Ahsha Safaí for Mayor 2024

Elect Ahsha Safai for Mayor of San Francisco!

Ahsha Safai for Mayor of San Francisco

Born

Immigrated

SINGLE MOTHER

RAISING

LAbor organizer

SUPERVISOR

Ahsha Safaí is a proud immigrant, husband and father of two, former labor organizer, small business owner, city planner, and Supervisor. He knows that today, while you’re working harder than ever, this city, and the current administration just isn’t working for you. Ahsha believes that with new, experienced leadership and accountability, we can get San Francisco back on track. That’s why Ahsha is stepping up for working families to deliver the big change we need.<h3>A proud immigrant from a working family with a commitment to helping others</h3>Ahsha was born in Iran. When he was 5 years old, and the emerging Iranian Revolution threatened his family’s safety, his mother brought him to the United States. His single mother found work as a secretary in Boston, but the family struggled. Ahsha’s mom taught him the value of hard work. And she always said that even during hard times, helping others should come first. And that’s how Ahsha has lived his life—starting as an intern in President Bill Clinton’s White House, then as a math tutor for a civil rights program focused on students in need—and onward through a career in public service.<h3>A city planner who worked with two mayors to clean up our streets and create opportunity</h3><img src="https://run.imgix.net/3d6104ef-1d4f-402e-89c2-01f6744759dd/fd6cbb4c-6ff3-4a22-898d-40b1f9653aff/fd6cbb4c-6ff3-4a22-898d-40b1f9653aff.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C960%2C720&amp;w=1500" alt="" title="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" variant="base">After working his way through college and earning a Master’s in City Planning from MIT, Ahsha had the opportunity to work with two San Francisco mayors, Willie Brown and Gavin Newsom. These mayors entrusted Ahsha to lead major neighborhood and citywide services for San Francisco to deliver critical resources to low-income communities.Working with Mayor Brown, Ahsha helped protect immigrants from losing their housing and advanced key gang violence prevention strategies. And he helped bring vital resources like a new teen center and new childcare center to residents of our public housing communities.With Mayor Newsom, Ahsha helped lift up our neighborhoods, connecting young adults, formerly incarcerated, and homeless people to good jobs that support local small businesses by keeping our streets clean, planting trees and gardens, and revitalizing public spaces.<h3>A labor organizer who has fought for economic fairness for working people</h3><img src="https://run.imgix.net/3d6104ef-1d4f-402e-89c2-01f6744759dd/426b2d8b-1b3c-44bb-b413-a5a91a65af11/426b2d8b-1b3c-44bb-b413-a5a91a65af11.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C903%2C782&amp;w=1500" alt="" title="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="37" variant="base">Mayors Brown and Newsom taught Ahsha what really makes a city work–its working people. So Ahsha spent nearly a decade as a labor organizer, representing frontline workers like janitors, sanitation workers, delivery drivers, and grocery store employees. He helped raise San Francisco’s minimum wage to $15/hour, secured better wages and working conditions for frontline workers, passed a Retail Workers’ Bill of Rights, and fought tirelessly to deliver Free City College for all San Franciscans.To get so much done for working families, Ahsha brought business and labor together. With a collaborative approach, but never wavering from his principles, Ahsha found common ground between both sides, creating solutions that enabled workers to get ahead, while ensuring businesses also benefited from a well-trained, effective workforce.<h3>An experienced leader who has fought for safer, more livable, more equitable neighborhoods for all</h3><img src="https://run.imgix.net/3d6104ef-1d4f-402e-89c2-01f6744759dd/a22b0f26-9ffa-4f8e-8808-9e7c86797f30/a22b0f26-9ffa-4f8e-8808-9e7c86797f30.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=577%2C235%2C1221%2C1165&amp;w=1500" alt="" title="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" variant="base">In 2016, Ahsha was elected to the Board of Supervisors, representing the Excelsior, Outer Mission, Oceanview, Merced, Ingleside, and Crocker Amazon—neighborhoods that had previously been ignored by City Hall for too long. Throughout his career, from the Clinton White House to San Francisco City Hall, Ahsha has always fought to give everyone a voice in their community and to make government work better.Some of his most recent accomplishments for San Francisco range from holding the City accountable on homelessness and nonprofit spending, to fighting back against City Hall corruption, and taking direct action to address rampant organized retail theft.

<h2>Ahsha Safaí Has a Plan to Make Our City Work for All San Franciscans. As Mayor, Ahsha will:</h2><ul><li><a href="/endstreethomelessness" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">End Street Homelessness</a></li><li><a href="/san-franciscos-housing-mayor" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Take the Lead as Our Housing Mayor</a></li><li><a href="/reimagine-our-downtown" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reimagine Our Downtown</a></li><li><a href="/improve-public-safety" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Improve Public Safety in Every Neighborhood</a></li><li><a href="/violence-prevention" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Prioritize Proven Violence Prevention Solutions</a></li><li><a href="/mental-health" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Address Our Mental Health and Addiction Crises</a></li></ul>

Contribute today to help get San Francisco back on track!

<h3>Contribute now to support our campaign!</h3>

Ahsha Safaí for San Francisco Mayor Campaign Launch Video

Watch Our Campaign Launch Video

Ahsha Safaí, is a proud immigrant, husband, father, and experienced leader. He is stepping up to bring real change to San Francisco. Ahsha is committed to representing working families and revitalizing the city.

<h2>Ahsha's Plan to Prioritize Proven Violence Prevention Solutions</h2>To get San Francisco back on track as a leader in true criminal justice reform, we must embrace solutions that bring new hope and opportunity to those who need it most while keeping all communities safe. Ahsha will prioritize proven violence prevention programs, and work with the District Attorney to strengthen effective alternative sentencing options.A true focus on prevention and reform means strengthening re-entry programs to support those transitioning from incarceration back into the community with real access to housing, job training, and other essential services that reduce recidivism. It means promoting alternative sentencing options for those who have demonstrated a commitment to rehabilitation and reentry, and expanding diversion programs that have been proven to keep at-risk, non-violent people from entering the criminal justice system in the first place.As Mayor, Ahsha will:<ul><li>Prioritize proven violence prevention programs like Roadmap to Peace and United Playaz, and other community-based programs. This requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach that addresses the root causes of violence and addresses accountability in partnerships with government agencies, community organizations, law enforcement, and healthcare providers. Prioritizing violence prevention programs is crucial for fostering safer communities.<ul><li>Early Childhood &amp; Middle School Intervention Programs: Programs targeting at-risk children in their early years have demonstrated long-term benefits in reducing violent behavior. For middle school-aged children, early intervention programs can significantly reduce violence and early incarceration among our youth—these crucial years can guide children’s outcomes for the rest of their lives.</li><li>School-Based Programs: We need a true collaborative partnership with SFUSD to ensure that we are supporting initiatives like Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, anti-bullying campaigns, conflict resolution training, and mentoring programs in schools.</li><li>At-Risk Youth Intervention Programs: Community-based programs disrupting cycles of violence and crime including job training, personal and professional development, education, and mentorship with demonstrated success in reducing youth violence—focusing these programs in communities that have been historically underserved and over-incarcerated.</li><li>Restorative Justice Programs: Restorative justice approaches focus on repairing harm caused by crime through dialogue, restitution, and community involvement, especially supporting victims of crime and their families and communities also impacted. They have been effective in reducing recidivism, preventing escalation, and promoting healing for both victims and offenders.</li><li>Community-Based Mental Health Services: Accessible and culturally competent mental health services can address underlying issues such as trauma, depression, and substance abuse, which are often linked to violent behavior (especially with youth).</li><li>Restore and Expand Investments in programs, resources, and best practices that are culturally appropriate and tailored to each population, ensuring comprehensive community engagement and collaboration among community stakeholders and providers to identify needs and develop targeted interventions, and cross-cultural understanding.</li></ul></li><li>Partner with the District Attorney and Adult Probation on alternative sentencing options for those who have demonstrated a commitment to rehabilitation and reentry.<ul><li>Enhancement of Reentry Programs: Strengthen reentry programs to support individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community. This includes providing access to housing, employment assistance, healthcare, and other essential services to reduce recidivism and promote successful reintegration, utilizing trusted community partners and service providers to maximize success.</li><li>Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement rigorous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the effectiveness of alternative sentencing programs in achieving their intended goals, including reducing recidivism rates, promoting public safety, and improving outcomes for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. We need to demonstrate the ability to adjust policies and programs based on empirical evidence and best practices.</li><li>Collaboration with Stakeholders: Foster collaboration among criminal justice agencies, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to develop and implement comprehensive strategies for alternative sentencing, engaging with affected communities by violence to ensure that sentencing practices are responsive to their needs and concerns.</li><li>Expansion of Diversion Programs: Increase funding and support for diversion programs that divert individuals away from the traditional criminal justice system, particularly for non-violent offenses and first-time offenders. Diversion programs may include drug courts and drug use recovery programs, mental health courts, and programs for justice-involved youth.</li><li>Emphasis on Rehabilitation: Prioritize rehabilitation over punitive measures, recognizing that addressing the root causes of criminal behavior reduces recidivism. Invest in evidence-based programs such as substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, vocational training, and education initiatives within correctional facilities.</li></ul></li></ul>

