Some Tough Questions for San Francisco California District 5 Supervisor Vallie Brown
BACKGROUND
Appointed by conservative San Francisco Mayor London Breed to serve out her term after she won the mayoral election, Valerie Brown has served as an aide to both London Breed and her predecessor Ross Mirkarimi.
The election is in November 2019.
As anyone who has attended electoral candidate “debates” or “forums” knows, questions frequently lack substance and/or relevance. This is often because the groups behind these dog-and-pony shows are secretly biased towards the most corporate and/or neoliberal candidate who represents their class interests.
The questions at “forums” (“debates” being too radical) reflect this, and, most of the time, the audience is barred from asking questions directly to the candidates. Even when questions are allowed, the moderator selects which questions to ask.
Consequently, vital issues and problems are overlooked. Too often, voters decide whom to vote for from the non-recyclable color unsubstantive fliers which pack constituents’ mailboxes. The candidate with the most billboards and fliers is often victorious. The funding for these frequently comes from the real estate industry, for San Francisco is Ground Zero for global capital. This was definitely the case for London Breed who received extensive funding from the real estate industry for her three campaigns. And it appears to be the case with Valerie Brown, who has already received extensive funding from the likes of Dave Wasserman and the infamous Sangiacomo clan of Trinity Properties.
Neighborhood groups, prohibited by law from chiming in, often send out e-mail blasts supporting candidates. Similarly, lists of emails collected at taxpayer expense, are dispensed to incumbents. While this may not be illegal, it is most definitely unethical.
To clarify, Brown fudges on issues and problems, generally endorsing the corporate consensus without clarifying the logic behind her stands. She touts herself as an “activist” without clarifying what it is she has accomplished. She often mentions that voters need to cast their ballot for her because “I am a woman,” and she grew up in poverty in Utah and came from a partially indigenous background. (Details of this are left fuzzy, but it makes for a great sound bite!).
It is often the case that candidates for office who tout their impoverished background often vote against the interests of those currently disenfranchised. It has most definitely been the case with London Breed, and Brown has followed course.
In an attempt to rectify this, here are some tough questions for Valerie Brown, candidate for District Five Supervisor. This is by no means a complete list, but it is a start. This information is based on facts to the best of our knowledge.
The first set of questions is based on policies not specific to any neighborhood (although it may be applied to them).
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
You advocate Vision Zero, an international “nonprofit” who claims there are no such thing as “accidents.” Countless millions have been spent on “bulb outs,” sidewalk extensions which remove parking spaces (which keeps cars in circulation), under the guise of increased safety.
Bulb outs
Can you explain exactly why you believe that there will never be any traffic fatalities and how bulb outs improve pedestrian safety?
Transit Line Nomenclature
Did you support the change of nomenclature from “Limited” to “Express” for buses?
If so, how do you feel that this is a good use of taxpayer funds?
NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES AND GENTRIFICATION
Parklets
You have often pointed out with great pride that you have been instrumental in bringing “parklets” to our neighborhoods.
While these are touted as “public space,” they are almost invariably placed in front of politically connected businesses, and they are almost always empty when those businesses are closed. (Frequently, they even put their own tables and chairs out there, so we are left with a bare platform when the businesses are closed).
How can you justify this privatization of public space when parking spaces are at a premium, and neighboring businesses (not infrequently immigrant businesses, sometimes female immigrant businesses) depend on parking spaces to survive, and workers, sometimes female single-mother workers, need to commute and park in order to staff dental offices and other shops and businesses?
Street Banners
Despite passage of a ballot initiative some years back in which San Franciscans asked for less advertising not more, street banners touting corporate “nonprofits” deface our landscape. To add insult to injury, they are made of nylon. What steps can you take to eliminate these eyesores?
Similarly, street trees — illegally gussied up with tacky colored LED lights — are an obnoxious and relatively recent addition to our local landscape. Will you sponsor legislation to eliminate these?
TRANSPORTATION
Muni Forward
In a recent interview with the Sunset Beacon, you touted the “safety” of the MUNI Forward program which has removed stops (increasing hardship for the disabled and the elderly) while littering our streets with multi-million dollar stops, dubbed “themes” by DPW, which employ such niceties as rusting steel.
