Board Of Supervisors Candidate Questionnaire: Wilma Pang (District 3)
CANDIDATE INFORMATION
Name: Wilma Pang
District # 3 Supervisor
Date of Birth: November 22, 1940
Occupation: College Professor, City College of San Francisco
Campaign Web site address (if applicable): www.panasiansf@yahoo.com
Facebook page (if applicable): Not applicable.
CITY ISSUES (Please answer as succinctly as possible — no more than 100 words per question)
1. What skills, background or special abilities would you bring to the Board of Supervisors?
San Franciscans want independent political leadership, who evaluate issues fairly to benefit all the people—not for special interests. As an educator, small businesswoman and neighborhood leader, I have worked with a broad range of peoples to get things done. I would hire knowledgeable/ independent staff and reach out to a broad representation of District 3 and the City. I would give a voice to those with the least power. For instance, as founder of ABCT (A Better Chinatown Tomorrow), we have provided opportunities for Chinatown musicians, artists, low-income residents, businesses and restaurants—for over ten years.
ABCT, A Better Chinatown Tomorrow, is a community-based coalition dedicated to promoting a renaissance of the historical roots, architectural beauty, cultural vitality and economic vibrancy that expresses the unique character of San Francisco’s Chinatown.
2. How would you keep families from leaving San Francisco?
Having raised a family in San Francisco and putting three daughters through public schools successfully, I have lived the problems of low-income and middle-class families. As a resident of Chinatown, which remains 86% renters and 55% over the age of 50, I see the challenges of housing affordability. With San Francisco’s high per capita income and housing crunch, we need balanced public policies to foster housing affordability, diversity and fairness for property owners. While large development should be better planned in areas of the city, great neighborhoods like Chinatown and North Beach require smarter planning—to preserve traditional family environments.
3. What does the city need to do about homelessness? What’s working that you favor? What’s not being done?
In the earlier history of San Francisco, boarding houses, single-room-occupancies, and workers housing gave everyone housing choices. Today, even Chinatown’s traditional SRO’s are increasing in price. There’s a need for federal and state funds to help the regional homeless problem that comes into San Francisco—to build homeless housing that is combined with social services. A prime goal should be to help reconnect the homeless with their own families—because societal/ family structure can do more than any governmental agency. Also, there should be coordinated use of public/ nonprofit facilities, which have bathrooms, showers, clothing, counseling and support.
4. Do you favor Mayor Lee’s focus and strategies on attracting tech jobs?
Yes, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and the Bay Area are already international magnets for tech talent and entrepreneurs. But rather than competing within the Bay Area, we should unite to create a world-class technology/ science regional plan—which takes full advantage of our strategic geographic location, cultural diversity, great urban attractiveness, environmental quality and regional colleges and universities.
5. Do you support the city’s Transit First policies that emphasize public transit over private vehicles? Is a wider bike lane system working? Do plans to expand parking meter locations make sense? Is the surge in car-sharing services a good idea?
Yes, I do not own a car. I am a Transit-First Muni rider. But Muni is losing credibility with service cuts and crumbling infrastructure.
Some bike lanes are well designed, but some are not safe or attractive.
Read more: SFGate.com
