Positions & Policies

Public Safety
As a former Assistant District Attorney, assigned first to a trial team and later to head the Narcotics Unit, I have worked productively with our police force and understand that San Francisco can only be a “Families First” city if the streets are safe. It is time to restore respect and integrity to our police force. We must fund the department fully, but we must demand accountability. In addition, we must build a city that is livable so that our officers will choose to make San Francisco their home and to raise their families here. We will be on the right track when we improve our public schools, improve our management of open space, ensure financial responsibility and make San Francisco a more family-friendly environment.

Pedestrian Safety
Pedestrian fatalities in our District must stop. As a prosecutor, I have tried a vehicular homicide case involving an elderly pedestrian and obtained a conviction from a San Francisco jury. I know first-hand the pain inflicted on families by reckless and intoxicated drivers. I support plans to add visibility strips to all pedestrian crossings along 19th Ave, around schools, and in other high pedestrian intersections. I support increasing walk signal times and the installation of audible crossing signals at high traffic intersections to better protect our Seniors. I will support traffic-calming measures in residential districts and enforcement of the “Basic Speed Law” along 19th Avenue where fog and darkness often decrease visibility. I will demand increased attention to traffic enforcement from our police officers and give them the resources they need to keep our streets safe for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Public Schools
Every child in this City deserves to have a quality public school within walking distance of his or her home. San Francisco families should not be forced to move to the suburbs in search of a quality education. Parents should not have to agonize for months over where their child will be allowed to attend school. Improving our schools requires that we put an end to the in-fighting at the Board of Education, and increase City support for the public schools. I support the development of “Dream Schools” so that we can again have quality schools for all of our children with art, music, athletic and after school programs, as well as first rate academic instruction.

"One Percent For Our Kids"
There is nothing more important than the children of this City. As a member of the Human Rights Commission, a former Housing Commissioner, and a former member of the Drug Abuse Advisory Commission, I understand that there are many competing interests for funds in this City. However, as a parent, I understand that nothing is more important than our next generation. The City should dedicate the first one percent of the budget to provide local funding to our school district and to ensure our children's health, as well as art, music, athletic and after school programs that are taken for granted in many suburban school districts, and that are an important part of a well-rounded education.

Education For A Lifetime
As a small business owner, I understand that in the new global economy, higher education is more important today than it has ever been in the past. I propose that the City develop a fund from nominal fees charged to developers to ensure that any student who graduates from a public high school in San Francisco receives a tuition waiver for two years at City College. With this foundation – quality public schools and access to quality secondary education, we will give our students a great start towards success.

Park Merced Restoration
Neighborhood Parks Council names Vernon "Park-Friendly"!
I am dedicated to making Lake Merced into a world-class family recreation area. The third jewel in the crown of San Francisco’s parks – standing proudly beside Crissy field and Golden Gate Park, and offering boating, fishing biking, picnic areas, a playground, annual dragon- boats races, festivals, classes, kitemaking and Tai Chi, as well as golf. I will convene a community summit involving all the Lake Merced stakeholders to identify the most vexing problems ahead for revitalization of the lake. After receiving the advice of the experts and the public we will move forward together to make Lake Merced a destination of choice for San Francisco’s families.

Environment / Quality Of Life

“Families First”
I am dedicated to improving family life in San Francisco. Neighborhood schools are and important cornerstone of community identity that we must recapture. Family life is also enhanced by making the streets safe. As a former Assistant District Attorney, I know that one of the best ways to make our streets safe is to ensure that young people have good parks, pools and recreation centers to use. The good news is that these are public assets that we already have in this City. My commitment will be to ensure the City improves, protects and properly manages these assets (parks, pools playgrounds). With these values we can make San Francisco into a place we can all live for a lifetime.

Trees
I treasure District Seven’s rich and beautiful stock of trees, and know that our trees are part of what gives this district its unique character. Our trees must be managed, maintained and cared for with the respect they deserve. I am a supporter of Friends of the Urban Forest. When the time came for the Friends of the Urban Forest planting in our neighborhood, we planted eight trees in our front yard. I will work with the Friends of the Urban Forest to enhance and develop our tree-lined avenues.

Bicycle Plan
As frequent family bicyclist, I believe that San Francisco and District 7 should be home to one of the nation’s premiere urban bicycle routes. This route should extend from Crissy field in the North to Lake Merced in the South – the bicycle equivalent of the famed “49 Mile Drive.” This will bring increased bicycle traffic and tourism into our commercial districts and allow us to share our beautiful corner of the City in an environmentally friendly way.

Laguna Honda
We must stop housing violent criminals at Laguna Honda and return the facility to its original purpose: a skilled nursing facility for our seniors. We must ensure that the facility is rebuilt with at least the same capacity that it has now (1,100 beds). Moreover, any new design should strive to integrate the facility with the community to the greatest extent possible. Laguna Honda is a care facility, not a jail. We must be sure that our seniors (who also happen to be our grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts) are not forgotten, but rather, receive the care that they need and are returned to self-sufficiency or independent assisted living when they are ready.