<h2>Ahsha's Plan to Reimagine Our Downtown</h2>Today, our once bustling downtown sits dormant and lifeless, sapping the character of our city. Instead of this current state of inaction, Ahsha will immediately bring urgency and focus to revitalizing our downtown and most neglected neighborhoods, to stop the hemorrhaging of small businesses, and secure the investments we need to bring our city back. We will reimagine downtown so people are living, studying, and thriving in a 24/7 neighborhood.For all of this to work, people must know that downtown is clean and safe, in a reimagined living, thriving neighborhood. Ahsha is already taking action with his five-point plan:<h3>1. Improve public safety with foot patrols downtown—and in every neighborhood.</h3>Ahsha will work closely with SFPD to fully implement foot and bike patrols downtown. Ahsha has already passed legislation to require every police station in the City to have a plan in place for foot and bike patrols. Working closely with our downtown partners and businesses, Ahsha will ensure police are in place to deter crime and respond to crime when and where it happens using proactive community policing—directing the officers to where the crimes are happening the most.Ahsha will require regular reports to direct foot and bike patrols to match where crime is happening. Using crime data, every district station will identify where crime is occurring and allocate resources and officers effectively and efficiently. Ahsha will use regular reports to the Mayor’s Office to ensure the SFPD is held accountable and proactive community policing is implemented effectively.Read more about Ahsha’s <a href="https://www.ahshaformayor.com/priorities/improve-public-safety-in-every-neighborhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Plan to Improve Public Safety in Every Neighborhood</a>.<h3>2. Make the Department of Public Works a true 24/7 operation.</h3>Ahsha will hold our Department of Public Works (DPW) accountable for constantly cleaning our streets, and he will redirect funding to clean our city where it’s needed. In addition to constant cleaning, when people disrespect our streets, sidewalks, and public spaces with public dumping, human waste, drug paraphernalia, and vandalism, DPW must get out and clean up the mess around the clock.Ahsha will direct all City employees, regardless of department, to report blight to DPW on the spot, through our public 3-1-1 system. It shouldn’t just be the job of residents to report the mess on our streets. With 34,000 City employees, nothing should go unreported.Ahsha will ensure accountability in our 3-1-1 system to make sure every request is responded to and acted on with urgency and follow through, with regular audits of the department to ensure accountability. This will help restore our image with tourists and conference planners throughout the world, helping to revitalize our economy and give San Franciscans a reason to go back downtown.<h3>3. Create a fund to buy buildings and attract new public university campuses that will reimagine downtown.</h3>Ahsha will fully implement the Public University Investment Fund he created through legislation at the Board of Supervisors in early 2024. Ahsha’s vision for a new downtown university has already received positive attention locally and nationwide, and is based on the success of other cities like Phoenix, Arizona–which saw a remarkable resurgence of new economic development following the opening of Arizona State’s downtown campus. This fund will attract investment into our downtown and activate 40 million square feet of empty office space.Ahsha will proactively fill the fund by seeking public and private contributions, including philanthropic sources. Public universities and colleges don’t typically have the deep pockets or wealthy backers that private institutions do, but public-private partnerships can ensure a stronger, more vibrant future for our downtown.Ahsha will redirect existing funding to match philanthropic and private investment, and leverage solutions like bond financing, or by entering into lease agreements that will incentivize public universities to build campuses on city-owned land.<h3>4. Support and implement the Business and Labor initiative to reduce taxes on businesses throughout the City, with a focus on downtown.</h3>Ahsha already fully supports the Local Small Business Tax Cut Ordinance, and as Mayor, he will work to help existing large employers stay in the City, and help small businesses open or relocate in our City and especially downtown. Ahsha has a track record of bringing Business and Labor together, and he will stay at the table to ensure this tax cut is revitalizing our economy.Ahsha will promote this and every incentive we have for businesses to open or relocate downtown because we must bring all workers back downtown, from white collar executives to the janitors that clean the offices at night.<h3>5. Lower the transfer tax to spur office-to-residential conversions and new construction to build new housing downtown.</h3>Ahsha will turn our downtown into a vibrant 24/7 neighborhood, but that will require smart investments in new and office-to-residential housing at all income levels, including affordable, workforce, student, and market-rate housing. To kickstart this reimagined downtown neighborhood, Ahsha recently introduced groundbreaking legislation to attract investment by incentivizing developers to seek union pension fund investments for affordable, workforce, student, and market-rate housing, and create thousands of good-paying union construction jobs.Ahsha will work with union pension funds and developers to use this incentive for newly constructed or recently completed rental housing buildings constructed over the past 10 years, and for the 70,000 housing units that are already approved, but yet to be built, in the City’s housing pipeline. To qualify for this temporary 10-year reduction in transfer tax requirements from 6% to 3%, developments must meet following criteria:<ul><li>At least 12% of their units are onsite and permanently affordable</li><li>Built with all union labor</li><li>Investing at least $25 million of union pension funds</li></ul>Ahsha will continue to build support for this tax incentive to attract investment, and already has support from the San Francisco Pension Fund, the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, and local developers. In 2023, housing projects financed with funding from the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust paid $4.6 million in property taxes, offsetting the cost to the city. These projects have also added 970 units to the city's housing stock, including 174 affordable units—demonstrating that with this tax incentive, much, much more housing can be built downtown and throughout the City. Additionally, The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust estimates that each $100 million in residential development will employ approximately 535 union members and generate $25-30 million in union wages, significantly boosting the City's economy.

Item 1

To reimagine our downtown, Ahsha's plan will:

