS DEBATE AMONG THE LEADING CANDIDATES FOR THE MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO.
I'M SCOTT SHAVER.
VOTERS HERE ARE FACING A VERY IMPORTANT CHOICE THIS ELECTION, WHO WILL LEAVE THE CITY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
THE TOP FIVE CANDIDATES FOR THE JOB INCLUDING THE INCUMBENT, THEY ARE HE TONIGHT ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE PRESSING ISSUES FACING THE CITY.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED THE RULES FOR TONIGHT'S HOUR-LONG DEBATE.
THE ORDER OF SPEAKERS FOTHE 1st AND LAST ROUNDS WAS RANDOMLY DETERMINED.
TONIGHT'S QUESTIONS WERE DEVELOPED BY THE MODERATORS NO QUESTIONS WERE SHARED WITH THE CANDIDATES OR THEIR CAMPAIGNS.
FOR ITS QUESTION THE KENNEDY GETS UP TO 90 SECONDS TO ANSWER.
THERE'S A TIME CLOCK.
THEY CAN SEE IT AND WE ARE GOING TO ENFORCE THAT TIME LIMIT.
THE MODERATORS HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTERRUPT IF WE FILL A CANDID IS NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION OR ASK A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
IF A CANDIDATES NAME OR ACTIONS IN OFFICE ARE INVOKED WE HAVE THE OPTION OF GIVING THAT CANDIDATES 30 SECONDS FOR A REBUTTAL.
FINALLY, CANDIDATES WILL HAVE U STATEMENT.
WE ASK OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE TO PLEASE HOLD THEIR APPLAU UNTIL THE END OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE.
WITH THAT LET'S GET STARTED.
>> THANKS, SCOTT.
MAYOR LONDON BREED, LAST WEEK HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER DIRECTOR CHERYL DAVIS RESIGNED AFTER REPORTING REVEALED SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF YOUR DREAM KEEP ORDERS INITIATIVE SPENDING.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ETHICS SCANDAL INVOLVING CITY HALL SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN MAYOR.
THERE -- BRIBERY SCANDALS AND ALSO -- ULTIMATELY, THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU.
Y DID IT TAKE MEDIA PROBES AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS FOR THESE ISSUES TO COME TO LIGHT?
ARE YOU WILLING TO HOLD YOUR FRIENDS ACCOUNTABLE?
>> TO BE PERFECTLY CARE, SAN FRANCISCO HAS 34,000 EMPLOYEES.
FROM TIME TO TIME WE HAVE HAD CHALLENGES WITH SOME OF THEM.
WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, I HAVE HELD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE.
I IMMEDIATELY ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED HER RESIGNATION EVEN BEFORE THIS PROBE STARTED WE HAD ALREADY PAUSED FUNDING ON ISSUING FUNDING OUT OF THE DREAM KEEPER INITIATIVE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HAD ALREADY STARTED MAKING SURE WE ARE COMBING THROUGH WITH OUR CONTROLLERS OFFICE EVERY ITEM TO ENSURE THAT THIS VERY VALUABLE PROGRAM IS NOT COMPROMISED.
THE FACT IS, SOME OF MY OPPONENTS ON THIS STAGE THINKS THAT INVESTING IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WASN'T A GOOD IDEA.
AND ISN'T A GOOD IDEA.
AND TELL THAT TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOMES IN SAN FRANCISCO.
TELL THAT TO THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ANGEL INVESTORS OR WERE BORN WITHA SILVER SPOON IN THEIR MOUTHS AND CAN'T PURCHASE OR PROVIDE THEIR OWN NEW BUSINESSES IN SAN FRANCISCO.
A NUMBER OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND EVEN CITY EMT THAT IS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE SAN FRANCISCO TO BE FIREFIGHTERS IN THIS CITY.
I WOULD DO EVERYTHING I CAN, AND I HAVE FROM DAY ONE, WITH A NUMBER OF EXECUTIVE ELECTIVES AND APPOTING NEW ETHICAL LEADERSHIP.
PEOPLE LIKE DENNIS HERRERA, CARMEN HSU, DAVID CHU AND OTHERS TO HELP US LEAD THE CITY WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH CHALLENGES OF THIS NATURE.
AND THAT IS MY GOAL AND ERYTHING THAT I DO HERE IN THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU.
AHSHA SAFAI, YOU HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE 2017 AND HAVE TIES TO A DEVELOPER THAT PLED GUILTY TO PRIVATE -- BRIBING PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN EXIT FOR EXPEDITED BUILDING PERMITS.
HE SPENT A LOT OF THIS CAMPAIGN TALKING ABT CITY HALL CORRUPTION.
AFTER SEVEN YEARS IN OFFICE WHAT HAVE YOU DONE AS A SUPERVISOR TO RETELL MALFEASANCE AND CHANGE THE CULTURE AT CITY HALL?
.
SO, BEFORE I GET STARTED I WANT TO SAY LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO I AM.
I'M A PROUD IMMIGRANT.
I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FLEEING VIOLENCE WHEN I WAS SIX YEARS OLD.
I WAS RAISED BY A SINGLE MOM WHO IS JOINING ME HERE TONIGHT.
I'M A PROUD DAD, FATHER OF TWO, IS SOUGHT -- A DAUGHTER AND A SON.
I PUT MYSELF THROUGH COLLEGE.
I WENT TO M.I.T.
FOR CITY PLANNING.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT ALL THE WORK I HAVE DONE IN THIS CITY.
YOU ARE RIGHT.
CORRUPTION HAS IMBUED THIS MAYORS AND ADMINISTRATION SINCE DAY ONE.
AND WHAT I DID IS 2.5 YEARS AGO I RAN A BALL MEASURE THAT SAID WE ARE GOING TO DO MANDATORY AUDITS, A PROGRAMMING THAT DEALS WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HOMELESS SERVICES AND HOUSING.
THAT IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT STARTED OUT AT $100 MILLION AND HAS GROWN TO OVER $700 MILLION.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE BELIEVES THAT THE COITIONS WITH HOMELESSNESS CRISIS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER.
THEY HAVE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE.
WHEN WE DID OUR MANDATORY AUDITS SPRING OF LAST YEAR, THE VERY FIRST ONE THAT WAS DONE THEY HAD TO CALL IN THE FBI.
BECAUSE THE GROUP WAS SELLING VOUCHERS TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
THE SECOND AUDIT THAT HAPPENED IT WAS INVOICES THAT WERE BEING SUBMITTED TO THE CITY FOR WORK THAT WAS NEVER DONE.
SO, I HAVE LED A CHART TO DO MANDATORY AUDITS AND BRING ACCOUNTABILITY.
THIS MAYOR DID NOT SUPPORT THAT MEASURE.
SHE DID NOT SUPPORT BRINGING ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE PEOPLE THAT SUFFER THE MOST ARE WORKING AND MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES.
THOSE THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO GET BY IN THIS CITY AND DON'T GET THE CITY SERVICES THAT THEY DESERVE.
>> MAYOR, YOU MAY RESPOND.
>> TO BE VERY CLEAR, FROM DAY ONE IN 2018 WHEN I BECAME MAYOR AND ISSUED THE FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE WHAT THE SUPERVISORS TALKING ABOUT WAS ALREADY IN PLACE.
MOST OF THE TIME THE POLICIES THAT HE TRIES TO IMPLEMENT OUR DUPLICATION.
OF WHAT I'M ALREADY DOING.
IT'S REDUNDANT.
THAT WORK WAS HAPPENING THE REASON WHY WE WERE ABLE TO CATCH MANY OF THESE CASES INVOLVING PROBLEMS OF CORRUPTION HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE SYSTEMS THAT I HAVE ALREADY PUT IN PLACE.>> THANK YOU.
DANIEL LURIE, YOU HAVE CRITICIZED OTHER CANDIDATES ON THE STAGE FOR BEING PART OF THE OLD POLITICAL GUARD IN SAN FRANCISCO.
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE PART OF THE FINANCIAL GUARD HERE.
YOUR CONNECTIONS TO THEM HAVE HELPED BUILD YOUR ABILITY TO RAISE MONEY FOR A TIPPING POINT IN THE SUPER BOWL.
IT'S HOW YOUR FUNDING YOUR CAMPAIGN.
HOW WOULD YOU PUSH BACK ON THE ECONOMIC INTEREST THAT DOMINATES SAN FRANCISCO AND MANY OF WHOM ARE FAMILY, FRIEND AND ASSOCIATES?
>> THANK YOU.
I AM PROUD OF MY RECORD OF EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE.
I WILL PUT IT UP AGAINST ANYBODY ON THIS STAGE.
I HAD THE CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO WHEN IT CAME TO STARTING TIPPING POINT.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WE COULD DO IT AND WE HAVE CHARTED INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST, MOST INNOVATIVE POVERTY FIGHTING ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY.
THAT HOLDS NONPROFITS ACCOUNTABLE AND GETS RESULTS.
IF A GROUP IS NOT PERFORMING TO CUT FUNDING AND MOVE ON TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HIGH- PERFORMING.