First of all, what legislation do you propose to make sure that adequate citizen input is implemented in the future before such tragic parodies of urban “streetscaping” are imposed on residents?
Secondly, can you explain exactly why these platforms are “safer”? While SFMTA claims that these prevent accidents, there have never been accidents documented at the sites of these.
Can you explain how removing stops improves transit? How about spending countless thousands to change “Limited” buses to “Rapid”? How does that improve transit?
Will you sponsor legislation to compensate ex post-facto local businesses which have been affected by such lugubrious projects as the Subway to Nowhere, the Inner Sunset “streetscaping,” the Van Ness TransMilenio-style bus project imbroglio, etc.?
Rental bikes, bikes and scooters
Can you explain why there was no community discussion before these were placed on San Francisco sidewalks?
Inconsiderate, selfish individuals are turning our sidewalks into bike and scooter lanes. What will you do to stop this?
Without any community discussion, a large number of parking spaces in the Inner Sunset (and other areas) are being turned over to Lyft and commercialized as rental-bike stands complete with advertising billboard.
Can you please detail why you support this?
New Light Rail Vehicles
The new trains have substandard seats with a seating arrangement that prohibits couples and friends from sitting together; this makes an enormous sociological difference.
The color scheme is horrendous; the alerts onerous; the stop announcements can be heard across the street. Some rider’s feet do not touch the floor! The only good thing about them is that they are not wrapped.
What steps will Supervisor Brown take to ensure that new cars have their seating and more subdued color scheme, etc. restored?
And can she see to it that they are not wrapped with those obnoxious advertisements?
Muni Fares
As you know, Muni cash fares have increased dramatically — from 80 cents (with a token before 2000) to an astronomical $3 today.
Will you be willing to roll back these rates to a more reasonable level?
Will you be willing to tax downtown businesses in order to make this possible?
“Ride Share Vehicles”
Why do you believe that no measures can be legislated to limit the number of “ride-share” vehicles?
What research have you done which has allowed you to draw this conclusion?
CAMPAIGN DONATIONS
You have received considerable donations from the real estate industry. How will these affect your votes on legislation?
Why do you believe they are donating to you? What will you receive in return?
DEALING WITH LEGISLATORS
You claim that you were the only member of the Board of Supervisors to vote against Scott Wiener’s legislation which would have made it easier to gentrify neighborhoods. You maintain that you would try to reason with him to modify his views.
Can you give us the specific points you would raise in such a conversation?
HOUSING THE UNHOUSED
Conservatorship
You voted for “conservatorship,” a method of forcing the unhoused to accept mental health care against their will. Can you detail specifically how this will be put into effect? And how will it not be abused?
Sweeps
As has been well documented by the wonderful Nuala Sawyer in SF Weekly, DPW’s unconscionable homeless sweeps not only roust unhoused people in the middle of the night, they also take their possessions.
What is your position on these sweeps?
If you support them, please tell us why you believe they are effective.
Navigation Centers
Can you please detail the number of the unhoused being served by Navigation Centers, exactly where they have been “navigated” to and what the success rate has been?
How do you believe outcomes can be improved?
What are the prospects for building more permanent housing for them?
Parking Lot for Van and RV Dwellers
Can you please explain why a parking lot for van and RV dwellers should cost $750,000 for a year to maintain?
Where are these residents to go after a year?
Why was a temporary site selected?
What plans do you have to give the hundreds of others permanent spaces?
How will these be funded?
Who will craft a code of rules?
SAN FRANCISCO PARK SYSTEM
Entry Taxes to Public Facilities
Can you explain why the Tea Garden, the former Strybing Arboretum, the Conservatory of Flowers and the Coit Tower elevator charge to enter when San Francisco has a $12 billion budget?
Don’t you find these fees excessive?
Surcharges on Entry Taxes to Public Facilities
Can you explain your vote to add a 50% surcharge on weekends for visitors to these attractions? How will this, as RPD Manager Phil Ginsburg maintains, make it easier for low-income people to enter when they are most likely to only have time to come on weekends?