Ahsha's Five-Point Plan to Reimagine Our Downtown

<h2>Ahsha's Plan to Improve Public Safety in Every Neighborhood</h2>We all know property crime is at an unacceptable level in San Francisco. Ahsha himself knows this all too well, as his own home was broken into like many San Franciscans. We can no longer afford to fail to take meaningful action to address this crisis, and must implement real, commonsense solutions including Ahsha’s plan for community policing and foot patrols in every neighborhood.As Supervisor, Ahsha Safaí has been a consistent and effective leader on proactive community policing. He secured the funding to hire 300 new officers. He passed legislation to bring more police foot patrols to our neighborhoods. And he authored a charter amendment that will be on the November 2024 ballot to increase recruitment and retainment of 911 dispatchers and nurses—public safety includes all safety personnel.In 2021, Ahsha created the Organized Retail Crime Working Group, which led to legislation to expand law enforcement presence in our commercial corridors and separate legislation to crack down on illegal street fencing, and encouraged the District Attorney and SFPD to apply for State funding for over 400 license plate cameras citywide. He’s been the leading voice in the fight against the organized retail theft that has plagued many businesses across San Francisco in the past few years.Ahsha also believes that true public safety requires violence prevention, not just enforcement. As mayor, Ahsha will partner with community organizations to prioritize proven violence prevention programs that address root causes of crime, including at-risk youth interventions, anti-bullying and mentoring programs, gang violence interrupters, mental health and trauma support, job training, and restorative justice. <a href="https://www.ahshaformayor.com/priorities/prioritize-proven-violence-prevention-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">You can learn more about Ahsha’s violence prevention plan here.</a>As Mayor, Ahsha will ensure we improve community safety in every San Francisco neighborhood. And he knows we can do it without compromising our San Francisco values. To fully turn around public safety in San Francisco, Ahsha will:<ul><li>Fully implement a proactive community policing plan centered on foot and bike patrols. Ahsha will focus on community safety in every neighborhood—we can’t just have our officers on foot patrols downtown. Using crime data, every district station will identify where crime is occurring and allocate resources and officers effectively and efficiently.</li><li>Ensure we fully fund public safety and a fully staffed police department to combat the increase in retail theft and property crimes including home and car break-ins. Ahsha will hold SFPD accountable, and will choose a Chief of Police who is fully committed and has a proven track record in proactive community policing.</li><li>Create a First Responder Loan Forgiveness program and fully fund and expand recruitment and retention programs. Loan forgiveness can be extended to all public safety positions including police officers, sheriffs, nurses, firefighters, paramedics, and 9-1-1 operators. Over the past five years, the SFPD recruitment budget has been left without sufficient funds to attract new officers and ensure our City has a fully staffed Police Department.</li><li>Make it easier to keep police officers on the job while recruiting the next generation with a short-term five-year Voluntary Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) that will allow police officers who can and want to work to continue to protect our streets while the department aggressively recruits and trains new officers.</li><li>Create a proactive community safety liaison position for each of San Francisco’s ten police stations. Each liaison will be on the ground, directly engaged on neighborhood concerns, with an emphasis on addressing public safety and quality-of-life matters. Ahsha did this in his own district and it has been a proven “game changer” over the past two years.</li><li>Work in close partnership with the District Attorney and community partners to end street level drug dealing and drug use. Fentanyl addiction is an epidemic in our city, particularly among our unsheltered population. We have to make it clear we understand the difference between those who are addicted to these drugs–who deserve access to care and recovery—and those who prey on and profit off of addiction and despair, who must be prosecuted and held accountable.&nbsp;</li><li>Ensure we fix 9-1-1 and hire essential public safety positions more quickly like emergency dispatchers by cutting red tape, and improve recruitment by offering targeted loan forgiveness programs for first responders and improved retirement benefits.</li><li>Focus on crime hotspots by creating a satellite office for the Mayor at the Tenderloin police station. The Tenderloin is ground-zero for aggressive drug dealing, drug overdoses, and illegal street fencing, and other crimes. The Mayor’s Office should be on the frontline to ensure the full spectrum of interventions are being used effectively and consistently.</li><li>Improve performance of the 3-1-1 call center, to make sure issues like broken streetlights or illegal dumping are addressed rapidly and not “closed-out” before they are truly resolved. Neighborhood cleanliness and vibrancy are critical components in our work to create safer communities.&nbsp;</li><li>Take innovative steps to reduce retail theft, such as funding dedicated anti-retail theft positions in the San Francisco District Attorney’s office and Police Department, reforming the planning code to allow businesses to implement more effective prevention methods like security gates, expanding law enforcement presence along commercial corridors, and increasing penalties for illegal street fencers who knowingly sell stolen goods.</li><li>Protect our officers and the community by deploying license plate readers with clear privacy safeguards. These readers can allow officers to avoid high speed vehicle pursuits that put officers and those in the surrounding area at risk.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>Learn more about Ahsha’s vision for a safer San Francisco with his plan to <a href="https://www.ahshaformayor.com/priorities/prioritize-proven-violence-prevention-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Prioritize Proven Violence Prevention Solutions</a>.

Raised

Married

Children

Party

Education

Our campaign is honored to have your support!

Introduce the videos below with a short blurb.

Campaign Videos

Ahsha Safaí, a proud immigrant, husband, father, and experienced leader, is stepping up to bring real change to San Francisco. He's committed to representing working families and revitalizing the city.

<h2>Ahsha Safaí’s Plan to End Street Homelessness</h2>Problem: Currently, San Francisco does not have enough adequate and dignified non-congregate shelter for our unsheltered population. To bring our homeless inside, we need to offer them a dignified place to come in, get clean, and gain stability in their lives.Ahsha Safaí has a 5-point plan to end street homelessness by the end of his first term in office, including re-establishing the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services (MONS) to address this and other neighborhood needs that have been neglected for far too long under this administration. Others will make promises to end street homelessness and RVs parked throughout our city. Ahsha has a plan to do it.&nbsp;<h4>1. Reform the “Point-In-Time Count” — Use it to Move People off the Streets!</h4>You can’t manage what you don’t measure.&nbsp;In San Francisco, we do the <a href="https://www.sf.gov/data/healthy-streets-data-and-information#:~:text=The%20Point%20in%20Time%20Count%20(PIT)%20takes%20place%20every%20two,they%20look%20for%20permanent%20housing." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); color: var(--color-text-accent-primary)">bare minimum</a> of measuring street homelessness – only once every 2 years, one night only, and just because the federal government mandates us to do it for federal funding. We should count more frequently and use that count to get people off the street and into shelter. We should use the number of homeless on our streets to drive resources and investment towards ending street homelessness. As Mayor, Ahsha will require regular counts of our homeless population and do it while aligning resources for moving those residents inside.&nbsp;With this count in hand, as Mayor, Ahsha will direct the re-established Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services to work with District Supervisors, neighborhood leaders, and activists to establish a neighborhood-by-neighborhood plan to create the opportunity for every single person facing homelessness to get off the street and into shelter.<h4>2. Fund at Least 1,000 Homeward Bound Trips Each Year</h4>We once averaged more than a thousand homebound trips a year before the Mayor discontinued the program. Anyone who is homeless and wants to be reconnected with family should be offered homeward bound at every stage in the process of coming inside. Ahsha authored legislation that passed in April 2024, expanding the <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sf-homeless-people-bus-program-19257394.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Homeward Bound</a> program to include those who are in our shelters and supportive housing along with those who are on our streets. They should all be eligible to reconnect with their loved ones. This program is a cost effective and humane way of getting people off our streets and reconnected with loved ones. Ahsha pledges to fully implement this ordinance and ensure it is available to anyone who needs it.<h4>3. Provide Enough Shelter to Enforce “No Camping” Orders in our Neighborhoods!</h4>We will tackle the problem of unsheltered homelessness neighborhood-by- neighborhood. We will create shelter for 60% (or 2,600 beds to be exact) of the city’s total Point-In-Time Count, but we will build that capacity up as we work neighborhood-by-neighborhood. Starting in 2025, we will build or lease the shelter necessary to house the unsheltered populations of the neighborhoods where we order a “No Camping” zone.<ul><li>Instead of holding a “Project Homeless Connect” at a fixed location, Ahsha will bring Project Homeless Connect, in partnership with MONS, to the neighborhoods where we are enforcing a no camping order to ensure that the homeless people are provided all the medical, dental, benefit counseling and support services needed to move them off the streets and get connected with resources to help stabilize their lives. We will make offers of non-congregate shelter and safe parking to the unhoused—those in vehicles or in tents. Those who accept shelter or safe parking will be moved in on the same day. Those who refuse shelter or safe parking will not be allowed to stay in the neighborhood because of the “no camping” order. </li><li>Create and build 600 additional new “tiny home” sleeping cabins. Provide therapeutic behavioral health support along with substance abuse treatment for those who move to the “Emergency Interim Housing Villages.” These cabins can be purchased through state Prop 1 dollars with services funded through Medi-Cal reimbursement. We will start with sites owned or leased by the City and County of San Francisco. </li><li>Open 5-10 new Safe Parking Sites, creating 500 new safe parking spots. We have seen significant increases in people living in vehicles, especially families. We need to get these homeless families off the street and into services that can be provided at Safe Parking Sites. This is in addition to the current Safe Parking sites operating today. </li><li>Convert 1,000 tourist hotel rooms acquisitions into shelter. Ahsha led the effort to use the state’s “Homekey” funds to purchase underutilized tourist hotels and convert them into housing or shelter. In my district we converted the Mission Inn into Casa Colibri, a supportive housing program for transitional aged youth that opened in 2022. Ahsha will expand this model using state and federal resources in addition to local sources. </li><li>Lease over 500 hotel rooms ASAP for families. Family homelessness is up 94% (by 437 families) from last year, according to this year’s Point-In-Time Count. Any child sleeping on the street is a preventable tragedy. We must help all families, women, and children get off and stay off the streets, at all cost—including our newcomer families seeking refuge in our City.</li></ul><h4>4. Enforce “No Camping” Orders with Neighborhood Support</h4>Once we have created a “No Camping” order, we will involve neighborhood residents, activists, and the district supervisors to ensure that order is enforced. MONS (Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services) and the Department of Emergency Management will lead these efforts to ensure offers of shelter were made in good faith and that we have the resources to move people inside. They will also work together to ensure no one is left behind.<h4>5. A Pathway to a Secure Future: Exit Homelessness Into Permanent Housing</h4>It is critical that we continue to exit individuals from homelessness and into permanent housing to ensure that people no longer languish for years in temporary housing, and instead move into permanent housing, freeing up temporary housing for another person on their own pathway out of homelessness.<ul><li>Commit to funding an additional 1,000 exits each year from homelessness. We need to move people from the streets to shelter and into housing as quickly as possible. Shelter only works if you can move on to a place of your own. Using local Proposition I funds, we will build new permanent supportive housing for those who need high levels of support, and fund rental subsidies in and around San Francisco for those who just need some extra support.</li><li>Fund at least 1,000 Homeward Bound trips each year. We will help individuals struggling to reunite with their families, sometimes as close as a bus ride to other parts of the state, or as far as the East Coast, saving their lives and the City millions.</li></ul><h4>Move Costs from Downstream to Upstream, and Create the Homeless to Housed Fund</h4>This plan moves costs from downstream to upstream. This proposal would require initial investment, but ongoing funding sources that are currently spent downstream on homelessness would shift to upstream uses. As people are moved into safer spaces inside, just as with access to health insurance or other preventative care measures, overall costs on the social safety net are also reduced. (Funding shifts will be primarily from reactive public health funding, though not exclusively, and will be assessed by the Controller.)However, the City and taxpayers cannot do this alone—we need a jumpstart. To fund the initial investment into these priorities—shelters, interim housing solutions, supportive funding, services, and affordable housing—as Mayor, Ahsha will work with the Board of Supervisors to establish a public, private, and philanthropic Homeless to Housed Fund.&nbsp;Additionally, the Homelessness Oversight Commission that Ahsha created with Prop C will continue to root out waste and corruption with mandatory audits of programs to remove bad actors, find misappropriation, and eliminate other inefficiencies.Sites for all new facilities will be either public or private land. If a landowner contracts with a non-profit they will receive Property tax exemptions under the Welfare Tax.