SAME THING WITH SUPER BOWL KNOW WHAT THAT WE COULD MAKE IT COMMUNITY-BASED EVENT.
WE MADE SURE THAT 25% OF EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT WE RAISE FROM CORPORATIONS WENT BACK TO COMMUNITY.
WE PUT $13 MILLION BACK INTO COMMUNITY.
I WILL PUT, ONCE AGAINMY TRACK RECORD OF INVESTING IN COMMUNITY IN THIS CITY UP AGAINST ANYBODY.
WE HAVE ALSO BUILT HOUSING ON TIME.
>> I'M ASKING ABOUT YOUR TIES -- >> I'M TELLING YOU, MY TIES HAVE BEEN ALL ABOUT INVESTING IN SAN FRANCISCO.
INVESTING IN THIS COMMUNITY.
ABIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, NO MATTER THE Z.I.P.
CODE THEY WERE BORN INTO FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD UCATION.
SINCE 2015 TIPPING POINT TEST HOLES OVER 40,000 PEOPLE.
YES, I HAVE USED WHAT I HAVE HAD AT MY DISPOSAL TO INVESTING COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO DO THE SAME THING AS YOUR NEXT MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU, DANIEL LURIE.
MARK FARRELL MY SINCE YOUR FIRST CAMPAIGN OFFICE THROUGH TODAY YOU HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF PLAYING FAST AND LOOSE WITH CHAI MAN -- CAMPAIGN RULES.
YOU SAY YOU FOLLOW THE LAW.
IN A CITIES THAT HAS BEEN CORRUPT BY ALL OF THESE CORRUPTION SCANDALS WHY SHOULD VOTERS TRUST YOU TO CLEAN HOUSE?
IS BECAUSE BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE THING THAT I HAVE EVER DONE WITH HIGH CAMPAIGNS HAS BEEN APPROVED, VETTED BY AND SIGNED OFF BY MY ATTORNEYS.
EVERY SINGLE TIME.
>> THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NECESSARILY LEGAL THOUGH.
THAT'S LEGAL ADVICE, IT IS NOT THE ULTIMATE RULE.
YOU PAID A RECORD FINE IN 2016 RELATED TO YOUR 2010 CAMPAIGN.
>> WITH THAT ISSUE, BACK THEN THEY WENT THROUGH A THREE YEAR INVESTIGATION AND FOUND AND CONCLUDED AFTER THAT ENTIRE TIME THAT I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.
AND FULLY EXONERATED ME AT THE STATE, LOCAL LEVEL.
TO ME IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND FOLLOW MY ATTORNEYS ADVICE AND I WILL ALWAYS DO THAT.
LET ME TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY AS WE START HERE THIS EVENING, IT'S NICE TO SEE MAYOR BREED FINALLY AT A DEBATE AFTER SHE HAS BEEN DUCKING THEM FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
IT IS CLEAR MAYOR BREED, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE TONIGHT TELLING THE AUDIENCE OF SAN FRANCISCO EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT, SAN FRANCISCO?
I'M HERE TOTELL YOU THE TRUTH.
THERE IS NO MAYOR THAT HAS OVERSEEN A STEEPER DECLINE IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY THAN LONDON BREED.
CRIME IS AT RECORD LEVELS.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN ACROSS THE BOARD.
HOMELESSNESS IS RISING ONCE AGAIN.
OUR ECONOMY IS STUCK IN THE MUD.
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE HELD HOSTAGE BY OPEN AIR DRUG MARKETS.
WE HAVE MET, EXCUSE ME, WE HAVE NOT THAT ARE HOUSING GOALS ANY SINGLE YEAR.
IT IS CLEAR WHY YOU WERE SKIPPING DEBATES AND IT'S WHY WE NEED A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP INSIDE OF CITY HALL.
>> LONDON BREED, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.
>> FIRST OF ALL, UNLIKE SOME OF MY OPPONENTS ON THIS STATE I ACTUALLY HAVE A JOB.
NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, TO BE VERY CLEAR, CRIME IS LOWER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN OVER A DECADE.
IN FACT, PROPERTY CRIME WAS 70% HIGHER WHEN MARK WAS TEMPORARY MAYOR.
CAR BREAK-INWERE 150% HIGHER WHEN HE WAS TEMPORARY MAYOR.
AND VIOLENT CRIME WAS ALMOST 40% HIGHER.
10 AND CAMA'S WERE OVER 60% HIGHER.
HE WAS THE SAME I'VE EVER SEEN ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES AND NOT DELIVER THE RESULTS.
MY RESULTSSPEAK FOR THEMSELVES WE HAVE RECORD LOW IME RATES.
WE ARE SEEING OUR CITY BOUNCE BACK.
HE IS TRYING TO TAKE US BACKWARDS.
WE ARE NOT GOING BACK.
>> IF YOU BELIEVE THOSE STATS I GOT A BRIDGE TO SELL YOU.
THE REALITY IS HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR BREED HAS OVERSEEN AN INCREDIBLE DECLINE IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
DEFUNDED OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT $120 MILLION DECLINE IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
DEFUNDED OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT $120,000,000.03 YEARS AGO.
POLICE STAFFING LEVELS DOWN OVER 25%.
HOMELESS TENT ENCAMPMENT ON THE RISE.
COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE WITH OUR HOMELESS SITUATION ON OUR STREETS.
OUR ECONOMY IS RANKED DEAD LAST IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY POST- COVID.
THAT IS NOT A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS.
THAT IS A TRACK RECORD OF FAILURE AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO TURN THE PAGE ON HER FAILED LEADERSHIP FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO AARON PESKIN.
MR. PESKIN, YOUR CAMPAIGN IS BASED ON PROTECTING THE LITTLE GUY.
RENTERS, LOW INCOME SAN FRANCISCANS, NEIGHBORHOOD INTEREST.
MANY OFYOUR NEIBORS ARE CAMPAIGN DONORS AND HAVE BENEFITED FROM A LOT OF YOUR VOTES TO BLOCK DEVELOPMENT THAT MIGHT HAVE BLOCKED THEIR VIEWS.
HOW DOES THAT HELP PROTECT AGAINST GENTRIFICATION FOR THE AVERAGE SAN FRANCISCAN?
>> LISTEN, MARISSA.
WHILE THESE GUYS ARE BUSY PLAYING THE BLAME GAME AND POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE ON THIS STAGE THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY DONE THE WORK AROUND PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
I LEAD THE EFFORT TO REFUND $129 TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AFTER THEY STOLE IT AND THEN I PASSED PROPOSITION F TO FINALLY REGULATE RECALLED HE APPROPRIATELY WHILE MARK FARRELL WAS LAUNDERING MONEY FROM THEMTHROUGH A NONPROFIT THAT HIS WIFE WAS ON THE BOARD OF.
AND NOW WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT MAYOR BREED KNEW ABOUT THE ALLEGEDLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF HER VERY CLOSE FRIEND AND POLITICAL MENTEE, CHERYL DAVIS.
I AUTHORED PROPOSITION C ON THIS NOVEMBES BALLOT TO COMBAT CORRUPTION.
AND ESTABLISH A NATIONAL GOLD STANDARD.
AND OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WITH THE POWER OF SUBPOENA AND SEARCH WARRANTS.
FRANKLY, I AM SHOCKED THAT SUPERVISOR AHSHA SAFAI AND MYSELF ARE THE ONLY CANDIDATES ON THIS STAGE TO HAVE ENDORSED PROPOSITION C, ESPECIALLY GIVEN ALLEGATIONS MADE THIS MORNING IN THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE ABOUT LONDON BREED EXPEDITING MARK FARRELL'S BUILDING PERMITS SHOWING THEY ARE THE ONES THAT NEED PROPOSITION C THE MOST.
MR. LURIE, WHILE YOU BREAK CITY HALL INSIDERS YOU HAVE YOUR OWN RECORD TO DEFEND.
SPENDING ALMOST $5 MILLION ON CHARITY, OF CHARITY MONEY ON LAVISH PARTIES FOR YOUR WEALTHY FRIENDS.
IS THAT THE KIND OF MAYOR YOU'RE GOING TO BE?
>> WHERE TO START?
>> YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.
>> OUR RECORD AT TIPPING POINT IS WHEN I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF.
WE HAVE RAISE OVER $500 MILLION TO TACKLE ISSUES OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
MY BOARD AT TIPPING POINT PAID FOR ALL OVERHEAD.
I AM SO PROUD OF OUR RECORD THEY ARE.
WE HAVE SUCH A BETTER TRACK RECORD OF GETTING THINGS DONE THEN THESE CITY HALL INSIDERS.
40,000 PEOPLE HOUSED SINCE 2015.
A FRACTION OF THE COST AND A FRACTION OF THE TIME IT TAKES THESE INSIDERS TO DO THOSE THINGS.
>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON.
>> DANIEL LURIE, YOU HAVE POINTED REPEATEDLY, JUST A MOMENT AGO, TO A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT FUNDED BY YOUR NONPROFIT, TIPPING POINT AT 833 BRYANT.
AS EVIDENCE THAT YOU CAN GET BUILDING -- HOUSE IN BELFAST AND SHE.