How do you explain the $1 surcharge for visitors to the Tea Garden so that RPD can perform basic maintenance on the pagoda?
Is this type of quid pro quo a sound way to manage a city budget?
Increasing Commercialization
What are your views on the increasing privatization and commercialization of our public parks and plazas?
What can be done to rein in the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society (which has been granted carte blanche to oversee and charge entry to the former Strybing Arboretum)?
What is your feeling about the way the Parks Alliance has turned the Conservatory of Flowers (once free to enter and a great laid back place to visit) into a cash cow and, similarly, the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society has been permitted to turn the Strybing Arboretum into a theme park for the elites?
Do you believe this to be a suitable use of public space?
If so, why?
San Francisco Botanical Garden Society Building
As you know, the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society has been given a sweetheart contract to build what is in effect a playground for the elites on acres in the back of the former Strybing Arboretum.
They have not been able to raise these funds.
How about moving back this fence and returning this awesome stretch of public land to taxpayers?
Park “Nonprofit” Responsibility
What can be done to make Parks Alliance and the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society responsible to residents?
Are you willing to ensure that public meetings are held regularly and that Trustee Meetings are open to all comers and that notes are made publicly available?
How do you explain your lack of response to the horrific taxpayer-funded destruction of the former Demonstration Garden? And can you explain why it was demolished and to what uses it will put?
New Entrance to Golden Gate Park
As you are well aware, RPD and DPW have launched a plan to create a new entrance to Golden Gate Park and spend over a million dollars to, in effect, unnecessarily, gentrify and commercializing this area.
Why do you feel this is an appropriate use of tax revenue and bond monies?
Concourse Crackdown
As you know — while residents are (ridiculously) given tickets for parking in their driveways — cars illegally drive through the Concourse in Golden Gate Park and are never ticketed.
Will you be willing to crack down on this?
And will you move to curtail the practice of tour buses illegally using SFMTA stops at 9th and Lincoln (as well as at Masonic and Haight)?
Outside Lands
Why did you vote for the extension of the Outside Lands contract when it negatively impacts residents and does not serve the community?
Hall of Flowers
The costs of presenting a show or event at the Hall of Flowers are astronomical. It is unused most of the time.
Would you be willing to sponsor legislation rolling back these onerous rates?
TREASURE ISLAND
Why do you believe that people should have to pay a tax to drive onto Treasure Island?
And what are your views on its radioactive pollution problems and the solution thereof?
COMMUNITY BENEFIT DISTRICTS
Our information has it that your office allocated substantial financial resources to group attempting to create a Community Benefit District in the Inner Sunset.
Why do you support the concept of a Community Benefit District?
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES
Our neighborhood businesses are vanishing, replaced by boutique stores, business storefronts, chains and franchises and ersatz “farmers’ markets” and other businesses that serve only the interests of the wealthy.
What can be done to help preserve these businesses (other than the ineffective “legacy business” designation)?
Even such overpriced stores as the Gus’s market chains are having a hard time keeping workers.
What remedies do you suggest?
PLASTIC AND PAPER BAG TAX INCREASE
How do you feel that this increase will result in an increase of people bringing their own bags?
Isn’t this a subsidy for grocery chains?
What will you be doing to educate shoppers regarding using reusable bags?
BAN ON CASHLESS STORES
In order to enter an AmazonGo store we need to use the app. This is both elitist and de-facto racist.
Will you introduce legislation to ban this practice?
WOMEN IN ELECTED OFFICE
“We need more women,” you are fond of proclaiming.
Can you tell us which female politicians you respect and admire and why?
DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY
Can you please detail your definition of “community”? Who does it include? Don’t you believe you need to reach out to constituents before voting on specific issues
YOUR “STORY”
Can you please clearly explain how your ethnic background and upbringing will interface with your votes on issues?
ARTISTIC PAST
As a former artist, what will you do to preserve the arts in San Francisco?
What have you done so far?
FURTHER QUESTIONS
These are by no means a complete set of questions. Readers are welcome to submit their own set for a future revised version of these.
As these are questions the corporate media will not ask, I encourage San Franciscans to not only ask them of Valerie Brown but also of other representatives and future candidates.
