LiveSOMA.com’s Candidate Questionnaire:
Which part of the district do you currently live, and how long have you lived there?
I live in Hayes Valley and have been here for about 4 years.
What is your favorite restaurant in District 6, and why?
There are so many excellent choices of restaurants in district 6, but if I had to choose a favorite it would be Absinthe at Hayes and Gough. Excellent food and friendly wait staff make it a great experience.
Tell us something about you (the “individual”, not the “candidate”) that we may not know.
I am a strong advocate for pets and adoption of pets, thus the picture in my campaign with Frida, my Chihuahua which was adopted at the SPCA.
Describe your campaign platform in 150 words or less?
I plan on working hard to provide affordable housing for all residents of San Francisco.
I believe that every citizen deserves a safe and vibrant community in which to live. Our police force must focus on more violent crimes such as arson, assault, illegal drug trafficking, and homicide, but vandalism and graffiti have long been a concern for residents and business owners alike. I believe that we can achieve an even greater reduction in all criminal activity by forming a strong partnership between our community and the police.
We need good paying jobs in San Francisco, and get those who are unemployed back to work.
Social programs should be supported and kept in place. Programs like Healthy San Francisco should not be cut.
Are the majority of your District 6 Supervisor Campaign Donors from within District 6? (A ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer is fine.)
Yes.
What do you feel is the most important issue in District 6, and what is your position on the issue?
Many people are being forced to leave the city due to ever rising housing costs. San Francisco needs more affordable housing for all its citizens. I believe that we could utilize smarter design choices to create housing choices that would cost residents less than today’s options.
Thinking about the most important issue that you listed above, how do you plan to work on that issue, and what do you feel will be the biggest challenge(s) that you’ll face in solving the issue?
One of the biggest challenges would be the economy. In San Francisco we need to be focused on bringing good paying jobs to the city and economic development that will help are city thrive.
How will fixing the issue benefit District 6?
I feel as though affordable housing would benefit District 6 and its residents by providing living options for those of the middle class.
List the neighborhood groups or organizations (within District 6) that you have worked with in the past. What do you consider your accomplishments while working with these groups, and how you would help them further if you were elected Supervisor in November?
My Memberships are as follows;
- Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association
- National Foundation on Autism
- University of Wisconsin Alumni
- Bicycle Coalition
- Central City Democrats
- Alliance for a Better District 6
- American Federation of Teachers
- Homeless Connect
Some of the memberships are newer and have not spent much time working with them. However I do plan on working more with the Bicycle Coalition, Alliance for better District 6, Central City Democrats, Homeless Connect and advocating for education within District 6.
There’s a lot of talk about “progressive values and agenda items” vs. “moderate values and agenda items” in San Francisco politics. What do these terms mean to you, and how does either side help District 6 residents today, as well as over the long term?
First of all “progressive values and agenda items”: is a political attitude for change and reform. When I hear the terms progressive values I think of those who are facing harsh situation at work, home, and quality of life. While moderate values are in the middle (not to the left and not to the right). I believe when looking at individual issues San Francisco residents swing in both sectors of progressive and moderate. I think we need to have a more progressive approach when it comes to District 6. We have many challenges we are faced with in the upcoming years such as health care, affordable housing, homelessness, government regulation, and government control of our daily lives. The city of San Francisco is an expensive place to live, therefore many of us find it difficult to get ahead of the game in District 6. In San Francisco Politics without progressive values and agenda items we would find ourselves in a extremely challenged situation of working hard and getting nothing for our earned money. The long term effects of progressive vales will help us obtain affordable housing, health care, and help out those in need.
If you become supervisor, will you spend equal time meeting with both the San Francisco Tenants Union and the Small Property Owners of San Francisco before proposing more rent control legislation?
Yes I will spend equal time between San Francisco Tenants Union and Small Property Owners of San Francisco.
We keep hearing about million dollar condos being built and SROs moving into the neighborhood – If elected, what do you intend to do about housing for the middle class?
Though I feel as though one million dollar condos and SRO’s are necessary as well, I would work hard to advocate for the middle class and more affordable housing both for purchasing and renting. Most people in San Francisco that work here are unable to carry the notes of a one million dollar condo and we need to see the continued reduction of condos in newly built buildings through smart building and lower construction costs. If we are working hard in San Francisco we should also be able to own a piece of San Francisco in the housing market. Many people are being forced to leave the city due to ever rising housing costs. San Francisco needs more affordable housing for all its citizens. I believe that we could utilize smarter design choices to create housing choices that would cost residents less than today’s options.
There are a number of residents in the middle of SOMA (between 4th and 6th streets, and Harrison and Folsom Streets) who are concerned about a specific SRO that is relocating from the Tenderloin to the corner of 5th and Harrison. What are your thoughts on SRO Swaps particularly with regards to rules and regulations? How should they be managed? What rules and regulations should apply to ensure a safe and vibrant community in the future?
SRO’s have always been a part of San Francisco and this country. Immigrants and low income workers have stayed in these establishments over the years. I believe SROS are necessary in San Francisco.
SRO’s should be managed in a way that is acceptable to the residents who reside in the SRO’s and the community around them. I have noticed however that SRO’s are mainly condensed into one area and not spread out over the city as needed. If the SRO’s are spread out over the city instead of concentrated in one specific area or over a two block area like the 6th street corridor. Our desired outcome from the residents and the residents themselves would be able to enjoy a much more safe and vibrant community. An 8 by 10 foot room is not a lot of space for an individual, nor for a couple or a mother and a child. We need to rethink the rooms and expand into more accommodating living conditions that will allow people to enjoy their living spaces as opposed to forcing people to use their city streets as a living room and gathering place. I believe by expanding the living quarters and upgrading to facilities that will be more delightful, and spread out the wealth of the SRO’s then the community at large will enjoy the desired outcome they want.
Anything else that you would like to share about yourself or your campaign platform with the residents of District 6?
Dean Clark has been a teacher and small business owner in San Francisco for years. Dean has worked in Public and Private education and is a former Marine in the United States Marine Corps. Dean Clark has attended San Francisco State University for a special education credential, city college for early childhood education certificates, and University of Wisconsin where he obtained a Bachelors in Business Administration in Marketing, Real Estate, Management Information Systems and a minor in Economics.