IN PART BECAUSE THE PROJECT USED PREFABRICATED CONSTRUCTION.
PREFAB IS RARE AND PREFAB WORKERS MAKE LESS THAN BUILDING WORKERS.
HOW CAN YOU SCALE THIS IDEA WHILE ENSURING THE WORKERS THAT WILL THESE UNITS MAKE ENOUGH TO AFFORD TO LIVEIN SAN FRANCISCO THEMSELVES?
>> IT WAS BUILT BY 13 DIFFERENT UNIONS.
IT WAS 100% UNION MADE ON TIME, UNDER BUDGET WITH GOOD PAYING UNION LABOR.
IT COST $377,000 A UNIT.
IT TOOK US THREE YEARS.
COMPARE THAT WITH THE AVERAGE COST IT TAKES A CITY TO DO THE SAME TYPE OF PROJECT.
SEVEN YEARS, $1.2 MILLION.
THE REASON THAT WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN THIS CITY IS BECAUSE OF THESE CITY HALL INSIDERS CREATING A BYZANTINE BUREAUCRATIC AND CORRUPT PERMITTING PROCESS THAT TAKES 33 MONTHS TO GET THROUGH PERMITTING.
THE WHITE HOUSE JUST SMACKED US DOWN AND SAID IT TAKES LONGER HERE THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
IF WE WANT OUR YOUNG FAMILIES TO THINK ABOUT STAYING HERE LONG TERM, IF WE WANT OUR TEACHERS TO BE STAYING HERE WE HAVE TO GET MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT.
THAT PROJECT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLICATED AND IS BEING BUILT FOR, SAME TYPE OF PROJECT, 135 UNITS OF SENIOR HOUSING AT CESAR CHAVEZ AND VALENCIA STREET.
THE MAYOR ACTUALLY CUT THE RIBBON TO IT JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.
IT IS BEEN REPLICATED.
I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLICATE THAT MODEL.
USING GOOD PAYING UNION LABOR.
AND I HAVE FRIENDS, PEOPLE ON THIS STAGE, GOING AFTER UNION MADE BUILDINGS.
THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO ME.
>> AARON PESKIN.
YOU SAY YOU HAVE APPROVED MORE HOUSING THAN ANYONE ON THIS STAGE.
BUT YOU HAVE ALSO POSED MANY PROJECTS.
LIKE WHEN YOU VOTED DOWN A PROJECT TO BUILD ALMOST 500 UNITS, INCLUDING 73 AFFORDABLE UNITS ON WHAT WAS A NORDSTROM VALET PARKING LOT.
IT REMAINS A PARKING LOT TODAY.
YOU SAID IT WAS BECAUSE, YOU SAID YOU POSTED BECAUSE LOW INCOME NEIGHBORS FEARED GENTRIFICATION.
WHEN SHOULD THE CITY OVERRIDE LOCAL OPPOSITION?
>> JOE, I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO REJECT THE NARRATIVE OF THE REAL ESTATE SPECULATORS AND DEVELOPERS AND LET ME ACTUALLY CORRECT JUST SLIGHTLY THE RECORD.
I HAVE VOTED TO APPROVE MORE HOUSING AT ALL INCOME LEVELS ALL OVER THIS CITY THEN EVERY CANDIDATE ON THIS STAGE COMBINE OVER 100,000 UNITS.
BUT I DID THAT BY WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT AGNST NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN MY OWN DISTRICT I HAVE BUILT EVERY KIND OF HOUSING.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR HOMELESS SHELTERS, MARKET RATE HOUSING.
AND I HAVE NEVENOT ONCE, VOTED AGAINST ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE WHO EXPANDS -- SPORTS EXPANDING RENT CONTROL.
UNLIKE MY OPPONENTS I HAVE AN ACTUAL PLAN TO BUILD A MIDDLE INCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT SAN FRANCISCO SO DESPERATELY NEEDS.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THIS, BUT THERE ARE OVER 73,000 SHOVEL READY FULLY ENTITLED UNITS THAT AREN'T BEING BUILT BECAUSE INTEREST RATES ARE TOO HIGH.
MY PLAN PROVIDES FOR LOWER INTEREST RATES FOR CONSTRUCTION.
I WILL FINALLY OPEN UP THAT PIPELINE.
BUT I DO IT BY WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS, NOT AGAINST THEM.
>> TIME.
AHSHA SAFAI, YOUR PLANS TO BUILD HOUSING OR SHELTER BEDS ARE CONTINGENT ON INTEREST RATES DROPPING APPRECIABLY.
WE SAW THE FED HAD A BIG RATE CUT THIS WEEK.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN B IF INTEREST RATES DON'T DROP ENOUGH TO ENTICE DELOPERS TO BUILD IN SAN FRANCISCO?
>> WE PUT FORWARD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE JUST PAST PROBABLY TWO WEEKS AGO.
I THINK THE MAYOR JUST SIGNED IT.
WHAT IT DID IS SAID WE ARE GOING TO USE UNION PENSION DOLLARS, ALL OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS IN SAN FRANCISCO USE UNION PENSION DOLLARS THAT ARE USUALLY AT 25 UNITS OR ABOVE.
WE ARE SAYING ON THOSE PROJECTS WE ARE GOING TO LOWER THE TRANSFER TAX THAT WAS RAISED A FEW YEARS AGO.
WE ARE GOING TO LOWER IT JUST FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
WE ARE GOING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SITE.
WE'RE GOING USE WALL-TO-WALL UNION LABOR, BECAUSE THAT WAS REALLY WHAT YOUR QUESTION WAS BEFORE, JOE.
WASN'T TALKING ABOUT MODULAR HOUSING, IT WAS HOW WE CAN REPLICATE IT.
THAT IS NOT REPLICABLE, REALLY IN SAN FRANCISCO.
WE ARE GOING TO BUILD UNION JOBS .
WE'RE GOING TO BUILD HOUSING ON SITE.
WE ARE WHAT PUT UNION MEMBERS TO WORK AND BUILD A A LOT OF HOUSING.
THAT'S GOING TO MAKE US A SIGNIFICANT -- A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
THE OTHER THING I DID AND I WORKED ON TH WITH SUPERVISOR PESKIN RECENTLY, WE LOWER THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING RATE.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.
WE ARE PULLING EVERY TRIGGER TO MAKE SURE WE CAN BUILD MORE HOUSING AND WE CAN BUILD IT QUICKER.
>> OKAY.
SCOTT.
>>> LONDON BREED, WANT ASK ABOUT A PARTICULAR CASE INVOLVING SOMEONE NAMED RAMON CASTEEL.
AS A CHRONICLE REPORTED RECENTLY, HIS TENT WAS CLEARED A FEW BLOCKS FROM HERE IN THE MISSION.
HE WAS APPROACHED BY POLICE, REFUSED HOUSING.
HIS TENT AND BELONGINGS WERE THROWN AWAY.
HE WAS PUT INA POLICE CAR FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES GIVEN A MISDEMEANOR CITATION AND RELEASED.
WHAT DO CLEARINGS LIKE THIS AND THIS POLICY IN GENERAL ACCOMPLISH?
>> I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE WE HAVE HELPED GET OVER 20,000 PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
WE HAVE INCREASED OUR SHELTER CAPACITY BY MORE THAN 70%.
WE HAVE INCREASED OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS BY OVER 50%.
AND, IN FACT, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS INCLEARING ENCAMPMENTS CAME BECAUSE OF A LAWSUIT.
BY AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE HOMELESS COALITION.
AN ORGANIZATION FUNDED BY DANIEL LURIE.
AN ORGANIZATION THAT CONTINUES TO PAY TO PUT TENTS OUT ON THE STREETS, SO PEOPLE CAN REFUSE THE SUPPORT THAT WE ARE OFFERING THEM.
NOW THAT WE HAVE HAD CHANGES IN OUR LAWS WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN WHEN PEOPLE REFUSE SERVICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE ONLY OPTION THEY HAVE IS TO ACCEPT OUR HELP AND TO ACCEPT OUR SUPPORT.
>> LOOKING AT NUMBERS EVEN TODAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 300 TENTS AN ENCAMPMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO.
INCLUDING ONE A HALF OF LOT FROM HERE.
>> WHEN I TOOK OFFICE THERE WERE MORE THAN 600.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CLEAR THESE ENCAMPMENTS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIME WE STARTED THESE COUNTS TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A DECLINE.
OUR OFFICERS AND OUR STREET CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS AND OTHER GROUPS OUT ON THE STREETS, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SO UNCOMFORTABLE THAT THEY TAKE US UP ON OUR OFFER TO GO INDOORS.>> DANIEL LURIE, 30 SECONDS.
>> IF YOU'RE WATCHING AT HOME YOU SEE WHAT THE CITY HALL INSIDERS ARE DOING.
THEY ARE CIRCLING THE WAGONS.
THEY ARE SO SCARED OF SOMEBODY COMING FROM OUTSIDE THIS BROKEN SYSTEM THAT HAS FAILED TO DELIVER ON CLEARING OUR REETS , ON PUBLIC SAFETY, ON CORRUPTION.
AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL THEY HAVE FAILED.
NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO ATTACK ME.
I CAN TAKE IT, BUT CAN YOU TAKE FOUR MORE YEARS OF IT?
>> MARK FARRELL.
>> STATE HOUSING LAW REQUIRES THAT CITY LEADERS WORK TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN WEALTHY NEIGHBHOODS THAT HAVE OFTEN BEEN EXCLUSIONARY, LIKE YOUR HOME DISTRICT OF MARINA.
DOESN'T YOUR PLAN TO FOCUS DEVELOP ON -- DOWNTOWN AND SOMA VIOLATE STATE HOUSING LAW?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
LET ME BE SUPER CLEAR WITH YOU.
I AM CONSIDERING AND I'M TALKING ABOUT IN MY CAMPAIGN AND LAID OUT A VISION TO BUILD HOUSING AND EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN SAN FRANCISCO.
I WILL PUT MY HOUSING TRACK RECORD UP AGAINST ANYBODY'S.
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT NOW.
>> WE ARE ABOUT TO BREAK GROUND IN THE XT YEAR OR TWO ON THREE PROJECTS THAT I KICKSTARTER THAT WILL BUILD OVER 1000 UNITS OF NEW HOUSING.
MORE UNITS OF HOUSING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SAN FRANCISCO THAN ANY TIME IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.
THE CPM SEE SITE AT 3700 CALIFORNIA.
UCSF'S LAUREL HEIGHTS SITE AT 333 CALIFORNIA.
AND THE LUCKY PENNY SITE AT MASONIC AND GARY.
THAT'S A TRACK RECORD TO BE PROUD OF.
YES, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO BUILD HOUSING IN EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR DENSITY AND FOR MO ITS IS IN THE DOWNTOWN SOUTH OF MARKET AND MISSION BAY CORE.
CREDIBLY DENSE ENVIRONMENTS ALREADY.
BEST SERVED BY REGIONAL AND LOCAL TRANSIT.
WE NEED TO BUT ON TRANSIT CORRIDOR >> WE NEED TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION IN OTHER DISTRICTS LIKE THE CORNER LOT LEGISLATION.
LIKE THE 4 TO 6 PLEX LEGISLATION IN DISTRICT 8 THE REALITY IS, SOME OF MY OPPONENTS ARE PROPOSING OF ZONING THE ENTIRE CITY.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE SUNSET SHOULD LOOK LIKE DOWNTOWN.
I BELIEVE THE CHARACTER OF OUR CITY IS FOUND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO BUILD HOUSING EVERYWHERE.
THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY IS IN THAT DOWNTOWN AND SOUTH OF MARKET CORE.
>> THANK YOU.
DANIEL LURIE, YOU ARE VERY CRITICAL OF THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS.
YOUR OWN NONPROFIT, TIPPING POINT, INVESTED $100 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS TO CUT CHRONIC HOMESSNESS BY 50%.
WHILE THERE WERE SOME PROGRESS YOUR OWN EVALUATION SAID, QUOTE, THE SCALE OF INFLOW OF HOMELESS PEOPLE FAR OUTWEIGH THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS TO MEET THE NEED.
IF YOUR OWN PROGRAM WAS UNABLE TO MEET ITS GOALS WHY SHOULD VOTERS BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD MANAGE A MUCH LARGER HOMELESS EFFORT CITYWIDE?
>> LISTEN, AT TIPPING POINT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON TAKING ON BIG, BOLD, AUDACIOUS CHALLENGES.
WE WENT UP AFTER THE TOUGHEST TO SERVE POPULATION IN THE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS POPULATION.
2000 PEOPLE AT THAT TIME WERE LIVING CHRONICALLY HOMELESSNESS .
BEEN OUT ON THE STREET FOR OVER A YEAR.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT 833 BRYANT.
WE ALSO HELPED STAND UP 78 UNITS OF TRANSITIONAL SHELTER AT 33 GOFF FOUR $34,000 UNITS.
THE CITY AND COUNTY TOOK US UP ON THAT MODEL AND REPLICATED IT.
IT COST $113,000 A UNIT TO DO THAT.
ONCE AGAIN, I SAID THIS BEFORE, WE HAVE HOUSE OVER 40,000 PEOPLE SINCE 2015.
PREVENTED THOUSANDS MORE FROM FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS.
WE ALWAYS WISH WE HAD A STRONGER PARTNER AT THE CITY.
I'M GOING TO PUT MY TRACK RECORD OF TACKLING THE HOMELESS ISSUE UP AGAINST ANY SINGLE PERSON.
I WILL ALSO SAY IN MY FIRST SIX MONTHS WE ARE GOING TO STAND UP 1500 EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE, DIGNIFIED -- >> HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THEM?
>> WE SPENT 700,000 -- $700 MILLION A YEAR RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE SAVINGS WE CAN MAKE WITH PEOPLE GETTING 5150.
13,000 TIMES LAST YEAR SOMEONE THAT 5150.
THEY GO THROUGH THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
64% OF THEM WERE RELEASED TO THE STREET.
WHERE YOU HAVE CARE COORDINATORS THAT ARE IN EMERGENCY ROOMS MAKING SURE -- >> THANK YOU.>> -- YOU CUT INTO MY 90.
>> GO AHEAD.
>>> WE HAVE CARE COORDINATORS MAKING SURE WE GET PEOPLE INTO MORE MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG TREATMENT BEDS.
WE HAVE TO BUD OUT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
WE FOCUS SO MUCH ON HARM REDUCTION TO THE EXCLUSION OF GETTING PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT.
I WILL DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MARK FARRELL, AFTER 49ers ROOKIE RICKY PIERSALL WAS SHOT LAST MONTH YOU FLINT MAYOR AND BREED APOSTROPHES POLICIES.
WHEN YOU WERE INTERIM MAYOR THERE WERE 2700 ROBBERIES AND ASSAULTS IS IT FAIR TO BLAME YOU FOR THOSE CRIMES SINCE YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THAT TIME AND IF NOT DO YOU OWE MAYOR BREED AN APOLOGY?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT, MAYOR BREED OWES THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO AN APOLOGY.
DURING MY TIME IN OFFICE I PARTNERED WITH MAYOR LEE FOR FOUR YEARS.
WHEN I BECAME INTERIM MAYOR WE GREW OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RECORD STAFFING LEVELS.
WE HAD OVER 2300 OFFICERS ON OUR POLICE FORCE AT THAT TIME.
SINCE I LEFT OFFICE IN THE LAST SIX YEARS WE ARE WN CLOSE TO 600 OFFICERS.
WHICH MEANS THAT OVER 25% OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ESSENTIALLY BEEN EVISCERATED.
SINCE I LEFT.
THAT IS NOT A COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE DIFFERCE IS I BELIEVE THE NUMBER ONE JOB OF GOVERNMENT IS TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS.
THIS YOR INSTEAD DEFUNDED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THREE YEARS AGO.
THIS MAYOR HAS OVERSEEN A DEPARTMENT WITH A DECLINE OF THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS.
AND ALSOCANNOT RECRUIT.
WHEN I WAS THERE AS BUDGET CHAIR AND MAYOR WE HAD OVER FIVE POLICE ACADEMY CLASSES A YEAR WITH OVER 50 RECRUITS A CLASS.
THIS MAYOR HAS AVERAGED THREE A YEAR WITH JUST 17 RECRUITS.
THAT IS NOT A COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT'S WHY NOT ONLY DO WE NEED A NEW MAYOR IN THE CITY OF SA FRANCISCO, BUT ALSO A NEW POLICE CHIEF.
SOMEBODY THAT WILL FIGHT WITH ME AS MAYOR TO GROW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET ONCE AGAIN.
TO ONCE AGAIN GROW THE POLICE ACADEMY.
AND TO ONCE AGAIN GROW STAFFING AND PUSH BACK AGAINST THE POLICE COMMISSION THAT IS MAKING CREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS DO THEIR JOBS ON THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY NUMBER ONE COMMITMENT.
ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
>> MAYOR BREED.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE STILL LISTENING TO MARK FARRELL TALK ABOUT THE SAME THING HE HAS DONE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THE FACT IS, CRIME IS AT ITS LOWEST LEVEL THAT IT HAS BEEN IN 10 YEARS.
MY BUDGET IS $200 MILLION HIGHER THAN HIS BUDGET WHEN HE SERVED AS TEMPORARY MAYOR.
I HAVE PROVIDED THE POLICE OFFICERS WITH THE SUPPORT AND THE 21st CENTURY TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS.
WHICH IS WHY CRIME IS DOWN IN THE FIRST PLE.
AND THE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION ENDORSED ME ONLY.>> THANK YOU.
AHSHA SAFAI, YOU HAVE SAID YOU WANT TO INCREASE POLICE PATROLS .
SAN FRANCISCO IS FACING A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF UP TO $1 BILLION ONGOING IN YEARS AHEAD.
WHERE IS THE MONEY FOR THAT?
WHAT WOULD YOU CUT?
