Transcripts For SFGTV League Of Women Voters 20221023

Attorney. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. As you know im brook jenkins im serving as your San Francisco district [inaudible] i live in the Mission Bay Neighborhood in the city. Where im raising my 2 small kids hor 6 and 2. Im running for District Attorney i became a prosecutor in 2014 i know how personal this work is to those we serve both victims and those who yet to become victims. In addition to those accused. We have to make sure the work we do balance the need to be equal and fair to those who are charged with the need to have accountability so we can have Public Safety for everyone in the staechl since the day i got appointed thats what i have been trying to do is reintegrate accountability back in the system. But in a manner, of course, that is fair [inaudible]. And i truly believe that we can balance both of those interests in order to achieve Public Safety and help those who have o felonieded and committed crime in this city. Regained ability to function as productive citizen in our communities. So that is why im running im the only person who has any prosecutor experience and who has ever done that. [applause]. Good afternoon im joe veronese, [inaudible] is this on [inaudible] i am a graduate [no mic]. I can do it without it if you want . [no mic] how about now . My minute up . Yes. [laughter]. We will start with the beginning. Thank you, im joe veronese good to be home i graduated from usf at the law school. Born and raised i live in cal hallow area where i grew up my entire life. I was a Police Commissioner in San Francisco. I was a criminal Justice Commissioner for california for 7 years. Fire commissioner for 3 years special patrolled the streets of San Francisco in this neighborhood for 3 years. All of those years were in public service. All of those years were unpaid as a volunteer for the service of San Francisco. This is my city and today i dont rescue noise this city. And thats why im running for District Attorney. It is not just about talk and saying, well make San Francisco safe again. It is about doing the work. Getting out. Makes arrests and make people safe in San Francisco. We have people in this city, many people in the city that are fendzing for themselves that stops. We get become to the work of protecting people and delivering a Justice System that we all deserve. [applause]. Everybody can hear me . Good evening usf, it is wonderful to be back after like joe i graduated from usf school law. Stole it now. And neighborhood i lived in north beach for 27 years. I lived in now i live in mission with my 8 year old son who attends school in the mission. Im running for this city because right nought city is in crisis. The corruption and mismanagement and back room deals of a Single Administration lead the city in disgrace. Thats why now we need an independent District Attorney someone removed from the politics and press conferences and willing to take action and clean up our streets. We need to do this in a way that is both smart, compassionate and thoughtful. It is one thing to talk about crime and declare a war on drugs and another to address users and dealers as separate individuals. We need to take a tough but smart approach to crime. Thats why im running for District Attorney of San Francisco. Thank you. Good evening issue everyone iming Maurice Chenier im a graduate of university of San Francisco. I have beening law for 29 years special an attorney all this time. Im due for a vacation had this is over i will take one. Bottom line is, im running for District Attorney, i will tell you the neighborhood i grew up in the ocean view district of San Francisco. One of the most dangerous in the u. S. Drugs every where. Murders every wrchl i seen drugs, i seen murders, rapes, robberies. It is time to stopful so im sending a message this is why im run to the bay area. Go buy an apple any criminal. Take a by the thats the last free by the at crime you will get if im elected to District Attorney im not playing. I dont have to convince anyone myself is convinced. Bottom line is i will make this city safer and i make it safer for everyone. Thank you for the opportunity to address you regarding my candidacy. [applause]. Thank you all for fanatic on your best behavior. I guess that trap door threat worked. The first question, we will go to joe. Can you out line how you are planning to deal with the fentanyl crisis from the higher level import and distribution down to the street level drug dealers . Furthermore, can you elaborate on how the drug enters the city and your strategy to get it off our streets . Absolutely, thank you, your honor. Day one of my administration the day i get sworn in, those investigators that driving the District Attorney will go back to work and the street and make fentanyl arrestos that day. There is no reason that should not be happening now today. In the what is happening the police in the tenderloin are giving safe passage to kids after they get off the bus when you give safe passage to drug dealers in a neighborhood in San Francisco who owns that neighborhood . The drug dealers do. That stops they get arrested. But what is important is that we work with our other Law Enforcement partners. We have dhn for many year and it is stated off because of frictions between administrations we need to recreate our task force with the federal government and with the marshalls and with the probation and marshalls. We need to because e know the drugs are coming