To Mayor's Office RE. Supervisor Appointment

Fillmore / Lower Fillmore Neighborhood Association (FLFNA)

1290 Fillmore Street, Suite 105

San Francisco, CA 94115

www.FLFNA.blogspot.com

January 7, 2012

Joaquin Torres

Mayor’s Office
City Hall, Room 160
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl.
San Francisco, CA 94102

RE:  District 5 Supervisor’s Appointment

Dear Joaquin Torres:

We are writing this letter to you because there is every indication to believe that Mayor Ed Lee wants to hear from the community throughout San Francisco regarding important decision impacting us.  During the 2011 budget process Mayor Lee conducted Town Hall meetings in every District throughout San Francisco to get feedback from the average person.  He even held an extra Town Hall meeting in the Fillmore and conducted a walking-tour of the Fillmore commercial corridor and spoke with as many people along the way as possible.  After careful consideration the executive committee of the FLFNA feels a responsibility to add its voice to the conversation in writing.  Please see the list below of the four people that we believe will serve this district and San Francisco well.      

In the next day or two Mayor Lee will appoint our next Supervisor to hold the position until the November-2012 election.  This is the single most important decision D-5 has faced in a very long time.  The Mayor’s Office has reached out to many community stake-holders throughout D-5 to get feedback, including our neighborhood association.  The fact that the Mayor Lee wants to appoint someone that is “electable” is encouraging to us because it means the person that he puts in today is the same person the Mayor believes the District will elect in November.  While there are some variables to be consider in this logic the overall way of thinking seems fair and good. 

During our December-2011 General-Community-Meeting we conducted a Straw Poll on who our attendees would like to see appointed.  We also facilitated a community discussion around the issue.  The executive committee held several meetings and met with dozens of stake-holders in the Fillmore.  Two of our board members also participated in a meeting with you facilitated by the District 5 Neighborhood Action Committee.  The one consensus that came out of these meetings is that the underdevelopment of the Fillmore community in particular and the Western Addition in general should be a priority.  The Mayor seems to share the same sentiment.  This is great news for our community as serious change and development is needed.    

The person appointed must be able to jump in running.  This does not necessary mean that the appointed Supervisor should be from the neighborhood or even familiar with the issues because theoretically an unknown person can come in and do a great job.  However there may be a serious learning curve and the person will be simultaneously running for Office.  All this taken into account we hope that one of the names below is appointed to be the next District 5 Supervisor.   

London Breed

Julian Davis

Thea Selby

Christina Olague

Sincerely,

Majeid (Jed) Crawford

President

Fillmore / Lower Fillmore Neighborhood Association

District 5 Neighborhood Action Committee (D5NAC)

An Open Letter About The District 5 Supervisor Appointment

A Job Well Done

Supervisor Mirikarimi has done an excellent job for district 5. From crime reduction initiatives to leadership on the Divisadero Corridor, his efforts have transformed District 5 into a better place to live, work and play.  Thank you Supervisor Mirikarimi for a job well done. Good luck as Sheriff.

Reaching Out Matters

We would like to thank Mayor Lee and his staff for reaching out to the D5NAC and other District 5 groups. It's important that this appointment take into consideration the unique and diverse set of opportunities and challenges that District 5 has.

Leadership Matters

District 5 needs a supervisor that has a long term vision for what the city and District 5 need to achieve by 2020. That's why the D5NAC has put together a list of traits we would like to see in our next supervisor. These include:

• Well respected for building community and working for the common good
• Experience dealing with City bureaucracy
• A consensus builder who listens to all sides
• Someone who strives for the “triple win” – neighborhood, district and city
• Stands up for what is right and just even when it's unpopular
• Practical and Pragmatic with a strong sense of justice and fair play
• A doer more than a talker

District 5 needs a leader who can build on Supervisor Mirikarimi's legacy to fully realize our potential. Our new supervisor needs to listen and internalize the diverse needs of the district and then act.

Strategies to Get There

The main focus of the next District 5 supervisor must be to maintain the successes of the past, push the district forward and to develop the Western Addition. Some of the suggested strategies to get there include:

• Create Sustainable Employment

◦     Teach lasting life skills

◦     Bring back the trades

◦     Diversify the business base

• Opportunity Drives Improvement

◦     Take a chance on radical ideas

◦     Show up and lend a hand

◦     Teach, mentor and coach community leaders

• Leverage Community Investment

◦     Public/Private investment partnerships driven by residents

◦     Think sustainable and modest profit instead of maximizing profit

◦     Build on the rich heritage

• Targeted, Real and Sustained Economic Development

◦     Expand commercial corridors and recruit anchor businesses

◦     Embrace sustainable practices

◦     Work for predictable small business start process in City agencies

• Celebrate Achievement

◦     Look for the small wins

◦     Be present

◦     Build buzz

• Improve The Quality of Life

◦     More Assistance for the Mentally Ill, Homeless and chronic substance abusers

◦     Rigorously enforce anti-graffiti laws

◦     Consistent implementation of Civil Sidewalks

Lets Get Going

The neighborhoods in the D5NAC are excited about the future of District 5. We have seen first hand how a dedicated group of community leaders, businesses, our supervisor, the mayor and city hall staff can transform neighborhoods into great places to work, live and play. All of us play a critical role in improving our district and the D5NAC looks forward to realizing our potential.

Our next supervisor needs continue the momentum. They need to continue the strong leadership that Supervisor Mirikarimi brought to our district, push us forward and take the lead in restoring the Western Addition.

About D5NAC

The D5NAC is made up of ten district 5 neighborhood groups. They include Alamo Square Neighborhood Association (ASNA), Buena Vista Neighborhood Association (BVNA), Cole Valley Improvement Association (CVIA), Divisadero Merchants Association (DMA), Fillmore/Lower Fillmore Neighborhood  Association (FLFNA), Haight Asbury Improvement Association (HAIA), Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (HVNA), Inner Sunset Park Neighbors (ISPN), Lower