WOULD YOU TRADE-OFF, SAVE RESPONDING TO 911 CALLS, WHICH IS WHAT THESE OFFICERS ARE DOING NOW?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST LISTENING TO THE MAYOR?
TO CONSISTENTLY TELL PEOPLE CRIME IS DOWN IS GAS LIGHTING.
GO TELL THAT TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN MY DISTRICT.
FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS THEY HAVE LITERALLY BEEN BROKEN INTO ALMOST EVERY NIGHT FROM BETWEEN 1:00 A.M. AND 5:00 A.M. TELL THAT TO THE WORKER, HOTEL WORKER, 42 YEARS WORKED FOR THE WESTIN ST. FRANCIS AND WAS PUSHED INTO A MOVING TRAIN ON A B.A.R.T.
PLATFORM.
CRIME IS HAPPENING AT A BRAZEN LEVEL.
CRIME STATISTICALLY MIGHT BE DONE, BUT PROPERTY CRIME IS NOT.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES PEOPLE THE ANGRIEST.
TO HEAR THAT CRIME IS DOWN.
THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.
YES, THEY MIGHT BE ON THE NUMBERS INSIDE, BUT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL IT BECAUSE THEY ARE SEATED IN ON A DAILY BASIS.
THE WAY I WOULD PAY FO COMMUNITY POLICING, PROACTIVE COMMUNITY POLICINGWHICH I PASSED IN JANUARY AND THIS MAYOR HAS NOT LED ON OR IMPLEMENTED IS WE SPEND MILLIONS ON OVERTIME.
LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET WE APPROVED 300+ OFFICERS.
WHEN THEY DIDN'T GET HIRED ALL OF THAT MONEY TURNS INTO OVERTIME.
THAT'S WHY I PUT PROPOSITION ON THE BALLOT.
WE WILL DEAL WITH ALL OF THE SHORTFALLS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT'S NOT JUST POLICE OFFICERS, IT'S NOT A MOMENT CALL OPERATORS.
WE ARE DOWN 40 OUT OF 120.
ONLY ANSWERING THE PHONES 71% OF THE TIME.
WE ARE DOWN NURSES, DEPUTY SHERIFF, PARAMEDICS, FIREFIGHTERS.
PROPOSITION LETTER IN WILL ALLOW THEM TO HAVE STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS AND RECRUIT THEM AT AN AGGRESSIVE LEVEL.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP GAS LIGHTING THE HARD-WORKING PEOPLE OF SAN FRANCISCO.
>> MAYOR BREED, WHICH LIKE TO RESPOND?
>> TO BE VERY CLEAR, I UNDERSTAND MY JOB AS MAYOR AND WHAT IT MEANS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
IS IS A MAJOR CITY AND MAJOR CITIES HAVE CHALLENGES.
JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN RICKY PIERSALL SHOOTING, THE POLICE WERE ON THAT SCENE LESS THAN A MINUTE TO MAKE THE ARREST ARE DISTRICT ATTORNEY LED CHARGES.
WE HAVE INCREASED OUR CAPACITY.
WE HAVE BUILT OUR 21st CENTURY TECHNOLOGY OUT, DRONE SURVEILLANCE AND OTHER THINGS.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE SEEING SUCH A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IS BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT I HAVE DONE.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THAT WORK TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY FEEL SAFE IN THIS CITY.
>> I WANT TO STICK WITH YOU.
I'M KIND OF FROM ANOTHER ANGLE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU HAVE ORDER THE ARREST OF MORE DRUG USERS, YOUR SUPPORTING PROPOSITION 36 WHICH WOULD PUT MORE PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR DRUG POSSESSION, SHOPLIFTING AND OTHER THEFTS.
OUR CITIES JAIL POPULATION IS ON THE RISE THIS YEAR AND THAT HAS COME WITH MORE FIGHTING AND ATTACKS ON DEPUTIES.
WHY DID YOU SEE THIS PROBLEM COMING AND WOULDN'T SOMETHING LIKE PROP 36 POTENTIAL MAKE IT WORSE?
>> TO BE VERY CLEAR, EQUIPMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ALL OF THE COUNTRY ARE SUFFERING.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT WE ARE SEEING APPLICATIONS COME BACK TO A PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE WORK WE HAVE DONE FOR ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING HAS ALLOWED OUR OFFICERS TO FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANT WORK THEY NEED TO DO, RATHER THAN RESPONDING TO WELLNESS ECSO DEALING WITH THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE IN CRISIS ON OUR STREETS.
WHAT I AM MOST PROUD OF IS THAT THAT HAS ALLOWED OUR OFFICERS TO FOCUS ON THE WORK THAT THEYNEED TO DO.
AS A RELATES TO THE JAILS, WE HAVE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THE SHERIFF WHO WAS ELECTED TO HAVE ACADEMY CLASSES.
THE SHERIFF HAS ACTUALLY NOT JUST HELPED US WITH THE JAIL POPULATION AND THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST THERE, BUT HE HAS ALSO BEEN A PART OF OUR COORDINATED EFFORTS TO MAKE THOSE ARRESTS IN THE TENDERLOIN.
TO DEAL WITH THE WARRANTS AND OTHER THINGS WE HAVE NEEDED TO DO.
NEVER IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY HAVE WE HAD SUCH A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH OUR STATE AND OUR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO HELP US COMBAT WHAT IS A NATIONAL CRISIS AROUND DRUGS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHICH IS EVEN BEING TALKED ABOUT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.
FORTUNATELY FOR US, WE HAVE BUILT THE CAPACITY.
WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO, BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE NUMBERS REBOUND.
>> THANK YOU, MERRIPEN.
-- MAYOR.
AARON PESKIN HER, -- AND OTHER WOULD LET POLICE OFFICERS DELAYED THEIR, THOSE WHO -- THESE ARE BOTH GOING TO COST TAXPAYERS MILLIONS.
ARE YOU SUPPORTING THESE PROGRAMS ONLY BECAUSE YOU'RE RUNNING FOR MAYOR?
WE HAVE TRIED THIS BEFORE AND IT HASN'T WORKED.
DIDN'T WORK.
>> LISTEN, THERE ARE A LOT OF CANDIDATES ON THIS STAGE TO TALK TOUGH.
BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE THE TOUGH TALKERS DON'T GET THE JOB DONE.
WHAT WE NEED IS TOUGH MANAGEMENT AND A BALANCED APPROACH.
LET ME SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING TH THE OFFICERS AT CENTRAL STATION, THE CAPTAINS AT CENTRAL STATION FOR 25 YEARS.
THEY KNOW MY WORK THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD THAT SO MANY OF THEM ARE SUPPORTING ME FOR MAYOR.
SECOND OF ALL, POLICE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
I AM THE COAUTHOR OF PROPOSITION F ON THIS NOVEMBER'S BALLOT TO RETAIN 50 OFFICERS, BECAUSE, AS MAYOR BREED SAID, THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO SAN FRANCISCO.
WE NEED TO RECRUIT MORE OFFICERS.
I VOTED TO INCREASETHE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET BY OVER $100 MILLION SINCE I BECAME BOARD PRESIDENT.
AND WITH SUPERVISOR AHSHA SAFAI AND WORKING ON A PROGRAM TO RECRUIT FOLKS FROM OUR COMMUNITIES USING FORGIVABLE COLLEGE LOANS.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT POLICE STAFFING.
A BALANCED APPROACH ALSO MEANS, AND I EXPERIENCED THIS IN 2008 WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD WHEN OUR HOMICIDE RATE CREPT UP TO MOST 100.
I PUT IN THE EFFORT AT THAT TIME TO ACTUALLY FUND JOB PROGRAMS FOR AT RISK YOUTH GUN BUYBACK PROGRAMS, VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.
IN 2009 OUR HOMICIDE RATE DROPPED BY MORE THAN HALF.
IT'S EASY TO TALK TOUGH, BUT WHAT WE NEED IS TOUGH NAGEMENT AND A BALANCED APPROACH.
>> THANK YOU.
AARON PESKIN, WE ARE GOING TO STAY WITH YOU.
OVER THE YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF MAKING DRUNKEN LATE- NIGHT PHONE CALLS TO CITY STAFF, THREATENING PEOPLE'S JOBS BRAGGED ABOUT POLITICAL PAYBK .
YOU SAID A LOT OF THIS WAS FUELED BY ALCOHOL AND THAT YOU ARE NOW IN RECOVERY.
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DO YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR?
WHY SHOULD VOTERS TRUST YOU TO RUN THE ENTIRE CITY GIVEN YOUR HISTORY OF TOXIC BEHAVIOR AS A SUPERVISOR?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY I HAVE BEEN ELECTED FIVE TIMES BY THE GOOD PEOPLE OF CHINATOWN AND NORTH BEACH AND THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THIS CITY.
AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ELECTED ME THREE TIMES TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
TWICE UNANIMOUSLY.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE IN OFFICE THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF.
AND SOMETHING I'M NOT PROUD OF.
I HAVE TAKEN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE ISSUES.
I'M GRATEFUL TO BE IN RECOVERY.