from outside the United States. They know through arizona. Up through san diego. And we need to stop it from the source. We send a message on day one when i become District Attorney. The days that you run the streets those days are over. [applause] ltd. Me be clear the war on drugs has never succeeded in 50 years in the United States. And thats an National Fact we have to accept. We, in San Francisco, cannot stop the cartels when we can do is address the street level deal nothing San Francisco. We have to do it in a series and smart way temperature is not just about look them and up 3 the key we tryd that. All it does is bring out more dealers and more now fighting for turf. Thats why we had the increased violence, once you sweep a block they are fighting over the next block. We have to do it intelligently and a difference with dealers and users. We have to address the demand side of this. Because ultimately no matter how low or high the cost guess, as long as people are addicted to drugs they will seek out drugs. To stop the drugos streets, we have to address the demand side of it. The demand side means treatment fir users helping them and building out programs which our Current Administration failed us. And thats the reason we have the crisis on our streets. Thank you. Mruz [applause]. I want to interrupt you. I really proeshth your applause the problem is it takes time away from the speakers. Lets keep it to a minimum. Thank you. Cant fight drugs without partnering with the federal government that will be the top level. Lower level, users and dealers will go to jail. I want to be clear the reason why you cant fix a user without getting them in the system. If you are a keep doing drugs we have to stop spending good money on bad. We had one in the newspaper one person, 4 people cost the city 4 Million Dollars in one year. Back and forth to the hospital on over doses. I will set a moratorium. Fine, you are sick you have a drug problem we will try to fix you one more time. Beyond that you go to jail. As far as dealers i have no sympathy i seen them my life. Unlike you you have not. I saw them on the way to school in the morning. Dealing drugs. Pushing poison on the people. I am simply fed up nonsense going on in this city and intends to change it for you. Now, one of my biggest things i will do is block access. I will put users and dealers in jail. If you dont shape up, you gotta ship out. Thats the bottom line. Thank you my time is up. [applause] thank you. The second question will start with im sorry. Not a second time in a hurry. [laughter]. Mraez. I think people know my policies but i will reiterate them. I truly believe we have to have accountability in the realm for several years i handled the cases myself and know what accountability looked like and did in the look like. I know the das office decriminalized the safely drugs. I did come in and take a tougher approach because we need one 1700 death in 2 years. We have a job to do and frankly the peep in the tenderloin and soma and the mission are begging to have clear streets where kids can walk and the elder low with get by without having to interfear with people dealing. Lined up and what i have done is implement had i believe the necessary policies including pretrial detention for those who have cases some you may have seen the guy arrested with 8 pounds of fentanyl that is someone we south to detain pretrial he should not be on the streets. We are making sure that the dealers are admonished and should they be connected to selling fentanyl to someone over doses they could be charged with murder we have to hold the people accountable. Thank you. Brook. My apologies. Goes to Show Supreme Court justices make mistakes. The second question will start with john. Cart compassionate, alternative response team. It was crafted in order to have an alternative to the Current Practice of having Police Respond to homeless. The concept is a deeply trained and well paid response this centers unhoused people while responding to 911 and 311 calls from San Francisco concerned about the presence of unhoused persons. Have you endorsed cart . Why not . John . This may be rigged but i started cart. I was on the Police Commission when we passed the resolution to direct the formation of cart. I worked with a large grouch stake holders to develop cart over the process of 2 years. We got funding for cart but it was held up by again, this administration which is focused the resources on policing the homeless opposed to supporting the homeless. Ultimately, cart is a good program. A program that we need because, look, you know i worked on the Police Commission like joe we know that police are not workers for the unhoused not social workers or trained we need a proper professionals to come in and address them, connect them with services and help people finds housing. Finds Mental Health treatment. Find Substance Abuse treatment. You look at the streets and upset at the conditions on the street but these are real People Living there and we have to treat them with compassion and give them justice through our system. Thats what cart was formed to do proud to have been one of the people who started it. May i hear the second part of the question. Concept is deeply trained well paid pier response that centers unhoused people while responding to 911 and 311 calls from San Francisco concerned about the presence of unhoused importance. Can you have you endorsed cart . Why or why not . I will endorse any program that helps get drug addicts off the