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Welcome back to our weekly “Meet the Candidates” series, in which District 1 supervisorial candidates who have filed to run respond to a question in 100 words or fewer.
Answers are published each week, but we are also archiving each answer on this page for District 1, to make it easier for voters to browse.
Next week, I will be out of office. Reach me at junyao@missionlocal.com.
As the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency faces a $240 million budget deficit, voters will weigh a ballot measure in November that may alleviate some of that fiscal shortfall.
The measure, Prop. L, would increase taxes on ride-hailing companies (like Lyft and Uber) and autonomous vehicle companies (like Waymo) with more than $500,000 or more in gross receipts. The funding would be used to support Muni’s transit services and discount programs.
If passed, Prop. L would bring in additional $25 million revenue annually, according to an analysis from the Office of the Controller.
But in order to pass, Prop. L needs to get more than 50 percent of the vote and more votes than Prop. M, another measure that would shift the city’s business tax structure so that businesses are taxed based on sales instead of employee headcount.
If Prop. M receives more votes, it will nullify the proposed tax on robotaxis and ride-hail companies to fund Muni.
This week, we asked the candidates this week: Do you support Proposition L? Why or why not?
Jen Nossokoff
- Job: Vice president of a healthcare company and physician assistant
- Age: 38
- Residency: Homeowner, living in District 1 since 2020
- Transportation: Walking, biking, public transportation, driving
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and master’s degree from Samuel Merritt University
- Languages: English
Yes, I fully support Proposition L. As a healthcare provider and parent, I see how critical safe and reliable transportation is to our community’s health and wellbeing. Prop. L will provide essential funding to improve public transit, reduce congestion and make our streets safer, which are all priorities in my campaign’s transportation platform.
One of the key aspects of Prop. L is that it will tax companies like Uber, Lyft and Waymo — which contribute significantly to road congestion — and redirect that revenue to fund public transportation improvements. This will ensure that those who profit from using our city streets contribute … read more here
Endorsed by: Everytown For Gun Safety, San Francisco League of Conservation Voters, San Francisco Women’s Political Committee (#2), Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate
Marjan Philhour
- Job: Business owner, former advisor and fundraiser to London Breed
- Age: 50
- Residency: Homeowner, born in District 1 and moved back in 2006
- Transportation: Biking, walking, driving and public transportation
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley
- Languages: English
Free Muni for All Youth has helped my kids grow their independence by learning to navigate their city. Frequent, reliable, safe, and affordable transit is essential for District 1 and all parts of San Francisco, and can improve the lives of everyday residents, regardless of age. I am proud to support Prop. L to fund the bus.
Endorsed by: San Francisco Democratic Party, TogetherSF, San Francisco Police Officers Association … read more here
Jeremiah Boehner
- Job: Marketing specialist and U.S. Army veteran
- Age: 39
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 1 since 2006
- Transportation: Driving
- Education: University of San Francisco
- Languages: English
Muni is facing a budget shortfall and, to solve that problem, a group is proposing we tax Uber, Lyft and taxi rides to make up the budget. This is emblematic of how San Francisco tries to solve problems by taxing them to death. Creating new taxes might bridge the budget gap, but fails to address the core issue of ridership being down from pre-lockdowns.
Why is ridership down?
There are two primary reasons that ridership has dropped off.
Work-from-home culture. When Mayor London Breed announced the two weeks to slow the spread, that ended up lasting years. To … read more here
Endorsed by: San Francisco Republican Party
Connie Chan
- Job: Incumbent District 1 Supervisor
- Age: 45
- Residency: Homeowner, living in District 1 since 2011
- Transportation: Driving and walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of California, Davis
- Languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin
Our public transit system is facing a more than $300 million budget deficit. This is why I support Prop. L, the ComMUNIty Transit Act. Prop. L will not increase taxes for everyday San Franciscans; it only expands the tax on transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft to make sure they pay their fair share. Their business model generates profits off our public streets as they exacerbate traffic congestion and worsen the quality of our public infrastructure. This is a critical next step and we need to continue working on these types of progressive funding models, in addition to pushing … read more here
Endorsed by: Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco Fire Fighters Local 798, San Francisco Labor Council, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, Local 21, Service Employees International Union 1021 … read more here
Sherman D’Silva
- Job: Owner of a laundromat on Geary Boulevard
- Age: 51
- Residency: Homeowner, living in District 1 since 1973
- Transportation: Driving
- Education: Bachelor’s degrees from San Francisco State University
- Languages: English
Will not be supporting Proposition L, because it unfairly taxes another unrelated entity in order to balance a shortfall within Muni. Muni has signed many poorly negotiated contracts, has allowed individuals to access transportation without ensuring payment and has consistently been behind on addressing riders’ concerns involving safety and security aboard Muni vehicles. These systemic issues are why Muni is having an issue balancing their finances. Muni’s lack of financial responsibility and accountability, compounded by not responding to their riders’ concerns, should NOT be borne by individuals who choose other means of transportation.
Money raised by District 1 candidates
Candidates are ordered alphabetically and rotated each week. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at junyao@missionlocal.com.
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
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Source: missionlocal.org