I'M GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS SHOWN ME THE LOVE AND SUPPORT TO GET ME THERE.
I HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT.
THAT EXPERIENCE OF RECOVERY.
THAT IS PART OF WHAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND TO THE PEOPLE OF SAN FRANCISCO.
WE ARE A CITY, ASWE TALK ABOUT, DRUG AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES THAT EMBRACES SECOND CHANCES.
I AM A PERSON WHO HAS LIVED THAT.
I WANT TO BRING THAT TO THE REST OF SAN FRANCISCO.
>> THANK YOU.
DANIEL LURIE, YOU HAVE SAID MAYOR BREED HAS RUN SAN FRANCISCO INTO THE GROUND.
SHE ALSO LIVED THE CITY TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.
THE CITY HAD ONE OF THE LOWEST DEATH RATES AND HIGHEST VACCINATION RATES IN THE NATION.
THERE WAS NO PLAYBOOK FOR THAT.
MAYORS TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH UNANTICIPATED CRISES.
IF YOU HAD BEEN IN CHARGE DURING THAT TIME HOW YOU HAVE HANDLED THE COVID CRISIS DIFFERENTLY?
>> WE HAVE SHE OUGHT TALKED DURING COVID.
I OFFERED MY SUPPORT TO THIS MAYOR.
I THOUGHT SHE DID A VERY GOOD JOB DURING THE EARLY MONTHS OF IT.
WE AYED SHUT DOWN FOR FAR TOO LONG.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AYED SHUT DOWN FOR FAR TOO LONG.
WE STARTED POLITICIZING EVERY SINGLE THING IN THIS CITY.
EVERYTHING BECAME A FOOD FIGHT, WHICH WE SEE TOO OFTEN FROM THESE CITY HALL INSIDERS.
I GAVE HER CREDIT FOR THE FIRST BIT OF COVID.
BUT WE ARE PAST IT NOW.
WE ARE IN 2024.
WE HAVE THE SLOWEST RECOVERY OF EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE TELL PEOPLE THAT WE ARE FROM SAN FRANCISCO NOW, YOU GO TO L.A., NEW YORK, SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY GO, ARE YOU OKAY?
ARE YOU SAFE?
SHE HAD HER CHANCE.
IT IS TIME TO TURN THE PAGE ON THIS MAYOR AND ALL THE CITY HALL INSIDERS THAT I'RUNNING AGAINST.
>> MAYOR BREED, THREE SECONDS.
DANIEL LURIE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PEOPLE ON THIS STAGE.
WE DEFINITELY SHOULD BE SCARED.
HE HAS ABSOLUTELY ZERO EXPERIENCE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS IS A MAJOR CITY WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS WHERE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.
PANDEMICS, MAJOR FIRES, EARTHQUAKES.
HEAVEN FORBID, A TERRORIST ATTACK.
WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO WITH HIS ONE EXPERIENCE JOB?
HE HASN'T EVEN BEEN EMPLOYED FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
WHAT DOES HE KW?
NOT TO MENTION, I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THAT PHONE CALL.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I DON'T REMEMBER.
>> OKAY.
WE ARE JUST GOING TO -- MAKE STUFF UP NOW.
>> I JUST DON'T REMEMBER, I'M SORRY.
>> YET, THERE ARE MULTIPLE CALLS.
.
MANY SAN FRANCISCANS MAKE MANY SACRIFICES TO LIVE HERE.
WORKING MORE THAN ONE JOB, TAKING DEBT, FORGOING VACATIONS TO SAVE MONEY FOR THEIR KIDS COLLEGE EDUCATION, CARING FOR A PARENT TO CAN'T LIVE ON THEIR OWN.
THINKING OF YOUR OWN LIFE, WHAT KIND OF SACRIFICES HAVE YOU MADE?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I WILL TELL YOU, I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF NOT ONLY MY UPBRINGING .
MY PARENTS CAME FROM NOTHING.
MY MOM CAME FROM A POOR FARMING COMMUNITY IN THE NORTH PART OF GERMANY.
HER FARM WAS BOMBED OUT DURING WORLD WAR II.
MY DAD GREW UP AS THE SON OF A NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER IN A POOR FAMILY IN QUEENS.
NO CAR, NO TV.
THEY MET DURING THE WAR OVER IN VIETNAM AND MOVED TO SAN FRANCISCO IN 1969.
AND RENTED A FLAT IN THE MARINA FOR $200 A MONTH.
SO THEY COULD USE THE PRESIDIO'S AND ARMY BASE TO SHOP CHEAPLY.
FIVE YEARS LATER I CAME ALONG.
I GREW UP AS A MILITARY KID USING THE PRESIDIO AS ARMY BASE COAT -- SO WE COULD EAT AND SHOP CHEAPLY AS A FAMILY.
DOWN ON CHRISSY FIELD IS WHERE I SHOPPED FOR GROCERIES AS A KID.
I ACTUALLY TOOK OUT LOANS TO GO TO GRAD SCHOOL.
I'M STILL PAYING THEM OFF.
MY SUCCESS PROFESSIONAL IS EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE EARNED.
AND EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD FOR.
ASK MY WIFE AND MY CHILDREN.
WE SACRIFICE.
I VE WORKED 80 HOUR WEEKS, 100 HOUR WEEKS FOUR YEARS AT A TIME.
I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE SACRIFICES THAT I MADE PROFESSIONALLY, SO I COULD PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY AND GIVE THEM A BETTER LIFE.
AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT I'M MORE PROUD OF THAN MY FAMILY.
ASIDE FROM MY FAMILY, THE ONLY GREATER THING THAT I WILL FIGHT FOR IS THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
THAT IS MY COMMITMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
LONDON BREED, YOU STOOD OUTSIDE OR INSIDE CITY HALL IN DECEMBER OF 2021 AND CALLED OUT THE BS THAT HAS DESTROYED OUR CITY.
ONE COULD SAY THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE BROADER ATTACK ON SAN FRANCISCO FROM PEOPLE LIKE DONALD TRUMP AND ALSO BY FOX NEWS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS ABOUT HOW YOU DESCRIBED SAN FRANCISCO?
NO.
I DO NOT.
LET'S BE VERY CLEAR, SCOTT, THIS ATTACK ON SAN FRANCISCO WAS HAPPENING BEFORE I SAID THAT.
AND WE WEREN'T GETTING THE KIND OF HELP WE REALLY NEEDED TO COMBAT THIS ISSUE.
FENTANYL HAS BEEN DEVASTING OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY.
AND YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DYING AT ALARMING RATES.
I SADLY LOST SISTER TO A DRUG OVERDOSE.
WHEN I NEEDED TO MAKE SOME CHANGE I HAD TO MAKE SOME NOISE.
AND WHAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF ALL OF THAT IS WE STARTED TO GET HELP WE GOT HELP FROM THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, THE FEDS IN THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING INCREDIBLE INROADS ON HELPING US ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE BROUGHT IN THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AND THE NATIONAL GUARD.
NOT WITH PEOPLE WITH M-16 RIFLES STANDING ON A CORNER, BUT FOLKS WERE HELPING US WITH INTELLIGENCE.
WE ARE SEEING PROGRESS.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE MESSAGE THAT IT IS NOT THE TOURISM.
WE WERE DROWNING AND WE NEEDED TO PULL EVERY SINGLE LEVER TO COME OUT OF THAT.
WORKING WITH THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY, IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN THE PROGRESS THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE ON THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
UNDERSTANDING, OF COURSE, THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO.
BUT WE ARE NOT LETTING UP WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT WE HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE MAKING ARRESTS OF DEALER, ARREST OF USERS, GETTING THEM INTO TREATMENT AND MAKING MORE INVESTMENTS IN RECOVERY.
>> THANK YOU.
AHSHA SAFAI, MAYORS ALWAYS FACE UNANTICIPATED CRISES.
ANYTHING FROM AN EARTHQUAKE TO A DEADLY POLICE SHOOTING OR A SCANDAL OF SOME KIND.
YOU LEARN ABOUT SOMEONE'S CHARACTER BY HOW THEY DO WITH THOSE THINGS.
THINKING OF YOUR PERSONAL LIFE, NOT YOUR PUBLIC LIFE, CAN YOU DESCRIBE AN UNANTICIPATED CRISIS HE FACED AND HOW YOU DEALT WITH IT AND HOW YOU LEARNED FROM IT?
>> I SAID IT EARLY IN THE BEGINNING, I'M THE ONLY PERSON ON THE STAGE THAT WAS BORN INTO A REVOLUTION.
I WAS BORN IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
A T OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, RELIGIOUEXTREMISM, A LOT OF THEORY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT IMPACTED MY FAMILY PERSONALLY.
I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WERE KILLED.
MY MOM AND I HAD TO FLEE THE COUNTRY.
IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE FOR US.
THAT WAS MY EARLY BEGINNING OM A YOUNG BOY.
PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME HOW I GOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS.
I WAS BORN INTO POLITICS.
I WAS BORN INTO CRISIS.
I HAVE LIVED THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE.
