Public Safety vs Politics
District Attorney George Gascon and Candidate for Sheriff Chris Cunnie were the speakers at the August 18 General Meeting. A surprise guest was Mayor Edwin Lee.
SFCRG President Rodrigo Santos opened the meeting welcoming the speakers, which SFCRG endorses, and pointing out that the election this year is extremely important with the electing of a mayor, district attorney, sheriff and propositions including school bonds, street improvement and pension reform. He also said that the SFCRG will be sending out a slate card within one month.
Before introducing Mayor Lee president Santos said that Mayor Lee is extremely qualified with
his vast experience in public works and administration, a rare qualification. He remarked that
everyone is entitled to change their mind but what is important is if Mayor Lee is the right person
for the job? After reviewing all the candidates the decision was made to endorse Mayor Lee. He
also said that Mayor Lee will not take any public funds.
Mayor Lee thanked SFCRG's endorsement and also said that he knows District Attorney George Gascon and Candidate for Sheriff Chris Cunnie who are wonderful people and they will be excellent candidates. He said that he loves and cares about the City but that he never takes anything for granted. He intends to keep the economy going which will create a good foundation that will allow achieving everything that is good for the City, and that he will do the best that is possible.
Mayor Lee said that he gave up a five year comfortable City job as an administrator. Seven months later with successes such as a balanced budget, through collaborative spirit, and other successes such as tax reform, keeping companies such as Twitter and Zynga in the City, and getting the Americas cup started, he has a model that works and has changed his mind about not running for mayor. He is creating an economic climate that will attract other companies, such as tech and biotech, which will provide employment. His model is getting the job done and he wants to continue the work he started in January.
He understands the purpose of the SFCRG, in this City which has serious issues, and he also said
that his only intention is to be mayor and not to use this position as a stepping stone. He also said
that he will be a mayor who will listen.
President Santos next introduced Chris Cunnie, who was born in the Mission and raised in San Francisco.
Mr. Cunnie commenced saying that his father was one of the firemen who worked on extinguishing the fire which destroyed St. Mary's Cathedral. He said that after thirty years as a former police officer he has ample experience and is the best candidate.
He said that he retired last year but many friends have been encouraging him, including his family, to run. Then Senator Feinstein called and endorsed him and it was because she cares about the City, as does he and also that he cares about public safety, that he decided to run. He said he will not let anyone down and he is in to win. He said there is a lot coming down with the budget and a prison system that is broken, but with realignment he will achieve his goals. He has many relationships in the City, that the other candidate don’t have, and thus will have adequate support and will carry the flag.
District Attorney George Gascon said as chief of police he was at a SFCRG meeting about one year ago, talking about public safety and that there were 98-99 homicides in 2008, to under 50 in 2009, 50 in 2010 and under the leadership of Police Chief Greg Suhr there will be less than 50. Businesses do not come to unsafe cities. Communities don’t grow in unsafe cities and quality of life is directly connected to public safety. He studied the City and there was no reason why this could not be the safest City in the country.
In January he spoke with Mayor Newsom about the position of District Attorney and even though there was a pay cut when he moved to San Francisco, and his wife gave up a high paying job, and this would be another pay cut, he agreed with accepting the District Attorney position. He did so because his family elected to be here and this is a great City where they chose to live. He wants to bring the police department to a point with cases that will be successful. Also he intends to see a solution where those released from prison will not return.
He said not only is he in San Francesco by choice but he is an immigrant and became an America citizen by choice. He said the City is headed for some difficult times but with neighborhood courts he sees the eliminating of the backlog in court cases. There will be decisions made as to who can be returned to society. He said he knows what it is like to be safe being born in communist Cuba but there were not the freedoms there such as in this country.
On a question of why he changed from Republican to Democrat he said that when Cubans arrived in America in the 1960's it was automatic that the party affiliation was Republican but after he saw the racial profiling, and people being arrested only because of their ethnic background, in Arizona in 2006, he said he could not regard himself as a Republican. Arriving in San Francisco he registered as an independent but after speaking with Mayor Newsom he decided to register as a Democrat.
To a question about sanctuary City he said that this was determined by the mayor and the board of supervisors. From a local law enforcement point of view people are afraid to report crimes if here illegally, and others think that because of this illegals committing crimes will get a free pass. For prosecution police have more teeth as those committing crimes will get punished locally rather than just being returned to their place of origin.
On recidivism he said that with collaborative courts, and mental health courts, recidivism is reduced to around 20% rather that 70% in regular criminal courts. He has been involved on a national level for many years and is on the board of the Justice Center working with state legislators around the country on how to reduce the prison population. He said the he supports providing housing for those with criminal records but with the cost of housing in San Francisco landlords can use tools such as credit checks.
As an incumbent he has the experience, unlike the other candidates, to determine which prosecutors are qualified and has endorsements from Mayor Newsom, progressive Matt Gonzalez, most of the supervisors and others.
Article by Henry Karnilowicz
Advisory Board Member SFCRG