I can’t think of a better place to grow up than San Francisco. At our best, we have world-class parks, innovation all around us, and a spirit of inclusivity that helps kids develop an open mind. My wife, Becca, and I are proud to raise our children here in the city, but we also know that it’s not easy for everyone to do the same.

I’m running for Mayor because San Francisco needs accountable leadership and new ideas to solve our biggest problems. I founded and served as CEO of one of the most innovative poverty fighting organizations in the county. During my years as CEO of Tipping Point Community I made it a priority to support the most promising strategies for solving family and child poverty. We invested in early childhood development, because we know when a kid gets a good start in life they are set up for success. From building affordable housing faster and at lower cost to finding new solutions to education and workforce challenges, I’ve been on the cutting edge of this work for decades.

I hear from parents all the time. They are some of the most engaged citizens we have in this city. They are concerned about affordability, education, safe streets, and quality of life.

Many families choose to live in San Francisco despite significant challenges. As mayor, I will do everything I can to support them in making that choice a successful and fulfilling one.

With public safety challenges and potential public school closures on the horizon, we’ve seen an exodus of families. But San Francisco needs families. They drive our economy, bring traditions that enrich our cultural fabric, and strengthen our communities. Their presence makes our city vibrant and dynamic.

With the benefit of my experience, here are the steps I will take to make San Francisco the most family-friendly city in the country.

Quality Education

World-class public education is the cornerstone of a thriving community. We have many amazing public schools in San Francisco, but we must ensure every SFUSD student gets a great education with a pathway to success after graduation. With SFUSD down 5,000 students over the last decade and a further deterioration in the quality of education, school closures are one of many strategies the District needs to take to get its finances and student success back on track. As mayor, I will do everything I can to ease the transition for students and families that are impacted, starting with demanding that they have their first choice of a school in their neighborhood and the District increases transparency and communication in the process.

• Accountability for School Funding: Require accountability and performance measurement of City funds sent to the school district. Advocate at the state and federal level to ensure SFUSD has the resources needed for small class sizes, updated technology, and well-maintained facilities.
• Summer Camps and After-School Programs: Audit the need and make sure every city kid who needs one has a spot in summer camps and after-school programs, as a means of supporting working parents. Expand after-school programming on early dismissal Wednesdays, which are particularly challenging for parents with young children.
• Focus on Math and Literacy: Require the Department of Children, Youth & Their Families (DCYF) to coordinate services with SFUSD to close the achievement gap in math and literacy.
• Bring City Services to Schools: Co-locate city access points for family services like CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and Head Start at campuses so we meet families where they are and strengthen connections between schools and community.
• Pathways to Career and College: Continue support for Free City College for San Francisco residents and facilitate partnerships, workforce development pathways, and internship opportunities for youth.

Affordability

The immense expense of housing and childcare drive families out of the City. Here is how I will address affordability and prevent the displacement of more families.

• Increase Affordable Childcare: Expand the availability of affordable, high-quality childcare options, particularly to close the gap in care for babies and toddlers, by leveraging city funds with state and federal programs, partnerships with neighborhood childcare providers, and piloting mobile centers and new flexible models.
• Increase Affordable Housing Units: Partner with developers to increase the number of affordable housing units, particularly those suitable for families, through incentives and streamlined approval processes.
• Support Unhoused Families: Bring unhoused families to the front of the line for permanent housing and expand emergency family shelter slots and rapid rehousing to eliminate family waitlists and house families faster.
• Expand Rental Assistance: Strengthen and expand rent and tenant assistance programs to provide stability for families.
• Support Homeownership: Implement programs that assist first-time homebuyers with down payments and provide financial education to help families achieve homeownership.

Safe Streets

Creating a safe environment for families is essential for their well-being. We must help foster trust, safety, and accessibility in our communities if we want them to put down roots here.

• Create Family-Friendly Zones: As mayor I will have a zero tolerance policy for camping, drug use, and crime where our children and families spend their time. Areas around schools, playgrounds, community gardens, and safe routes to school will be designated Family-Friendly Zones with increased services for safety and street and sidewalk cleaning.
• Increase Community Policing: Increase police presence in neighborhoods and around schools, and implement community policing initiatives to foster trust and safety.
• Maintain Safe, Reliable Transportation: We must add more rapid Muni lines to serve overcrowded school routes, ensure public transit is family-friendly, with stroller accessibility and safety ambassadors, and make SFMTA free for minors permanently.
• Address Homelessness, Drug, and Mental Health Crisis: Implement comprehensive strategies to end the crises on our streets.

Quality of Life

When parents and children alike flourish, so does our city. As mayor, I will:

• Revitalize Parks and Playgrounds: Invest in the renovation and maintenance of parks and playgrounds, ensuring more are safe and accessible for children of all abilities.
• Invest in Health and Wellness Programs: Provide comprehensive health and wellness programs for families, including mental health services, nutrition education, and physical fitness programs.
• Invest in Parental Support Programs: Expand programs that support new and expecting parents with low incomes, including parenting classes, lactation support, and family counseling services.
• Evaluate Services: Audit all the city agencies and nonprofits that serve families to determine the overlaps and effectiveness of staff and money spent.