Click each item below to read Ahsha's detailed plans for our City.

As Mayor, Ahsha will:

Item 2

<h2>Ahsha's Plan to Address Our Mental Health and Addiction Crises</h2>It is not compassionate to let people suffer and die on our streets. We can clean up our streets and get people the help they need with the full spectrum of solutions to the mental health and addiction crisis, including everything from overdose prevention centers to sober-living facilities. We can’t arrest our way out of this crisis, and we also can’t turn a blind eye to the fact that we need access to all solutions.We must expand drug intervention, treatment, and mental health programs, including medical treatment for addiction, to get people off the path to incarceration and on the road to recovery. We should provide a pathway out of addiction and into recovery for anyone on the streets who wants it. This balanced approach get people who need help into the kind of real recovery programs that have been lacking in this city for too long. As Mayor, Ahsha will: <ul><li>Fully Fund Mental Health SF, which the Board of Supervisors passed but the current mayor has refused to fully fund. This program will ensure the City offers robust, 24/7 mental health care and addiction services in a fully staffed, central brick and mortar location as well via several existing satellite health clinics throughout San Francisco.&nbsp;</li><li>Provide drug treatment on demand, loosen restrictions on methadone disbursement by aggressively supporting and implementing Assemblymember Matt Haney’s AB 2115, and significantly expand medical treatment options for addiction like buprenorphine at all hours of the day, every day, so those who suffer from addiction can access these critical services at any time.</li><li>Open up to four Overdose Prevention Centers in Ahsha’s first year in office to stop the overdose crisis that has killed over 3,000 people on our streets since 2020. These 24/7 drop-in addictive care treatment centers, with medically trained professionals, will save lives and put people on the path to recovery. It is time to be BOLD, and not be threatened by theoretical lawsuits as an excuse for inaction. We need to save lives.</li><li>Expand the number of sobriety-based housing sites and sobriety-based recovery programs, with former addicts leading the recovery of current addicts. Ahsha already knows how to get this done as the <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/S-F-wants-to-extend-hotel-homeless-shelters-But-17303412.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="color: var(--color-text)">first elected official in decades to open a sober-living facility</a> in 2021.</li><li>Work to expand the number of mental health and addiction care beds by immediately applying for Prop 1 funds (millionaires tax) to get to the front of the line and access State-funded mental health and recovery beds. We must also pursue the opportunity to partner with UCSF in the aftermath of their acquisition of St. Mary’s and St. Francis to add hundreds of treatment and recovery beds at those facilities.</li><li>Partner with the Salvation Army and other organizations to implement programs like the effective Way Out program, creating thousands of unique pathways to drug rehabilitation and recovery.</li></ul>Ensure the City’s mental health and treatment staff positions are fully filled, by aggressively working to staff up all of the our previously funded but unfilled positions.

raised

married

party

education

<h2>Ahsha Safaí Has a Plan to Make Our City Work for All San Franciscans</h2>After six years of City Hall corruption and mismanagement, with crime and homelessness on the rise, we need effective, progressive leadership and accountability in the mayor’s office, to get San Francisco back on track. Ahsha Safaí is a proud immigrant, MIT-trained city planner, union organizer, and experienced and effective city supervisor. He knows we can make San Francisco safer for all of us and bring an end to our humanitarian homeless and addiction crises while staying true to our progressive values. He knows that San Francisco can be a place where everyone has a home and meaning in their lives, where our kids grow up in safe, vibrant, welcoming neighborhoods, with good schools and affordable housing so they can stay in San Francisco and thrive.Ahsha is ready to lead as mayor, to tackle the toughest issues facing our city, because he’s already made real progress on each and every one of them. Ahsha’s plan is the vision we need to get this city working again for everyone.

Throughout his public service, Ahsha Safaí has:

WORKING FOR YOU

As a former labor organizer and City Supervisor for District 11, Ahsha knows what the Mayor's Office can do better, and how to make the city work for working people. <a href="/record" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Learn more &gt;&gt;</a>

firstName

email

zipOrPostalCode

Join Ahsha

Ahsha Safaí is a proud immigrant, former labor organizer, city planner, and Supervisor. He knows that today, while you’re working harder than ever, this city just isn’t working for you.Ahsha believes that with new, experienced leadership and accountability, we can get San Francisco back on track.

Ahsha is supported by working people and families across San Francisco.Show your support for Ahsha's campaign to help get our city back on track by sharing your name, title, and affiliation. Sign up to volunteer for canvassing, literature dropping, phone banking, merchant walks and more! We'll contact you with details as soon as possible.*Affiliation and Title will be indicated as "for identification purposes only" if you check the box at the bottom of this form.

lastName

phoneNumber

Volunteer with Ahsha!

THE LATEST

San Francisco voters will choose their next mayor this November, and KQED’s Political Breakdown is bringing you interviews with all the top candidates.Kicking things off is District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, who was elected to represent portions of the Excelsior and Outer Mission neighborhoods in 2016.Here are five key takeaways from our interview.

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has b

KQED: SF Mayor’s Race: Supervisor Ahsha Safaí Talks Homelessness, Accountability and Iranian Roots

無證商販非法擺攤是舊金山街頭面臨的挑戰之一。在<a href="https://www.worldjournal.com/search/tagging/8877/%E8%8F%AF%E5%9F%A0" target="_blank" rel="154343" class="trigger_tag" style="color: rgb(126, 126, 126); color: rgb(126, 126, 126)">華埠</a>都板街（Grant Avenue）沿線，未經處理冷藏的海鮮肉類被公開售賣，不僅擠占人行道、影響合法商戶經營，更可能導致食品安全危機。非法商販在當地商戶聯會的長期警告下，仍屢禁不止。為此，競選該區市議員的黎慧心（Sharon Lai）邀請現任市議員安世輝（Ahsha Safai）來到華埠走訪，向商戶講解相關立法，尋找解決之道。都板街是華埠最古老且最活躍的商街之一，百餘家商戶以蔬果店和餐廳為主，是社區人流量最集中的街道。根據華埠商戶聯合協會主席邵旗謙表示，在過去的三年，他曾多次向市長辦公室、工務局、衛生局舉報沿街的無證商販，並拍攝照片視頻證據以示警告。邵旗謙將部分照片展示給安世輝，售賣物品包括整雞、海魚、甚至是小沙魚。安世輝感到十分驚訝：「這已不是非法擺攤那麼簡單。這是公共衛生危機。」非法擺攤困擾著全市多個社區，其中最嚴重的莫過於米慎區和聯合國廣場（UN Plaza），大部分全市商業盜竊所得的贓物都在此被轉售，同時還夾雜著<a href="https://www.worldjournal.com/search/tagging/8877/%E6%9A%B4%E5%8A%9B%E7%8A%AF%E7%BD%AA" target="_blank" rel="171308" class="trigger_tag" style="color: rgb(126, 126, 126); color: rgb(126, 126, 126)">暴力犯罪</a>，讓社區苦不堪言。為此市府曾重拳出擊，推出擺攤禁令，並推動新法案賦予執法者更多干預的權利。邵旗謙指出，市府部門人手緊缺，且監管浮於表面。導致非法商販即便得到口頭警告，也會再次返回街頭擺攤，嚴重損害合法商戶的正常經營和利益。街頭擺攤行為2018年在<a href="https://www.worldjournal.com/search/tagging/8877/%E5%8A%A0%E5%B7%9E" target="_blank" rel="154634" class="trigger_tag" style="color: rgb(126, 126, 126); color: rgb(126, 126, 126)">加州</a>實現無罪化，其本意是幫助銷售加熱食品的攤販，如熱狗漢堡等正常合法經營，幫扶弱勢小商業主等。同時剝奪了警察執法力量的直接介入權力，轉而由工務局、衛生局等行政力量負責監督。但疫情間發生的大量商業盜竊行為，讓銷售贓物的非法商販鑽了法律的漏洞。安世輝表示，他近期提出並成功通過的法案，將允許市府檢查人員向非法商販開出有效期為120天的警告，並要求檢查者記錄非法商人的信息證據。當被發現多次違反，檢查人員將有權利沒收非法商品。他補充，由州參議員威善高（Scott Wiener）在本月3日提出的新法案，將進一步恢復警察在介入非法擺攤問題時的執法權。安世輝所在的第11區包含海景區（Oceanview）、外米慎區等，與華埠所在的第三區相同，包含大量的亞裔人口。為打擊非法擺攤，他設立了一個全職的社區外展專員崗位，直接向該區警局長匯報，並有能力聯合市府各個監督部門的力量，專職記錄檢查街頭擺攤亂象。安世輝表示，他的做法得到多個轄區的效仿，收效很好，如今全市至少有四個轄區設立了類似的崗位，專職打擊非法擺攤問題。黎慧心感謝安世輝的分享。二人共同前往都板街進行實地考察。安世輝表示，他願意繼續傾聽華埠商戶的聲音，並針對華埠所面對的特殊情況，更新修改他所提出的法案，保護合法商人的利益。

