FADC

Name: Dean Clark District: 6

Personal and background information:

1.Please provide a brief biography of yourself in one or two paragraphs. 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.

2. What qualifies you to run for supervisor in your respective district? I think it is important to have an individual with a variety of skills to be a Supervisor in San Francisco. I come from the working persons perspective and not that of administration or someone who is already held an office and may be slightly tainted with the ins and outs of government. We have too much of that nowadays. I will bring to the table if seated as a supervisor, fresh ideas to assist this wonderful city of San Francisco during a time of Economic downturn.

3. What groups or individuals have you worked with to accomplish something in the Filipino community? Please provide details. I have worked in both public and private education in San Francisco. Some of my students over the years are part of the Filipino Community. As an educator I have tried hard to develop and moreover help establish knowledge for students to promote them for further education and advancement in life.

4. Please describe your background and commitment to working in and working with marginalized communities? I have worked in various areas of the city as an educator. My commitment has been strong in supporting marginalized communities to develop themselves through education and life skills. My commitment to marginalized communities will continue to be a strong part of my campaign and if elected a strong part of who I will support while in office.

5. How long have you lived in district in which you are running? I have lived in District 6 for about 4 years now, and have lived in San Francisco for about 10 years.

San Francisco Issue-based Questions:

1. What would you change in the Eastern Neighborhoods Development Plan, if anything? I like the idea of additional housing in San Francisco, but am concerned about the rezoning not to add more additional light industrial use in the area. I would think the city could use some additional revenue from small business in the Eastern Neighborhoods.

2. Last December, Mayor Newsom, cut jobs that impacted over 500 city workers –mostly CAN’s and secretaries – at Laguna Honda and in the school district, respectively. Most of the workers were women and many of the women were Filipinas. The Board of Supervisors could not overcome the Mayor’s veto power. Please explain how you would have voted on the issue? By doing this, the workers were let go and hired back at a lower rate. I am opposed to cutting jobs in San Francisco. I would have voted against the letting go of CANS and secretaries.

3. During the current budget crisis, Filipino service providers sometimes get lumped into Asian service providers. How do you plan to distinguish the Filipino community needs and issues from other communities in a just and equitable manner? I would distinguish the community needs by having individuals from each community work close with me and help out with addressing the issues and needs of people in the Filipino community.

4. Previously, Supervisors’ Michaela Alioto -Pier and Sean Elsbernd have threatened to overturn the SoMa Stabilization Plan. What is your knowledge of the plan, and would you support their stance? I understand the plan was developed by an advisory committee and needs some additional work. I like the idea that the community would get involved with such a plan, however I could not support it at this time.

5. Public Defender Jeff Adachi has introduced a measure called SF SMART Reform as a way to generate more funding for the city’s budget. Meanwhile, members of the Board of Supervisors and labor unions are pushing for an increase in the hotel tax. Do you support either of these measures? What would you do to generate more funding for the city’s budget shortfall? We do need to work on pension reform, because it could ultimately end up as a disaster for the city and county of San Francisco. I would support an increase on hotel tax, however would like to review additional ways to work on pension reform. Jeff Adachi is on the right track, but we need to consider alternative ways to reform.

6. What is your stance on Ellis Act evictions? I am opposed to the Ellis Eviction Act, especially if it interferes with our senior citizens and people with disabilities.

7. How do you plan on making more affordable housing opportunities accessible to working class San Franciscans who are earning well less than the Area Median Income? I would work with companies and groups in support of more affordable housing opportunities. We need more affordable housing in San Francisco and need to use some of the land resources to establish more affordable housing. We could also convert some existing buildings to affordable housing.

8. Four years ago, Tom Ammiano proposed Healthy San Francisco that many people have benefited from. How would you urge business owners to utilize and buy into this plan to cover their workers health care concerns? I am a strong supporter for health care for all. I would work with employers and business owners to buy in to this plan by speaking with them and get community support to help support our Healthy San Francisco Program. A healthy employee is a more productive employee.

