Welcome to “Meet the Candidates,” where Mission Local asks supervisor hopefuls questions in the lead-up to the November election. In District 7 — which includes the Inner Sunset, Parkmerced and West Portal — Matt Boschetto and Stephen Martin-Pinto are running against incumbent Myrna Melgar.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that gave more power to cities to displace, fine and arrest homeless people, without offering them shelter or housing. In July, Mayor London Breed pledged that “very aggressive” sweeps would begin across San Francisco — and those sweeps soon followed.
City employees were ordered to dismantle encampments and confiscate belongings, as Mission Local and other outlets reported. After some sweeps, such as in Bayview, residents returned with their tents days later.
This week we asked the District 7 candidates: What is your view on the city’s recent and ongoing encampment sweeps? Do you want to see more of these? Do you think they should be handled any differently?
Take a look at their responses below.
Stephen Martin-Pinto
- Job: Firefighter/major, U.S. Marine Corps reserves
- Age: 46
- Housing: Tenant in SF, property owner and landlord in Lemon Grove, California
- Transport: Fairly evenly split between car, MUNI, and walking
- Languages: Spanish, Russian, Georgian
- Education: University of California, Davis
- Residency: Living in District 7’s Sunnyside since 2014 and, earlier from 1983 to 1998
What is often pejoratively described as “sweeps” is actually a coordinated response between Department of Public Health, Homeless Outreach Teams, and law enforcement. Every reasonable attempt is made to find accommodations for homeless individuals. However, the laws must be enforced. We as citizens have the right to safe passage on sidewalks without stepping over feces, needles, and litter. We cannot have a system in which laws apply differently to different classes of people. Homeless individuals, ultimately, must exercise some degree of responsibility and accountability for themselves, and respect for each other’s different communities, homeless and local residents, must be reciprocated.
Endorsed by: Former District 7 Supervisor Tony Hall, former Planning Commissioner Michael Antonini, former Police Chief Tony Ribera, drug policy advocate Tom Wolf, BART Board Director Debora Allen, SFFF Local 798 (#3) … read more here
Matt Boschetto
- Job: Small business owner
- Age: 35
- Housing: Homeowner
- Transport: Car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Saint Mary’s College of California
- Residency: Living in District 7 since 2014
I understand there are a lot of reasons why people end up unhoused or sleeping on our streets. Many have tragic stories, but as a city, we can’t allow people to take over our streets. I support disruption. City encampments have been condoned for far too long by the city and its residents have had enough. Condoned encampments: A) Encourage drug tourism, B) Attract homeless people from around the country to take advantage of our tolerance, c) Are a public safety and health hazard, D) Sometimes shield criminal activity including storage for drugs, weapons and stolen goods, E) generate ongoing … read more here
Endorsed by: San Francisco Police Officers Association (#1), the Marina Times, SFFF Local 798 (#1), Chinese American Democratic Club (#1)
Myrna Melgar
- Job: District 7 supervisor
- Age: 56
- Housing: Homeowner
- Transport: Bike
- Languages: Spanish, French, Swedish
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, Excelsior College; master’s degree in urban planning, Columbia University
- Residency: Living in Ingleside Terraces since 2011, and lived in District 7 while in college at SF State between 1987 and 1991
I co-sponsored my colleague Rafael Mandelman’s Shelter for All legislation because I want to see a dramatic expansion in our shelter capacity. The situation of people living on the sidewalk, under freeway overpasses, at the entrance of public spaces like libraries and schools is not conducive to homeless folk’s ultimate health and success, nor the public’s. Offering housing, or a viable path out of the street is humane and consistent with our values, but occupying the public right of way is not a viable solution, and the City has a responsibility to address it.
Endorsed by: SF Labor Council, SF Tenants Union, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Hillary Ronen, Supervisor Connie Chan, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor Catherine Stefani, Senator Scott Weiner, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, SFFF Local 798 (#2)… read more here
The order of candidates alternates each week. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar.
Do you have a question for the candidates? Let me know: kelly@missionlocal.com
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
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