無證商販非法擺攤是舊金山街頭面臨的挑戰之一。在華埠都板街（Grant Avenue）沿線，未經處理冷藏的海鮮肉類被公開售賣，不僅擠占人行道、影響合法商戶經營，更可能導致食品安全危機。非法商販在當地商戶聯會的長期警告下，仍屢禁不止。為此，競選該區市議員的黎慧心（Sharon Lai）邀請現任市議員安世輝（Ahsha Safai）來到華埠走訪，向商戶講解相關立法，尋找解決之道。

打擊華埠非法擺攤 安世輝籲設立專職崗位

NBC Bay Area’s Raj Mathai spoke to San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safai about squaring off with other candidates in the next mayoral debate.

One-on-one with San Francisco mayoral candidate Ahsha Safai

Mayor London Breed is one step closer to beginning her $25 million fundraising drive to bring pandas from China to San Francisco. This move would require waiving city ethics rules on private donations, raising eyebrows at a time when potential budget cuts could lead to fewer services for children and families.Government officers are usually barred by ethics law from soliciting private entities with business before the city to donate to charitable purposes or outside groups such as nonprofits. The Board of Supervisors must grant a waiver of the so-called behested payments ordinance for Breed to fundraise for the proposed San Francisco Zoo panda enclosure from entities that could seek to influence her.On Thursday, the Board of Supervisors’ Government Audit &amp; Oversight Committee voted unanimously to approve the limited waiver and advance it to the full board, which is expected to consider it at a meeting on Tuesday.Breed is leveraging private funds for the pandas to avoid tapping city coffers as San Francisco contends with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11988875/breeds-15-9-billion-sf-budget-plan-adds-money-for-police-other-city-workers">balancing a projected $789 million two-year budget deficit</a>.She secured the agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to bring the pandas in 2025, which she has argued would be a boon to the San Francisco Zoo. In 1984, two pandas visited the zoo for three months and drew more than 260,000 visitors, roughly four times the average attendance at that time, according to the mayor’s legislation.But her critics have argued Breed is leveraging the pandas to bolster her image in the Chinese community, a vital electorate, during a challenging reelection campaign — and questioned the optics of raising millions of dollars for pandas during a budget crunch.Others have raised concerns about the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/san-francisco-zoo-safety-18986471.php">San Francisco Zoo’s aging facilities</a>, which allegedly <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/san-francisco-zoo-gifted-pandas-staff-fears-killer-tiger-5qhq009bz">led to the death of a gorilla and a penguin</a> in recent years.Fleur Dawes, a spokesperson for the advocacy group In Defense of Animals, told the supervisors during public comment on Thursday that San Francisco is ill-equipped to care for pandas.“The San Francisco Zoo has a decadeslong history of gross mismanagement,” she said. “Some enclosures are 70 years old and unsuitable for animal care.”Supervisor Dean Preston said he worked with Breed on amendments that would allow Breed to raise money for zoo upgrades more broadly instead of just for pandas.“There were understandable concerns about the ability of the zoo to take on a project like this,” Preston said. “We are doing what we can in this resolution by explicitly broadening the waiver of allowable uses so the mayor’s office can reach out for funds.”Also during the Thursday committee meeting, Supervisors Ahsha Safaí and Preston blasted the mayor for previously proposing to cut roughly $24 million in city funding — nearly the same amount as the proposed panda enclosure would cost — to family services provided by nonprofits, and then backtracking in a hurry without a clear plan.In her budget proposal announcement last Friday, Breed said she had restored nearly all of that funding. However, the supervisors allege that back-and-forth led to chaos.The Department of Children, Youth and Families uses those dollars to fund numerous grants that nonprofits use to administer programs such as summer school, adult escorts to help kids walk to school, or mental health support for teens. After the cuts, DCYF told some organizations <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11985465/youth-and-nonprofits-rally-against-cuts-to-sf-family-support-programs">they’d receive zero dollars</a> – and even with money back in the budget, it could be too late to restore funding to some nonprofits, supervisors said.“As a former director of a nonprofit agency, I understand how difficult it is to know that you’ve got funding one day and moving forward, you’re not going to have that funding,” said Dr. Maria Su, the executive director of DCYF.Safaí, who is running for mayor, said during the committee meeting he believes Breed restored some of the funding after family nonprofits applied political pressure in the media.“It’s embarrassing to talk about raising money for pandas and cutting money for kids in the same breath,” Safaí said, adding that leaving some programs out from the budget proposal’s restored funding is “not fair to the families, it’s not fair to the children. And we still don’t know what the [funding] shortfall is.”Staffers from more than a dozen groups who faced cuts pleaded with the Board of Supervisors on Thursday for help. Melody Daniel, chief program officer for Hunters Point Family, a nonprofit serving families in the historically Black and economically challenged Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, said her organization did not receive its usual funding from DCYF.Hunters Point Family will be forced to lay off 18 staffers – its <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.hunterspointfamily.org/youth-development-1">entire youth program department</a> – without those dollars, Daniel told KQED.“These families will now be left with no summer programming in Bayview-Hunters Point,” Daniel told the supervisors during public comment.

Supervisors Ahsha Safaí and Preston blasted the mayor for previously proposing to cut roughly $24 million in city funding — nearly the same amount as the proposed panda enclosure would cost — to family services provided by nonprofits, and then backtracking in a hurry without a clear plan.

SF Mayor's Bid to Raise $25 Million for Pandas Spurs Skepticism Amid Budget Crunch