9. Many of our youth are dropping out of school or failing in our public school system. How do you plan on responding to and meeting the needs of this growing population? As a recent educator in our public school system, the problem goes a lot deeper than students just wanting to drop out of school. Our education system in San Francisco and California needs some overhauling. We spend too much money on Administration and not enough resources and support for the teachers and students in the classroom. I will advocate for teachers and students in education and help to address the needs of this growing population.

10. What are your plans to increase public safety measures for all of our residents? Do you believe that community policing is really working, for example? I think community policing is helping but not the answer to everything for public safety. We need more community involvement when crimes are being committed and people are witnessing them occurring. People need to phone the police when they see a crime, so the police can respond accordingly. I also feel that more foot patrols will assist with issues in some of district 6. A strong police presence could discourage individuals from committing a crime, but so could community involvement.

In Conclusion:

1. Why should you be endorsed by the San Francisco Filipino American Democratic Club? I have worked in many areas in San Francisco and have a good understand of the needs of our community. As an educator I have helped our community, students, and families achieve goals of higher knowledge and education. I feel as though we need a supervisor who comes from the people and can represent the people. I should be endorsed because of my commitment to the community of San Francisco and my desire to help all communities in San Francisco in a fair and equal way.

2. If elected, what is your big picture plan for your district and San Francisco in general? I want to see public safety increase and less crime. I would like to see education become a top concern and appropriate action be taken to ensure education comes first.

Safe Neighborhoods

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. Although we experienced a lower homicide rate in 2009 than in years past, 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. Neighborhood watches, increased foot patrols, and greater citizen awareness by encouraging citizens to report suspicious activities will help us reclaim our city by restoring peace to our streets and confidence to our residents.

Housing

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. For example, we could encourage home builders and developers to build housing adjacent to, or very near, transportation corridors. This would allow residents easy access to public transportation and reduce or eliminate the reliance on personal cars for their daily commute. Cleaner air would be a long term peripheral benefit as a result of fewer automobile emissions.

3. If elected, what special skills do you possess, and what committee’s would you like to use them on? As a teacher in both sectors private and public education. I have acquired one very important skill which is understanding the individuals you are serving. As I further my education in Special education, I have gained new perspective to understand that people in need have many different factors that prohibit them from learning and gaining ground in education. I feel as though this is important for a supervisor in San Francisco to understand the people they serve and the immediate and long term needs of the residents of San Francisco. A supervisor needs to look at many facets of what they propose or agree with at City Hall. I feel as a special education teacher I have acquired skills that allow me to look at the broad perspective and range of a problem and work at getting a desired outcome.

As a business owner in many capacities I have acquired skills of money management, responsibility, and organizational skills. All skills that are of utmost importance in this upcoming election given our current state of economic status. A supervisor in a challenged economic times should be listening to the people of San Francisco and the concerns of over spending, with no realistic resolution of gaining the revenues other than increased taxes and fee permit increases. Listening I feel is one of the most important skills I think I could have ever acquired. Salaries are decreasing, but yet we still want to impose more taxes, leaving are residents with less and less.

Neighborhood involvement, I live in Hayes Valley where there has been constant change in progress over the years. I have been more concerned about public safety in my neighborhood. Our particular street was once a haven for drug sales which now has turned to a quiet and safe street. I consistently report in appropriate activity on our street and unsafe activities. I have added plants to our neighborhood street and landscaped our back yard at our apartment complex to make it a better environment for neighbors, community, and environment.

I would like to leave you with one last note. I am a concerned and caring individual who feels as though the City of San Francisco and its residents have given me a wonderful experience and quality of life in the city and would like to give San Francisco the care and concern on issues faced by the city as a Supervisor for District 6.

3. What and who inspires you to become the leader you are? I would say my family has inspired me to be a leader and work hard to help others. As a former Marine I obtained leadership skills that have been invaluable to me. We are faced with a difficult time in San Francisco with budget cuts. My leadership will help us get through the challenging time, and bring us into a new San Francisco.