street. I will endorse any program that helps get addicts off the street that is one of my primary concerns. I see. I went to an interview the other night and i saw drug addicts lined up on golden gate avenue. I saw 200 drug addicts lying down on the street. We need to do something intervention is necessary. What is in place now is not working. So, yes, it would be with my policies to get yourself straight or go to jail, plus cart, that is fine. The combined approach and attack will resolve this problem. The people are suffering not just the homeless. The people the citizens are under siege. We have to think of the citizens and the drug dug heads or whatever addicts. We have to think of both. With that in mind, anything that helps homeless and the drubbing addicts get off the streets im 100 for. Thank you. No applause, please. Yes. Im in favor of both cart, the Street Crisis Response Team from the San Francisco Fire Department anything that allows intervention with unhoused and allows the police to address the criminal conduct. We have a Police Department thap is almost 600 officers under staffed. We need them focused on those who are committing crimes. And spending their time and resources on that. And i feel that having ridden around with the Street Crisis Response Team the w they do is extremely valuable and trying to intervocabulary in those who are living on the street. Some who i witnessed one woman reviv their assistance but they monitor and know and have really relationships with buzz they try to help the people you know, routinely. I believe that they are an asset to helping to make sure the unhoused get connected to resources and opportunity to be connected to resources that should always be the first stretch innervention. I think we need to do more to make sure we are helping people get off the street and not leaving them that is absolutely not compassion. With respect commissioner hamasaki before cart there was ems6. As a fire commissioner the rigs used for cart came from the Fire Department they were old and brandnew they were new vans used we paid for for purposes of ambulance but they turned out to be small we gave them back. Now they are driving doing this good work am im supportive of cart of. Home willness is in the a crime. We need to fix this system. You got cart, the team, ems6 and all of the people that are just moving people around. We see that in San Francisco and drives us crazy. What is happening is our government is failing us and we are spending billions 3 and a half billion dollars every year on homelessness addiction and Mental Health. The problem is homelessness and addiction are not crimes Mental Health is in the a crime. Eventual low it can turn to a crime. I was walking on Market Street with my son and there was a man out of his mind stick a needle in the tree and turns and says dwhad that person stick this needle in us. Thats what we experience in San Francisco. We are failing the city. You dont see it in the presidio or marine or san mateo. Question 3. Approximately start with maurice. According to the National Registry of exonerations, more than 3200 people have been exonerated from criminal convictions in the United States since 1989. Joaquin was exonerated by Innocence Commission this year after spending 32 years in prison. For a crime he did not commit. Will you commit to continuing the District Attorneys Innocence Commission . Maurice . Yes. I have work with the project in california to try to i was part of a team that freed one individual. The bottom line is the root cause of that is failure to disclose. Remember that ladies and gentlemen. Failure to disclose is the root cause of 90 of the convictions we have. Because as a da you are supposed to turn over all evidence to the other side. I dont want to win by hiding evidence. Im going to put the evidence on, i will let the jury decide win, lose or draw. Thats what you get from me and as far as the Innocence Project goes im for it if someone is innocent they dont belong in prison. There are 2 types there is factual nonetheless and well is legal innocence. They are quite different. Numbers i heard dont mean that some of the people were not guilty they may mean some of the people were not a second time legally guildy be careful im for an Innocence Project i worked for the ninth circuit prosecute boneo project appellate freeing people. I have pub believe low committed to congress the work of the Innocence Commission. I actually already spoken with and met with an e steamed professor at this law school to make sure we are continuing the work but enhancing the way it is done and referrals come in we want to make sure we are extending our reach to as many inmated in that want cases reviewed. There was no mech will niche under the Left Administration on do that which could be a result of the fact they did not have time but that is something that we were talking about as well as other ways to expand the scope of the work to make sure we are bringing in the cases we need temperature is work im committed to as the da and we reasonable appointed our member to that commission. Which we are proud of. And one thing that most dont know is that when i was in private practice before a prosecutor i did prisoners rights work. On habeas petition for someone as a client. This is work i have been committed to before being a part of the criminal Justice System but certainly work our office is continuing now. Joe . Thank you, absolutely im supportive of the Innocence Commission. I think we need to