A 4,000-square-foot market is opening in Bayview-Hunters Point on Wednesday, giving residents facing food insecurity in The City’s southeast corridor the chance to shop from a free selection of groceries while also connecting them to social services.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sf.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/District%2010%20Food%20Empowerment%20Market%20Pilot.pdf">Located at 5030 3rd St.</a>, the District 10 Community Market will serve low-income residents who meet set criteria, including receiving public assistance, having children in the household or a diet-related illness. Residents must also be referred by a community organization in the market’s referral network and live in the Sunnydale, Visitacion Valley, Potrero Hill or Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhoods.The market, which officially opens Wednesday, will serve clients on the first Wednesday of every month. City officials said they have plans to scale up operations to as many as four days a week, depending on how many people are served. The San Francisco Human Services Agency contracted <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bhpmss.org/">Bayview Hunters Point Multipurpose Senior Services</a> to operate the market, which city officials said they hope serves as many as 4,500 community members and 1,500 households a month by this time next year.Cathy Davis, the executive director of Bayview Hunters Point Multipurpose Senior Services, said in a statement that the market “will bring more dignity and choice to food distribution in San Francisco."“<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/climate/california-gives-sf-millions-for-food-recovery-distribution/article_25dfb856-00cd-11ef-9dae-dfc4e72436fe.html">We talk about food insecurity</a> and we talk about all the people in the community who need quality produce, quality groceries,” said Supervisor Shamann Walton, who represents District 10.“Turning this space when <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://missionlocal.org/2023/07/wells-fargo-bank-america-bayview-hunters-point-third/">you look at what it used to be</a>, and you look at what it is now, you can’t help but be excited about the future of our community,” he continued.According to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/go-to-the-atlas/">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>, District 10 includes neighborhoods considered to be food deserts, which are areas lacking consistent access to grocery stores and healthy food. Additionally, city officials said Hunters Point has one of the lowest average incomes in The City.Walton said that some neighborhood pantries don’t provide healthy options or choices for clients, as their operations often involve handing a pre-packaged box of items to someone seeking support. The community market’s offerings, on the other hand, range from fresh fruits and vegetables to frozen items and dried goods. Organizers said they are sourcing their supply from a range of partners, including Grocery Outlet and Lucky Bayview.Walton added that the endeavor wants to ensure people in need of these services “have an opportunity to shop with dignity and to have choice in the products that they choose.”The market’s creation was driven by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/o0102-21.pdf">Supervisor Ahsha Safaí</a>, who introduced an ordinance nearly three years ago funding “food empowerment markets” that would distribute groceries, deliver food to residents with mobility issues, and offer culinary classes from a community kitchen on the site.“When you walk in here, it feels like a store,” Safaí told the crowd. “That’s how it should be.”<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/politics/how-london-breed-budget-proposal-would-close-sf-deficit/article_73dfe296-1edd-11ef-b5f2-235ea8a2fdb8.html">Mayor London Breed</a> told Tuesday’s crowd that the market was built by “listening to the community and making the right investments and making the right policy changes.”“When I became mayor, we had conversations about food distribution locations,” Breed said. “It always disturbed me that people were still waiting in line in 2018.”“This is extraordinary and a step in the right direction for what we need to do to address food insecurity in our city, now and into the future,” she added.Once the market is open, city officials said they have plans to bring its model to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/health/sf-groups-behind-push-for-healthy-food-as-medi-cal-benefit/article_8e47d990-f791-11ee-8bb5-ff1c409f5ab0.html">other neighborhoods experiencing food insecurity</a>.

The market’s creation was driven by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/o0102-21.pdf">Supervisor Ahsha Safaí</a>, who introduced an ordinance nearly three years ago funding “food empowerment markets” that would distribute groceries, deliver food to residents with mobility issues, and offer culinary classes from a community kitchen on the site.

Bayview-Hunters Point gets free grocery store to address food insecurity

Mission Local is publishing a daily campaign dispatch for each of the major contenders in the mayor’s race, alternating among candidates weekly until November. This week: Ahsha Safaí.Between committee meetings at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Monday, mayoral candidate and District 11 supervisor Ahsha Safaí escaped City Hall for half an hour, traveling to Bayview to meet and greet stationary and operating engineers at IUOE Local 39.&nbsp;It was a big day for the Local 39: Every other year, the union training center opens applications for apprenticeships. Today was the day.&nbsp;For those interested in an apprenticeship, the application window runs Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon, this week. On Monday’s opening day, trade workers lined up around the block at the Local 39 training center at 560 Barneveld Ave., located in the triangle-shaped tract bordered by Oakdale Avenue, Industrial Street and Bayshore Boulevard. Some aspiring engineers arrived as early as the day before.&nbsp;As a dozen training staff wound down from a busy morning, Safaí arrived a little after 12:30 with his campaign manager, Lauren Chung, and legislative aide Tiffaney Bradley, just in time for the staff’s pizza break. Safaí did not have any slices, though. His lunch came later that day from Dragoneats, a Vietnamese spot five minutes from City Hall.Safaí introduced himself to engineers over pizza and soda, and expressed his appreciation for their endorsement; the IUOE Local 39 was one of the first three unions to endorse Safaí for mayor.&nbsp;“We want to keep this a city for everyone. We want to make sure everyone can live, thrive and survive in San Francisco,” Safaí said. “Not just the extremely wealthy, but we want to make sure that working families can thrive here.”In a 20-minute tour, Shane Mortensen, director of training at the center, showed Safaí and his team around. Through the long and echoing hallways are classrooms like any other college classroom, except that there are hanging wires and power drills behind the desks.“If we’re doing our job properly, it should be like Disneyland,” Mortensen said as he explained an operating engineer’s job. “Nobody even knows we exist. Everything just works. You walk in, the lights come on. The air is the right temperature. When you flush the toilet, everything goes away.”&nbsp;Safaí first found himself in a room full of future fire safety directors learning how to deal with natural disasters; then he was in the basic electricity classroom, reviewing the circuits built by apprentices from their very first class. In the following rooms, there are air-balance hoods, vacuum pumps for refrigeration, and a compressor that’s “heart of the beast” for ACs.&nbsp;“This is cool,” Safaí whispered. He put on his glasses at one point to get a closer look at the circuits. “My son would go crazy.”It was unclear how many workers in the room were familiar with Safaí before this visit, but showing up seemed to hearten the workers at the center.“He’s always been pro-labor, always our supporter,” said regional director Jay Vega, who invited Safaí on Monday morning for the visit. “A lot of candidates won’t even come talk to us.”Damon Holmes, a Bayview resident and apprentice at the training center, only remembers the “Levis guy” as this reporter named all the mayoral contenders. But after learning about Safaí’s support for the labor unions, Holmes said, “that’s who I’ll vote for, a union guy.”“We know there are a lot of candidates who are backed by a lot bigger money,” said Local 39’s business representative, Chung Park, who also guided Safaí throughout the visit. “But we really like Ahsha. Whenever we go to any kind of rally or picket lines, he’s always there. He not only talks the talk, but he really shows by his action that he’s supportive of workers.”&nbsp;Not only that, Park said he likes Safaí because he’s creative about solutions that will bring people back to the city, such as inviting Hollywood to film movies and TV shows in the city.&nbsp;Gerald Ballesteros, a 48-year resident of San Francisco, agrees that revitalizing the city should be the priority. “I think bringing a university is a good idea. It’s kind of old of me to say … bring the city back to its past glory.”In fact, plans to bring people back to downtown were a large part of what Safaí was focusing on when he left Bayview and headed back to City Hall. As this reporter waited for the 9R bus up Potrero Avenue, Safaí was already back in&nbsp;Board Chambers for the Land Use Committee meeting. There, Safaí held a hearing on the future of Union Square when Macy’s eventually shutters.&nbsp;Under the chandeliers and alongside his colleagues (and opponents), Safaí settled back into his day job.&nbsp;

Mission Local is publishing a daily campaign dispatch for each of the major contenders in the mayor’s race, alternating among candidates weekly until November. This week: Ahsha Safaí.

See how they run: Ahsha Safaí visits labor union on his lunch break

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London Breed <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://sfgov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6641266&amp;GUID=AA6D7112-1969-4BF5-AE55-AB796009EC5D">officially declined to sign a resolution</a> calling on her to declare César Chávez Day a holiday for City workers, raising questions about how much she truly respects working families, and how much she values the legacy of César Chávez and the labor movement he championed.César Chávez, an esteemed labor leader and civil rights activist, has long been celebrated for his dedication to advocating for the rights of farmworkers and marginalized communities. His significant contributions to California’s history of activism and the broader labor movement have long been an inspiration for Safaí, who worked as a labor organizer for nearly a decade, representing frontline workers like janitors, sanitation workers, delivery drivers, and grocery store employees.On April 23, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed Supervisor Safaí’s resolution to declare César Chávez Day a City holiday. The deadline for Mayor Breed to sign that resolution was May 3, 2024, which she failed to do.“It’s deeply disappointing, and frankly shocking, that Mayor Breed would choose to dishonor and disrespect César Chávez’s legacy by failing to declare César Chávez Day a paid City holiday,” said Ahsha Safaí. “I brought forward this resolution because Chávez’s tireless efforts in championing the rights of workers deserve our utmost respect and recognition. On my first day as Mayor I will designate César Chávez Day a paid city holiday, to both celebrate his legacy and reaffirm San Francisco’s commitment to supporting labor rights and social justice."Mayor London Breed’s troubling decision is out of step with both the San Francisco Unified School District and the state of California, which already recognize and observe the holiday. By refusing to extend this recognition to city workers, Mayor Breed is not only disrespecting César Chávez’s legacy but also failing to uphold the values of inclusivity and respect for labor rights that define San Francisco.Ahsha Safai’s pledge to designate César Chávez Day a paid city holiday reflects his unwavering dedication to supporting the rights of workers, and ensuring that the values of inclusion, equality, and justice are upheld in city government.ABOUT AHSHA:Ahsha Safai is the child of an immigrant single mother. He grew up in a working class family and knows all too well what it’s like to struggle to make ends meet. Safaí attended Northeastern University and earned a Master’s in City Planning from MIT in Cambridge, MA. Currently, he’s raising his two school aged children with his wife in San Francisco and serving on the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors.Ahsha is running for mayor to improve public safety, education, provide more affordable housing, and to ensure accountable and effective governance.For more information visit: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.AhshaForMayor.com">www.AhshaForMayor.com</a>&nbsp;###

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London Breed <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://sfgov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6641266&amp;GUID=AA6D7112-1969-4BF5-AE55-AB796009EC5D">officially declined to sign a resolution</a> calling on her to declare César Chávez Day a holiday for City workers, raising questions about how much she truly respects working families, and how much she values the legacy of César Chávez and the labor movement he championed.

