S.F. needs to expand Board of Supervisors
Regarding “Latest proposal to fix what’s broken in S.F.: Return to citywide elections for supervisors” (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Sept. 19): Although I’m a fan of district elections for San Francisco supervisor, there is a gap in representing citywide interests and minority groups in the city.
The only supervisors willing to promote more action on climate change are those like Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, whose constituency sees it as a top priority. And there hasn’t been a Republican supervisor this century.
The answer isn’t to go back to at-large elections. The solution is to add at-large seats, so that environmentalists, beleaguered Republicans and other unrepresented groups get a shot at representation.
Many cities with comparable populations have city councils larger than San Francisco’s. Indianapolis has a City Council with 25 members. Glasgow, Scotland, has 85 city council members from 23 districts. Zurich, with about half of San Francisco’s population, has 134 members in its City Council and Parliament.
More supervisors means more representation and the opportunity for other voices to be heard.
David Fairley, San Francisco
Reparations irresponsible
Regarding “S.F. supervisors praise reparations plan, but cash payments unlikely without Breed’s support” (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Sept. 19): San Francisco is facing huge budget deficits. Downtown is vacant with little sign of a comeback. Open drug dealing and out-ofcontrol homelessness plague the city.
But the Board of Supervisors is supporting a reparations proposal knowing there is no funding available, and more importantly, it will almost certainly be challenged in the courts because the notion of the government giving money to people of a particular race is constitutionally questionable and is likely unconstitutional.
Supervisors will pass the proposal anyway because, if they don’t, they’re afraid of being called racist.
Support for this dishonest and fiscally irresponsible reparations proposal is the best example of the need to replace district elections with an at-large system that has a better chance of electing supervisors with honesty and common sense. Frank Sullivan, San Francisco
See Tenderloin’s other side
To the Chronicle, please cease your negative coverage of the Tenderloin. There are rays of hope in this neighborhood.
Get up early and watch young children holding hands on their way to school.
Check out the strong neighborhood of Asian Americans who operate all types of businesses.
Take a tour of the Tenderloin Museum. Hear jazz at the Black Cat. Open your eyes to art in galleries and at the Tenderloin National Forest. Check out the Center for New Music.
Delight in the many small bars, some of which have theatrical shows.
For 50 years the Tenderloin has been home to unique individuals who have struggled for civic, racial and gay rights.
Hope is possible.
Bernard Faber, Oakland
Raise fees for transit
Regarding “SFMTA would need approval from mayor before hiking fares, extending meter hours under new proposal” (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Sept. 19): Please preserve public transit.
San Francisco Muni’s primary sources of revenue are fares and parking. No one likes to see rates increase, but the alternative seems to be layoffs and cutting service, which would hurt everyone, including those businesses that rely on riders for customers.
And, the last thing we need is another ballot proposition on a likely very lengthy 2024 ballot. Janice Levy, San Francisco
Free rein for drug dealers
Regarding “I served as a juror in an S.F. fentanyl case. Here’s why I voted to acquit” (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, Sept. 19): The drug dealers like Esteban from the article are selling the fentanyl poison that kills. Yet the juror bought the “devil made me do it” defense.
Now that the precedent has been set, Hondurans will dominate the drug dealing trade, knowing they can claim they were forced, and they won’t be prosecuted.
If you invite a guest to stay at your house and the guest poisons the dog, should the guest be allowed to stay? Apparently, in the sanctuary city of San Francisco, they can. Byron Chong, Salinas