On the evening of September 5, 2024, a debate among the candidates for mayor of San Francisco was held at the Randall Museum in the city’s 8th district. The candidates discussed various issues plaguing the city, and the event drew a full house with continuous laughter.
The organizers mentioned that in May of this year, the top 5 candidates according to the polls were invited to participate in the debate. Except for the incumbent mayor, London Breed, who declined the invitation, the remaining 4 candidates attended: former acting mayor Mark Farrel, President of the City Council Aaron Peskin, District 11 City Council member Ahsha Safaí, and independent candidate Daniel Lurie.
Farrel emphasized his experience as an acting mayor and pledged to improve public safety and the economy if elected. Peskin highlighted his achievements in protecting rent control and promoting affordable housing, contrasting his policies with what he described as his opponents’ focus on luxury housing.
Safaí highlighted his refugee background, experience as a city council member, and collaboration with labor unions, promising to advocate for the rights of workers and the middle class. He also mentioned the financial support received by his opponents, emphasizing the grassroots nature of his candidacy.
Lurie expressed concerns about current leadership practices and their impact on the future of San Francisco. He shared personal anecdotes about his family background and emphasized his commitment to public safety and addressing homelessness and drug crises.
Farrel criticized the current mayor for not effectively addressing the economic crisis post-pandemic. He proposed improving public safety, cleaning up the streets, and incentivizing businesses through tax policies, including transforming vacant downtown office buildings into residential areas.
Peskin emphasized his legislative progress in transforming vacant office spaces into housing but expressed concerns about potentially destructive large-scale redevelopment that could impact communities and small businesses. He stressed revitalizing downtown while preserving community integrity.
Safaí suggested establishing a public university in downtown utilizing vacant office spaces and highlighted public safety as the foundation for all issues. He proposed transforming the public works department to operate 24/7 and introducing foot patrols, allowing police to engage more deeply with the community.
Lurie also prioritized public safety, proposing the deployment of new police precincts in downtown to ensure safety for visitors and commercial activities. He underscored the need to address the shortfall of 500 police officers and tackle homelessness and drug crises by redirecting individuals to mental health and drug treatment facilities.
The state government has mandated the construction of 82,000 housing units by 2031, but progress has been slow. Peskin emphasized his support for affordable housing and stressed the need for community input in construction projects to preserve neighborhood character.
Safaí believed housing should primarily cater to the middle class and workers. He supported building on vacant land but stressed the importance of respecting community input to avoid displacing tenants.
Lurie pointed out the bureaucratic hurdles in San Francisco’s housing permit process, leading to increased construction costs. He emphasized the need to build more housing for educators and healthcare workers, citing successful affordable housing projects he championed on Bryant Street.
Farrel highlighted his efforts in promoting large-scale housing projects during his time in city government, identifying downtown and transportation corridors as prime areas for construction. He opposed blanket increases in zoning density and advocated for preserving each community’s unique characteristics.
While violent crime in San Francisco has decreased recently, issues like vehicle vandalism, retail theft, and home invasions continue to plague residents.
Safaí promoted pedestrian and bicycle patrol initiatives at the city council, supported the N proposal to recruit new police officers, firefighters, and public safety personnel, and proposed student loan forgiveness schemes to incentivize public service.
Lurie reiterated public safety as his top priority upon taking office, criticizing the incumbent mayor’s handling of police issues. He advocated for establishing a comprehensive police system and emphasized the importance of mental health services, proposing the use of technology such as red light cameras to aid police work.
Farrel criticized the mayor’s reduction of police budgets leading to understaffing. He called for the immediate appointment of a new police chief and advocated for year-round operation of the police academy to train local talents to meet the city’s public safety needs.
Peskin championed the F proposal to retain police officers and advocated for addressing long-standing security issues through community investments.
Lurie emphasized that if elected mayor, he would declare a fentanyl state of emergency to mobilize city resources against drug traffickers. He mentioned stringent measures against drug dealers and proposed a unified response model involving clinical doctors, not just police, to handle emergencies involving mental health issues. He pledged to add 1,500 emergency shelter beds within six months of taking office, emphasizing a focus on providing long-term housing and treatment support rather than just relocating homeless individuals.
Farrel recalled his successful management of tent encampment issues while serving as mayor in 2018, advocating for similar policies to remove tents of unwilling homeless individuals. He criticized Lurie’s past fundraising efforts for not significantly reducing homelessness.
Peskin criticized the failed clearance operations by the current mayor and Farrel, highlighting the need for systemic reforms. He detailed his “Crisis to Care” plan, proposing a homeless support system centered on mental health and addiction treatment. Peskin also questioned the new candidate Lurie’s lack of relevant experience.
Safaí proposed a comprehensive audit of homeless services, pointing out past corruption issues within the city government regarding fund usage transparency. He urged utilizing existing funds to establish more mental health and drug treatment beds and advocated for reviving the “Homeward Bound” program initiated by Governor Newsom in 2004 to help homeless individuals reunite with their families and provide long-term support.
According to the host, San Francisco’s public schools have seen a decline of approximately 4,000 students within the past decade, leading to closures. Many families opt for private schools, while others relocate out of the city. Although the mayor and city council do not have direct control over the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), they play crucial roles in addressing this educational crisis.
Farrel believed that the city government should actively engage in resolving the school crisis and pledged to enhance elementary literacy education. He suggested collaborating with the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) to optimize school bus routes, increase morning bus services, and ensure students arrive on time. Additionally, he promised to establish a priority hotline to address public safety issues around schools within 24 hours.
Peskin noted that SFUSD currently has 1,800 homeless students and advocated for the city government to shoulder the burden, allowing the district to focus on improving education quality.
Furthermore, Peskin proposed initiatives to provide affordable housing for teachers and school staff to retain education talent. He stressed the need for city-government collaboration with school districts to solve financial issues, ensure teachers receive timely pay, and jointly decide on school closures.
Safaí opposed closing public schools, suggesting reorganizing school resources instead. He highlighted his proud initiative, the “Student Success Fund,” which allocates up to $60 million in tax revenue annually to public schools to avert closures due to funding shortages.
With a budget of $15 billion and numerous commissions, San Francisco still faces challenges in the efficiency of its city services. Peskin opposed the D proposal supported by Mr. Farrel and billionaires, arguing it could lead to more corruption and power concentration in the mayor’s office. He supported the E proposal for transparent reforms and proposed establishing an office of the city attorney general to combat corruption.
Farrel supported the D proposal, believing it would streamline and limit the number of commissions to improve government efficiency. He stressed the need for a new mayor with extensive experience to manage over 35,000 city government staff and a $15.8 billion budget. He pledged to improve contract management and performance evaluations.
Safaí criticized the incumbent mayor’s lack of capacity, noting inadequacies in fund allocation despite having significant power. He emphasized his experience and union support, asserting his ability to advocate for workers and the middle class.
Lurie supported the D proposal, emphasizing the need to simplify the bureaucratic system and eradicate corruption. He proposed centralized management of nonprofit organization funds and establishing clear performance indicators to enhance fund transparency and efficiency.
These debates showcased the diverse perspectives and policy priorities of the San Francisco mayoral candidates, providing voters with valuable insights into the issues facing the city and the candidates’ proposed solutions.