Safaí Fiercely Criticizes Mayor Breed for Failing to Declare César Chávez Day a Paid City Holiday

San Francisco, CA — Mayoral candidate and San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safaí is proud to announce that he has received the endorsement of the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF), a prominent labor union representing over 6,500 SFUSD employees including teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses, counselors, and psychologists. The endorsement highlights Safaí’s unwavering commitment to championing the rights and well-being of educators, his commitment to making San Francisco a model urban school district for our state and nation, and is a testament to the trust labor has in his vision for San Francisco. Safaí, who worked as a labor organizer for nearly a decade, continues to gain support from working families who seek a candidate that understands their struggles and will be their champion in City Hall.&nbsp; “I’m proud to receive the endorsement of the United Educators of San Francisco, whose members are fundamental to the fabric of our city—shaping the minds of our future leaders and instilling our San Francisco values in the next generation,” said Safaí. “As Mayor, I will work in partnership and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our educators, and ensure they are given the resources and respect they deserve. We will work to create a San Francisco where every educator feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a difference in the lives of our youth." Frank Lara, Executive Vice President of UESF, said “Supervisor Safaí has stood strong with educators fighting for the schools our students deserve. We are happy to have endorsed such a steadfast advocate for quality public education.” ABOUT AHSHA: Ahsha Safaí is the child of an immigrant single mother. He grew up in a working class family and knows all too well what it’s like to struggle to make ends meet. Safaí attended Northeastern University and earned a Master’s in City Planning from MIT in Cambridge, MA. Currently, he’s raising his two school aged children with his wife in San Francisco and serving on the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors. Ahsha is running for mayor to improve public safety, education, provide more affordable housing, and to ensure accountable and effective governance. For more information visit: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.AhshaForMayor.com">www.AhshaForMayor.com</a>&nbsp; ###

San Francisco, CA - Mayoral candidate and San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safaí is proud to announce that he has received the endorsement of the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF), a prominent labor union representing over 6,500 SFUSD employees including teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses, counselors, and psychologists.

Mayoral Candidate Ahsha Safaí Endorsed by San Francisco Teachers and Educators

“In a city with almost forty-eight billionaires,” said District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai at a City Hall rally Tuesday, “it is unconscionable that we have children living on our streets when we have shelter beds that are vacant.” Safai said he will introduce a resolution at the following Board of Supervisors meeting calling for Mayor London Breed and the Department of Homelessness to respond to the needs of the city’s immigrant families.

SF Supervisor calls for city to stop leaving immigrant families with children on street

Safaí… has decided to distinguish himself by coming out hard against Proposition E.&nbsp;During a public interview with Mission Local Friday night, Safaí did not spare the rod in assailing the mayor’s signature policy initiative. He mocked it as enabling “‘The Fast and the Furious’ to happen in San Francisco.” But his real vitriol came when discussing Prop. E’s moves to reduce reporting requirements for violent police interactions with the public.

Mission Local: Safaí is seeking the opportunity to separate himself from the peloton.

It is “shocking” that Mayor Breed would put her name on Prop. E, a ballot measure that aims to ease restrictions on police chases and surveillance, said Safaí, who was slated to attend a rally opposing Prop. E on Sunday (it was later postponed due to stormy weather). “I truly believe this is one of the most anti-Black, anti-brown, anti-communities of color, immigrant communities [laws]. This is a racist piece of legislation.”

It is “shocking” that Mayor Breed would put her name on Prop. E, a ballot measure that aims to ease restrictions on police chases and surveillance, said Safaí, who was slated to attend a rally opposing Prop. E on Sunday (it was later postponed due to stormy weather). “I truly believe this is one of the most anti-Black, anti-brown, anti-communities of color, immigrant communities [laws]. This is a racist piece of legislation.”

Mission Local: One means of differentiating himself [Ahsha] is his opposition to Proposition E

San Francisco legislators are trying to pressure Mayor London Breed’s administration to move forward with plans to build a library at a specific location on the southwest side of the city, a project that Supervisor Ahsha Safaí has accused Breed of blocking because he’s challenging her reelection bid.

SF Chron: Here’s why S.F. legislators tried to force Mayor Breed to build a new library at a specifi

Supervisor Ahsha Safai stands alone among prominent mayoral candidates in opposing a ballot measure that his opponents claim will improve public safety, but civil-rights advocates warn will erase hard-earned progress.“I think it goes against the core beliefs of San Francisco,” Safai said. “I think everyone in San Francisco wants to prioritize public safety, but they want to do it in a thoughtful and responsible way.”

Supervisor Ahsha Safai stands alone among prominent mayoral candidates in opposing a ballot measure that his opponents claim will improve public safety, but civil-rights advocates warn will erase hard-earned progress.“I think it goes against the core beliefs of San Francisco,” Safai said. “I think everyone in San Francisco wants to prioritize public safety, but they want to do it in a thoughtful and responsible way.”

SF Examiner: Ahsha Safai stands out by standing against Prop E

A trio of San Francisco Supervisors is moving ahead with an ordinance to prevent a plan that would create a new harbor in front of Marina Green.San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Ahsha Safai and Supervisor Connie Chan are cosponsoring legislation that would block San Francisco Recreation and Park Department funds for the project.

SF Examiner: Supes: Measure blocking Marina Green harbor remodel likely to pass

Our city’s public safety system is severely understaffed. A strong public safety system requires robustly staffed departments, including police, 911 call operators, nurses, paramedics, firefighters and sheriffs. San Francisco lacks all of the above.Our initiative, Proposition B, will achieve a fully staffed SFPD while being transparent and honest with San Franciscans regarding where the money is coming from.

SF Examiner: Ahsha Safaí: A better plan to hire more San Francisco police

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation on Monday that will require the San Francisco Police Department to establish — and implement — a strategy to add more cops walking beats in city neighborhoods.“The truth is, colleagues, when police are present in the community, crime goes down,” said Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who sponsored the bill.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation on Monday that will require the San Francisco Police Department to establish — and implement — a strategy to add more cops walking beats in city neighborhoods.“The truth is, colleagues, when police are present in the community, crime goes down,” said Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who sponsored the bill.

SF Examiner: SF supervisors force popular SFPD foot patrols

San Francisco will still buy a wayward homeless person a bus ticket back to family and loved ones, but details have been scant since The City announced it would resume the Homeward Bound program in March. Given that ambiguity, Supervisor Ahsha Safai called last week for Homeward Bound to be written into law as a part of The City’s response to homelessness.

SF Examiner: Is Homeward Bound safe and sound? Supe wants answers

The city that Sen. Dianne Feinstein led in the early 1980s is in the midst of trying to re-invent itself yet again. San Francisco is struggling with crime and open-air drug markets — not the ideal scenario for a mayor up for re-election next year. A few people are already emerging as potential challengers to Mayor London Breed, including Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, who spoke with NBC Bay Area’s Jessica Aguirre.

NBC Bay Area: San Francisco mayor's race: One-on-one with Ahsha Safaí

San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safaí is introducing an ordinance today calling for the implementation of a foot patrol and community policing strategy to effectively address and prevent crime. Interview on KPIX Morning Edition.

NBC Bay Area: Supervisor Ahsha Safaí calls for police foot and bike patrols to combat street crime

A San Francisco supervisor plans to introduce legislation Tuesday that would push the city’s Police Department to adopt more foot and bike patrols after a previous proposal to promote foot patrols stalled in 2020.&nbsp;“Putting cops out on the street is a major way to build trust and deter crime dramatically,” Safaí said in an interview.

SF Chronicle: Supervisor revives proposal to boost police foot patrols

San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safaí introduced legislation Tuesday calling on the San Francisco Police Department to implement regular foot and bike patrols to prevent retail and other crime in the city’s neighborhoods.&nbsp;“Putting officers back on the street will support values of protection and community engagement, especially in areas of our city where crime is most visible and rampant,” Safaí said in a statement.

