This letter was sent to the supervisors from D2, D3, and D5.
Greetings Supervisor,
I have lived in San Francisco for many decades and looking forward to seeing new leadership in that corner of the city. I am very impressed with your background and believe you will make a good addition to the neighborhood. I still have many friends in your district.
I give you the benefit of the doubt and wish you well. I believe you should be judged on your record, not on what people “feel” what kind of representative you will be.
My name is Peter Nasatir, I have been a citizen of San Francisco for 35 years and in that time, because of my interest in San Francisco, a number of my friends (and subsequently their friends and family members, too) turn to me to find out what’s going on in local politics. As we have yet to learn more about you, many of my friends and family have asked me about where you stand on certain issues.
I am not affiliated with any organization; I am just a concerned citizen. I don’t have any hard numbers, but judging from the feedback I get on how many times my questions are shared with friends and family members, I estimate I influence about a hundred San Francisco citizens, and about a dozen in D3.
The challenge is, I don’t really know how you stand on issues which are important to me and my friends, and subsequently their friends, too. Therefore, I would like to ask a few questions that would give us a sense of your position on certain issues.
Question One:
With our growing housing crisis continuing, over 60 billionaires (and 500 millionaires) living in the city of San Francisco, and every service seemingly slashed to the bone, what plan do you have to increase revenue from those who have benefited by this city and can afford to pay more?
Question Two:
The State’s Housing Element calls for 46,000 new units of affordable housing, which the city’s own data says will cost about $19 billion. With estimates of 40,000 to 60,000 empty housing units right now in San Francisco, what is your plan to meet the state’s mandate by the deadline at the end of the decade, preserve and expand rent-controlled units, and utilize the city’s vast empty housing stock?
Question Three:
According to the USC Department of Nursing, “Worldwide, there are about 100 legal supervised injection sites (SIS), which are locations where people who use illicit intravenous drugs can do so under medical supervision. As of September 2018, zero deaths have been reported at any site.” Given the fact many public health experts worldwide agreeSIS are effective in saving lives, and directing users to seek treatment, will you support SIS as a supervisor? And if not, why not?
Question Four:
Where do you stand on Community Choice Aggregation? What is your position on the city, like so many other cities in the state, moving toward public power?
Question Five:
The Muni budget seems to get cut back every year, and with a pandemic-related drop in the city’s revenue from sales and property taxes, how do you propose funding Muni without raising fares any further on those who can least afford it (Muni riders) or cutting service any further?
Question Six:
What is your position on historic preservation? Do you feel it is better to refurbish and upgrade existing buildings, or do you favor razing them to build new structures?
Question Seven:
Cities like Chicago and New York are in many ways, ahead of San Francisco in implementing green and sustainable policies. What is your plan for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions? How do you plan on introducing alternative forms of energy: solar, wind, and tidal power? Please be specific.
Question Eight:
Many seniors and disabled San Franciscans in District Two rely on the Japantown Safeway on Webster Street. What would you do as mayor to prevent a food desert for a hundred square blocks around that site when it closes in February?
I, and my friends, very much look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Peter Nasatir