LISTEN, HAVE A NAME LIKE MARK FARRELL, HALF THE TIME PEOPLE ARE SAYING BLESS YOU, WHAT DID YOU SAY?
I'M LIKE, WHERE YOU COME -- FROM?
I WAS BORN IN IRAN AND I'M A PROUD IMMIGRANT.
I HAVE FOUGHT EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE.
I HAVE FOUGHTFOR THE UNDERDOG.
THAT'S WHAT MY MOM TAUGHT ME.
I PUT MYSELF THROUGH SCHOOL.
I MOVED TO THIS CITY.
AS YOU SAID, EMERGENCIES AND CRISIS, I WANT GO BACK TO THAT QUESTION.
I WANT TO REALLY ADD ON TO IT WE DID DO GOOD IN THIS CITY.
WE CAME TOGETHER IN THIS CITY WORKED TO FIGHT THIS CRISIS WHAT MADE ME, AND IT WAS A TURNING POINT BETWEEN ME AND THE MAYOR AND HOW I JUDGED HER, WAS WHEN ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, DECEMBER 2022 WE HAVE THE WORST FLOOD IN THIS CITY'S HISTORY.
70+ YEARS.
BUSINESSES, HOMES, PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED.
A MAYOR GOES AND MEETS WITH PEOPLE, TALKS TO PEOPLE.
THIS MAYOR GOT ON A PLANE WENT TO THE PARTY IN LAS VEGAS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT MAYORS DO.
THAT'S NOT HOW YOU THE DURING CRISIS.
THAT IS WHAT IS INFORMING MY ENTIRE CAREER.
>> MAYOR BREED, 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE LED THIS CITY THROUGH UNPRECENTED CRISIS.
I HAVE ACTUALLY LED THIS CITY THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC IN MY LIVING ROOM.
AND IN EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS CITY.
I DEAL WITH THESE CHALLENGES HEAD-ON.
MORE IMPORTANT, I ACTUALLY GREW UP IN THIS CITY IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS.
SPENDING OVER 20 YEARS OF MY LIFE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD ROCKED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND HOPELESSNESS AND POVERTY.
I UNDERSTAND ALL TOO WELL WHAT IT MEANS AGAIN, -- >> THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD ANBATTLE TESTED OF DEALING WITH CRISIS IN THIS CITY AND PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND.
>> THANK YOU.
JOE.
>> AHSHA SAFAI, AS WE TALKED EARLIER YOU OFTEN TALK YOUR TIES TO ORGANIZED LABOR.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE LINE ITEM IN THE CITY BUDGET IS EMPLOYEE SARIES AND BENEFITS.
THE CITY IS FACING A $1 BILLION ONGOING DEFICIT.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS IN LABOR KNOW WHEN YOU'RE SITTING DOWN TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS WITH THEM?
LISTEN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I BRING TO THE JOB EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR $800 MILLION DEFICIT AND DEALING WITH THE CONTROVERSY AND THE CRISIS THAT OFTEN COMES WITH NEGOTIATING, THAT'S WHERE I LEAN ON MY LABOR EXPERIENCE.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
I'VE REPRESENTED WORKING PEOPLE IN THIS CITY FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND I FOUGHT FOR THEM FOR THE LAST 24.
EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY.
OUR BUDGET, WE ABOUT $4.5 BILLION IN CONTRACTS.
SOME OF THEM WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
WE BROUGHT IN THE MANDATORY AUDITS AND OVERSIGHT.
AND ABROAD IN NONPROFIT ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE HAVE GREAT NONPROFITS IN THIS CITY, BUT WE ALSO THROUGH THOSE MANDATORY AUDITS HAVE STARTED TO WEED OUT THE D APPLES.
4.5 MILLION.
ALSO PRIVATE CONTRACTS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT, AGAIN I GO BACK TO THE SHORT STAFFING WITH OUR NURSES.
JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
EVERY SINGLE YEAR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH COMES IN AND SAYS WE WANT X AMOUNT OF MONEY.
$40 MILLION THIS LAST DECEMBER TO HIRE NEW NURSES.
BUT THEY NEVER HIRED THEM.
THEY TRANSFER IT INTO OVERTIME AND TEMPORARY NURSES.
BUT WE PAY TIME AND A HALF FOR THOSE POSITIONS.
IF WE STAFF UP PROPERLY, IF WE AUDIT THOSE CONTRACTS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, A LOOK AT THE OVERTIME SPENDING THAT'S WHERE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NEGOTIATING A GOOD BALANCED BUDGET AND TAKING CARE OF WORKING PEOPLE WILL WORK ITSELF OUT IN THE RIGHT WAY.
THANK YOU.
LONDON BREED, NEXT WEEK MANY TRAINS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN SERVICE ON TERRIBLE STREET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS.
MERCHANTS, SOME OF THE MERCHANTS THERE ARE STILL FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE TRANSIT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT SOME LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS SAY BROKE PLUMBING, DAMAGED STOREFRONTS AND LED TO HUGE REVENUE LOSSES.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THESE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO FEEL YOU HA OVER THERE WELL-BEING?
>> TO BE VERY CLEAR, THIS PROJECT WAS ABOUT LONG-TERM SAFETY.
FROM TIME TO TIME WHERE I HAVE TO DO PROJECTS ALL OVER THE CITY.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS AN UNEXPECTED SINKHOLE THAT HAPPENED IN PACIFIC HEIGHTS WHERE MANY OF THOSE BUSINESSES SUFFERED FROM WATER DAMAGE AND WERE CLOSED FOR MONTHS.
PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN OUR POLICY IS MAKE SURE WE GET EVERYTHING DONE ON THE FRONT END.
SOMETIMES THESE PROJECTSARE DELAYED.
OUR RESPONSE WHEN THE MERCHANTS BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DEALT WITH EACH OF THOSE CASES ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
SOME OF THEM RESOLVED AND SOME ARE STILL PENDING.
WE HAVE ALSO INVESTED IN A NUMBER OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES INTO HELPING THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TOTHEM DIRECTLY BUT MANY OF THOSE CHALLENGES.
THE ALTAIR BALL IS BACK IN WORKING AGAIN.
WE STRUGGLE THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
IT WAS SO, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SAY, IT WAS DONE ON TIME AND IT WAS DONE ON BUDGET.
AND WE HAVE TO DO, IN AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM WITH PIPES UNDERNEATH THAT ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD, SOMETIMES, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LITT INCONVENIENCE THE PEOPLE ON THIS STAGE ARE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR.
I AM HERE AND I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE REALITIES OF THE DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE TO MAKE SURE SAN FRANCISCO IS PROTECTED AND SAFE LONG-TERM.
>> MARK FARRELL, YOU HAVE PROPOSED A SMALL TAX CREDIT FOR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES THAT REQUIRE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO COMEBACK TO THE OFFICE.
AT THE SAME TIME, EMPLOYEES WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE TO COMMUTE AND HAVE LONGER DAYS.
POTENTIALLY, BE PAYING HIGHER CHILDCARE COSTS YOU HAVE SPOKEN THROUGHOUT YOUR CAMPAIGN ABOUT HOW YOU WILL PRIORITIZE FAMILIES IN SAN FRANCISCO.
HOW WITH THIS PLAN PENCIL OUT FOR FAMILIES?
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT DOWNTOWN.
DOWNTOWN TODAY IS SCARY.
IT'S A SHELL OF ITS FORMER SELF.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO RESUSCITATE DOWNTOWN WE CAN'T CONTINUE DOWN THE SAME POLICIES AND FAILED LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE AT CITY HALL RIGHT NOW.
IT IS NOT WORKING.
WE NEED TO BRING BACK PUBLIC SAFETY AND CLEAN STREETS.
IT'S THE REASON WHY CONVENTIONS LEFT SAN FRANCISCO.
NOT BECAUSE WE LOST OUR NATURAL BEAUTY OVER THE AMAZING NEIGHBORHOODS ADJACENT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.
PEOPLE WILL BE -- WERE BEING THREATENED.
ONCE WE DO THAT WE CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS MIGHT WANT COME BACK DOWN TO THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
AND THAT WE NEED TO USE TAX CENTIVES.
WE USE TAX INCENTIVES IN THE 2010s AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS DRIVING WHEN CITY HALL WAS FOCUSED ON IT.
WHEN YOU HAVE ONE TAX INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE THAT WILL RELOCATE TO THAT AREA PEOPLE WILL BRING EMPLOYEES BACK 4+ DAYS A WEEK INTO THE OFFICE.
DO YOU KNOWWHAT WE NEED TO DO OUT OF CITY HALL?
USE OUR POCKETBOOK TO INCENTIVIZE BEHAVIOR THAT WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN ON THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
THE SCARIEST PART OF DOWNTOWN ISIT'S EMPTY.
WE ARE MISSING THE VIBRANCY THAT WE NEED THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD DOWNTOWN.
IT'S THE ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT DRIVES THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
FOR ME DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN WI OUR POCKETBOOKS TO BRING THAT VIBRANCY BACK, TO BRING JOBS BACK TO THE DOWNTOWN CORE IS A PRIMARY PRINCIPLE OF MY ADMINISTRATION.