SF Standard: Supervisor Calls for More Regular Police Foot Patrols With New Legislation

Supervisor Ahsha Safai called on Mayor London Breed Tuesday to explain why The City isn’t pouring more resources into curtailing retail theft.Safai questioned why the mayor — whom he is challenging in the 2024 election — did not fund an assistant district attorney dedicated to prosecuting cases related to shoplifting in her recent budget.

SF Examiner: Ahsha Safaí, Breed’s biggest challenger, wants answers on retail theft in SF

Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, a mayoral candidate, says voters have give Mayor London Breed her shot: 'She’s had six years, going on seven. It’s hard to argue that anyone is obstructing her ability to lead this city.' Photo by Joe Eskenazi

Mission Local: Ahsha Safaí in his own words: ‘This mayor has no excuses’

Supervisor Ahsha Safai doesn’t need a public opinion poll — although there have been plenty — to know that San Franciscans are worried about the direction of The City.It’s what he plans to base his entire campaign on.Read more on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/politics/ahsha-safai-on-challenging-sf-mayor-london-breed-his-record/article_15b9eef2-ee85-11ed-b054-4b34978e1b17.html">sfexaminer.com</a>.

Supervisor Ahsha Safai doesn’t need a public opinion poll — although there have been plenty — to know that San Franciscans are worried about the direction of The City.It’s what he plans to base his entire campaign on.

SF Examiner: Safaí on his record, challenging Breed in 2024 election

Supervisor Ahsha Safai doesn’t need a public opinion poll — although there have been plenty — to know that San Franciscans are worried about the direction of The City.

SF Examiner: Safai on his record, challenging Breed in 2024 election

Gun shots and blackouts every evening as revolutionaries chanted in the streets are some of my earliest memories. As many immigrant families, we came to the United States to be in a stable political environment, but the revolution I was born into tore my family apart — my father stayed in his home country while my mother, siblings and I moved to the “States.”

SF Examiner: Mattresses and torn pants: The struggles of working families

San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safaí has made it official: He is challenging&nbsp;Mayor London Breed&nbsp;in the 2024 election.Safaí filed paperwork Monday morning formally declaring his&nbsp;intent to run for mayor next year, launching what could be an intense contest for the city’s top political job.

SF Chronicle: Ahsha Safaí Announces Run for Mayor

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/crime/san-francisco-supervisor-safai-has-home-broken-into/article_a16285ec-56f3-11ed-b4f6-836b0a769fef.html">San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safai</a> has his eyes set on higher office.Safai, who has spent nearly two terms on the Board of Supervisors representing District 11, which includes the Excelsior and Crocker Amazon, filed the requisite paperwork to run for mayor on Monday, making his long-anticipated run for the job official.Now, he’ll contest Mayor London Breed in her bid for a second full term leading San Francisco in the 2024 election.

SF Examiner: 'Tis election season: Safaí makes run for mayor official

San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safai has his eyes set on higher office.Safai, who has spent nearly two terms on the Board of Supervisors representing District 11, which includes the Excelsior and Crocker-Amazon, filed the requisite paperwork to run for mayor on Monday, making his long-anticipated run for the job official.

SF Examiner: Ahsha Safaí Running Against Mayor London Breed

An insightful image

Click the down arrow on the bottom right of each photo to download.

Ahsha Safaí Photos

<h2>Take the Lead as San Francisco’s Housing Mayor to Create a More Affordable City for All</h2>Housing in San Francisco doesn’t have to be so divisive. We can all agree that anyone who wants to live in San Francisco should be able to afford to live here. In order to make that a reality, we need to build more housing. Now. That means more affordable housing and more market rate housing for All San Franciscans—including working and middle-class families. It’s time for those who would stand in the way of progress and block new housing construction when they don’t get 110 percent of what they want to stand aside—or join us in the fight for a truly more affordable San Francisco for everyone.Ahsha’s family struggled early when he was a kid and they first arrived in America, so he deeply understands how the rising cost of living is making it harder for so many to get by. This understanding has fueled his fight for working families throughout his years as a union organizer and city planner. Today, Ahsha Safaí is the candidate for mayor with a real record of breaking through gridlock at City Hall to build new housing. On the Board of Supervisors, he has worked to create real solutions to our housing challenges, passing laws that have sped up housing construction, and helping to build hundreds of new units of affordable housing, including for seniors and immigrants in his district and beyond.He is ready to be San Francisco’s true housing mayor, so we can build a more affordable, liveable, and welcoming city for all of us.<ul><li>Streamline the housing site permit approval process so we can build housing for all income levels. San Francisco has the slowest housing approval process of any California city. It can take three years and at least 87 permits to build a single new unit, which makes housing hundreds of thousands of dollars pricier to build and sometimes too expensive to build at all. </li><li>Assign City Planners to guide all projects through the entitlement process. When people submit projects, they or their architects must contact dozens of City staff while projects are making their way through each “station” or department for approval. One City staff should guide every project from start to finish until the project is completely entitled—this will also speed up the process and cut down on the need for lawyers and expeditors, reducing costs. </li><li>Audit the city’s Building Department and completely re-engineer how it reviews and approves permits for housing construction. We don’t have the kind of time it has historically taken to build housing in San Francisco if we are serious about tackling a crisis of this magnitude. </li><li>Maximize height and density along our commercial corridors, targeting 6-8 story buildings, while recognizing that not all neighborhoods are the same. We should make planning decisions that include the voice of each neighborhood, with stepped down heights further away from transit stops. All neighborhoods in San Francisco need to help address our housing crisis. </li><li>Pass legislation to reduce the transfer tax on development projects that include: investments from union pension funds, agreement to use 100% union labor, and affordable units on-site. This will help jump start the over 40,000 approved units in the pipeline that don’t make economic sense today, but can with these simple changes. </li><li>Ensure that a union workforce earning fair wages is put to work on our city’s next housing boom. Building a more affordable and equitable San Francisco must include those who do the building. </li><li>Reduce fees and taxes for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s). People should be encouraged to add ADU’s to single family homes without fear of the property taxes going up or paying extremely expensive fees. </li><li>Implement stronger protections for long-term tenants from speculative Ellis Act evictions by fully funding legal representation for renters. Ahsha will also work with our San Francisco assembly and state senate representatives to repeal the California Ellis Act and make changes to the Costa-Hawkins Act to better protect long-term tenants. </li><li>Make sure the City’s Prop I transfer tax goes towards building and securing affordable housing. The current mayor refuses to fully fund Prop I or ensure funding is spent on affordable housing as was promised to the voters who passed the ballot measure. This includes acquiring apartment buildings that house mainly working and middle-class families—better known as the Small Sites Acquisition Program that is designed to stabilize communities. </li><li>Expand rental assistance programs and tenant subsidies, especially for families living in Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units and those that were formerly homeless.</li></ul>

Header

Donate

Video

News

Twitter

Short Form

Page Intro

Landing Popup

Home

Text

Bullets

Meet Ahsha

Ahsha's Record

Hero

Priorities

Content

Ahsha Safaí’s Plan to End Street Homelessness

Homeless to Housed

Take the Lead as Our Housing Mayor

Text with Sidebar

Reimagine Our Downtown

Public Safety for Every Neighborhood

Proven Violence Prevention Solutions

Address Mental Health and Addiction

Photos

Gallery

Photos of Ahsha Safaí

Long Form

Get Involved

Form 9d2569d1

Form 36a2d2af

Form bd2d9f33

Form 1df197c4

Ahsha Safai 安世輝

Happy Transit Month San Francisco! Taking BART to City Hall and joining the SF Transit Riders to celebrate Transit Month is a wonderful way to start the morning. https://t.co/RI598KaqMo

Above all else, I’m a husband and a father first. I enjoyed sharing with @KPIXtv what drives me to run for mayor: my immigrant background, my family values, our city’s public safety challenges, and the chance to make a difference. 

Credit: @KPIXtv https://t.co/51rWWZzZ0u

We’re at our strongest when we lift each other, and right now, Youth 1st and Exec Dir Renard Monroe need our support. They’re doing incredible work every day. Please consider donating to support their programs. 

https://t.co/fCrzmAcE65

The racist vandalism at Youth 1st’s building in Ingleside just three days ago is a harsh reminder that hate is still out there. But let me tell you—Youth 1st is so much more than just an after-school program. For hundreds of kids and teens in my district, it’s a lifeline.

Marching alongside @UniteHereL2 on this Labor Day to celebrate the strength and unity of the working class! https://t.co/LX4cV1MibN