>> MAYOR, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.
>> ULD LIKE A WHOLE ONE MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS FOR A DOWNTOWN RESPONSE, PLEASE.
>> 30 SECONDS.
>> OKAY.
FIRST OF ALL, DOWNTOWN HAD OVER 45,000 PEOPLE HERE THIS WEEK FOR DREAM FORCE.
IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.
WE HAVE MORE AND MORE CONVENTIONS COMING BACK TO OUR CITY.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE HAD SO MANY REGULATIONS THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT TOMAKE DOWNTOWN A 24/7 NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE WORK, LIVE AND WHERE THEY PLAY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THIS PAST SUMMER HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST SUMMERS OUR CITY.
ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN WITH NIGHT MARKETS AND OPEN SPACE AND RAVES AND EVENTS AND ACTIVATION AND FUN.
DOWNTOWN HAS NEVER BEEN FUN AND WE ARE INTRODUCING THAT TO THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND MOVING THE BARRIERS THAT HAVE GOTTEN AWAY IN THE PAST THAT HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR US TO MAKE DOWNTOWN MORE THAN JUST ONE THING OR ANOTHER.
>> DANIEL LURIE, YOU'VE GOT 30 SECONDS.
>> SORRY, WE ARE RUNNING SHORT OF TIME.
WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU TIME FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS IF YOU'D LIKE TO JUMP IN FOR 30 SECONDS ON DOWNTOWN.
>> LISTEN, I WILL TALK DOWNTOWN.
>> HE WASN'T MENTIONED.
>> I HAVE A PLAN FOR A NEW POLICE STATION FOCUS ON OUR HOSPITALITY ZONE.
WE NEED MORE POLICE FOCUSED ON OUR HOSPITALITY, SO OUR CONVENTIONEERS, SHOPPERS, TOURISTS FEEL SAFE AND WE DON'T HAVE THREE OVERLAPPING POLICE STATIONS.
ON DAY ONE I'M ANNOUNCING THAT WE WILL HAVE SAN FRANCISCO DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BRINGING BEST OF THE BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND CIVIC LEADERS TOGETHER, JUST LIKE LOWER MANHATTAN DID AFTER 9/11.
WE WILL DO THE SAME THING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
TAKE US TO CLOSING STATEMENTS.
>> THIS IS TIME FOR OUR CLOSING STATEMENTS.
WE WILL ALLOW EACH OF YOU A MINUTE TO SPEAK IN THE SAME ORDER THAT YOU BEGAN.
WE WILL START WITH YOU, MAYOR BREED.
>> I BECAME MAYOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN A HOSPITAL ROOM.
I MET SAN FRANCISCO THROUGH ITS DARKEST TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WE SAVED LIVES.
I AND BATTLE TESTED AND PROVEN IN A CRISIS.
THIS IS A SERIOUS JOB AND WE HAVE NO TIME FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.
YES, WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH CHALLENGES, BUT UNDER MY LEADERSHIP CRIME IS LOWER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN 10 YEARS.
WE ARE MOVING TENTS OFF THE STREET.
DOWNTOWN IS COMING BACK.
THE CITY IS LOOKING AND FEELING SO MUCH BETTER.
DOWE AGREE ON EVERYTHING THAT I DO?
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE HAD CHALLENGES IN THE PAST.
BUT YOU KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT I KNOW HOW TO DO THIS JOB.
I KNOW HOW TO KEEP THIS CITY SAFE.
I WILL BUILD UPON THE WORK THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE.
AND I WILL ALWAYS PUT THIS CITY FIRST .
>> THANK YOU.
>> LIKE OUR VICE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, WE ARE NOT GOING BACK.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR BREED.
AHSHA SAFAI.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT YOU ALL TO WALK AWAY THIS EVENING AND ASK YOURSELF ONE CENTRAL QUESTION.
WHO HAS A VISION, EXPERIENCE AND TRACK RECORD TO FIGHT FOR ALL SAN FRANCISCANS?
NOT JUST THE RICH, BUT WORKING AND MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES?
OF ALL THE CANDIDATES ON THIS STAGE I HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE SET OF EXPERIENCES THAT I BRING TO THIS JOB.
I WORKED FOR TWO MAYORS, MAYOR BROWN AND MAYOR NEWSOM.
I WAS A DEPUTY DEPARTMENT HEAD.
I WORKED IN PUBLIC WORKS I RAN MY OWN SMALL BUSINESS I WORKED FOR LABOR UNIONS, ORGANIZED LABOR FOR ALMOST A DECADE.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
THIS IS NOT AN ENTRY-LEVEJOB YOU HAVE TO BE READY FOR THIS JOB DAY ONE.
AS YOUR MAYOR I PROMISE YOU ACCOUNTABILITY AND BOLD LEADERSHIP I'M PROUD TO BE ENDORSED BY MORE LABOR UNIONS THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE ON THIS STAGE.
BECAUSE I HAVE FOUGHT FOR WORKING AND MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES SINCE DAY ONE FOR THE PAST 24 YEARS.
I WILL FIGHT FOR A SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND THRIVING CITY FOR ALL SAN FRANCISCANS.
PLEASE JOIN ME.
>> THANK YOU.
DANIEL LURIE.
>> THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS ELECTING THE SAME PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT.
THEY HAVE BUILT UP THIS CORRUPT SYSTEM AND THEN THEY EXPLOIT IT .
AND THEN THEY HAVE THE AUDACITY, LIKE THEY DID TONIGHT, TO TELL YOU THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN FIX IT.
I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF GETTING BIG THINGS DONE.
I STARTED THE LARGESPOVERTY FIGHTING ORGANIZATION.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES IN THIS COUNTRY.
I HAVE GOTTEN HOUSING BUILT ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET WITH GOOD PAYING UNION LABOR.
MAYOR ADLEY ASKED ME TO CHAIR THE BID TO BRING SUPER BOWL L HERE, TOO HUNDRED $40 MILLION OF ECONOMIC REVENUE CAME BECAUSE OF IT.
NOW WE HAVE THREE MORE GLOBAL SPORTING EVENTS COMING OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
I AM PROUD OF MY TRACK RECORD.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.
MY WIFE AND I ARE PROUD TO RAISING TWO YOUNG CHILDREN HERE.
I AM ALL IN ON THIS RACE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MARK FARRELL.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO TWO QUESTIONS.
ARE YOU SATISFIED, ARE THE RESIDENTS OF SAN FRANCISCO SATISFIED WITH THE LEADERSHIP INSIDE OF CITY HALL?
OR DO YOU BELIEVE WE NEED TO TURN THE PAGE AND WRITE A NEW CHAPTER FOR SAN FRANCISCO?
I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR BECAUSE I LOVE OUR CITY.
AND I BELIEVE WE NEED CHANGE.
AFTER SIX YEARS OF A FAILED LEADERSHIP WE NEED TO MOVE THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR, BECAUSE I BELIEVE EXPERIENCE MATTERS.
FOR ANY JOB IN THE WORLD EXPERIENCE MATTERS.
I HAVE BEEN MAYOR BEFORE.
I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS WORKED FOR 20 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS OF FINANCE INDUSTRY OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL.
COMPETENCE MATTERS.
WHEN I WAS IN OFFICE WE GREW OUR POLICE ARRIVED TO RECORD LEVELS.
AS MAYOR I CLEARED OUT ALL OF HER LARGE TENT AND CAMPUS.
WHEN I LE OFFICE OUR ECONOMY WAS HUMMING AND A STRONG VISION FOR SAN FRANCISCO MATTERS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN MY CANDIDACY THIS YEAR AND TOGEER LET'S TURN THE PAGE ON SAN FRANCISCO AND WRITE A NEW CHAPTER TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> AARON PESKIN.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING IN DEMOCRACY THIS EVENING.
THINK YOU HAVE HEARD SOME PRETTY STARK DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES.
I WILL PROTECT RENTERS FROM EVICTION.
MY OPPONENTS WILL NOT.
I AM A CHAMPION OF FORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY PREFER LUXURY HOUSING.
I SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY JUST TALK OUT DOWNTOWN, DOWNTOWN, DOWNTOWN.
I HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE HOMELESS STRATEGY WITH REAL SOLUTIONS.
THEY JUST TALK ABOUT SWEEPS, WHICH HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE.
I'M A GRASSROOTS CANDIDATE WITH OVER 3500 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TEACHERS, NURSES, ARTISTS, EVERY DAY SAN FRANCISCANS.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHO I WILL FIGHT FOR.
MY OPPONENTS ARE MOSTLY SUPPORTED BY BILLIONAIRES AND PRESUMABLY THAT IS WHO THEY WILL FIGHT FOR.
BUT THE GGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US IS OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF SAN FRANCISCO.
I AM FIGHTING FOR A FUTURE THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO ALL OF US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I HOPE YOU JOIN THE NURSES AND THE TEACHERS AND HOTEL WORKERS AND SUPPORT ME.
>> THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR TONIGHT.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WATCHING FROM HOME.
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
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