expand it. We need to expand their authority. We need to have the Human Rights Commission involved and public defend and prison rights activists. Here is the issue the reason why we need afternoon Innocence Commission we have bad cops. Every city has bad cops. We have been working on this since i was Police Commissioner in upon 2004 through atrician hiring hundreds of new Police Officers since this time. You know what we have is in we have bad prosecutors. And my colleague here mentioned. When you with hold evidence from a criminal proceedings evidence that is extent to the other side frees a person xu put that person in prison you have violated their civil rights. And i have been a civil rights lawyer for 22 years a trial lawyer, trying case in state and federal courts. I can tell you, we have bad cops, fixing the criminal Justice System. Reforming the criminal Justice System requires to rid the system of body cops and requires us to rid that system of bad prosecutors we have bad prosecutors. You know i think that the Innocence Commission is thats easy. We are all going to agree. Nobody believes innocent people should be in prison. But as my colleague, joe, said we have i problem that i saw on the Police Commission with Police Officers not telling the truth. But we have a system of checks and balances. And the check on bad cop system good prosecutors. Right now we are on a situation where we have an administration that just had an ethical complaint filed by a judge that had i think so, too much i think so, too. But had an appellate decision against them for prosecutor misconduct. Allegations of coaching child witnesses. Had sustained allegations of with holding discovery just like my colleague to my left mentioned. That is the way that innocence is lost. That is the way that innocent people ends up in prison. That is unacceptable in San Francisco in 2022 and we need to clean up the San Francisco das office. Ladies and gentlemen. We have already lost 2 questions. Please. We will move this along without applause. Question 4 starting with supporting transfers. Did i leave anything. Okay. I got this. The adult criminal system yit critical to ensure youth with maintain access to age appropriate Rehab Services and for immigrant youth to avoid life altering damage a conviction will cause. As opposed a juvenile adudecasion. How will your office respond to youth involved in criminal justice . So i released a policy that made it clear we start with the presumption that all youth are to be maintain in the the juvenile Justice System there is an exception. Which is, 16 and 17 year olds who commit heinous crimes we will consider the need to pel toigz have them transferred to adult court that is founded in the fact this we have an obligation to protect the public. When i was a kid growing up the worse drill i had was duck and cover to get under my desk for a quake but 6 year old ms. Active Shooter Drill in her school because it is not uncommon to have 16 or 17 year olds go in and execute rooms full of children we had somebody who was a teen going in a Grocery Store and based on racism execute black people shopping. And so we have to be sure that at the moment they are release friday the juvenile system, by the age of 24, that we are in fact, confidence they have been rehabd and should be reintegrate in the our communities. If you have i blanket policy of never engaging in the discussion you cant have a conversation about whether or not 24 is long enough. And so i made it clear that is the basis for why, we have people who commit heinous crimes. I believe we are professionally negligent in having a blanket policy on this issue. We have to treat every circumstance differentful of course that is true in every criminal matter temperature is true when we deal with our children. We have an obligation to our children. We have an obligation to make sure outchildren we dont put them in a system they ends up in for their lives. Thats the criminal Justice System we have today. And we need to change that. When you talk about Juvenile Hall, that is a prison. I have been up there. When you talk about Juvenile Hall we need to reform the system. Create alternatives so we are not punishing our children even further than the way they have been punished. Whether it is from live nothing a household of other people that committed crimes. Whether being oppressed by the system or oshg pressed period. We have an obligation to our children but treat every one of the instance different low and of course, there will be the heinous crimes. That are committed by children. We see them from the east bay down to china town to prey on vulnerable people. We cannot tolerate that. We have to hold our parents accountable and we have to let people know we will not tolerate this in San Francisco. Let mow start by saying. As we discussed nationally, children do not belong in cages. It is destructive to their youth. Childrens brains mature more slowly. They have bad judgment. They dont make good decision. We have to protect them. We have to get them in the right systems to avoid the school to prison pipeline. The incarceration of youth as our current District Attorney proposes, we have a long history of doing this. I have a personal experience with that. From when i was in high school. One of my friends accidentally killed another. And he was 16. And by the da definition that is a heinous crime. But he was tried as an adult and sent to adult prison where as his dad told me spent every night crying and every day fight to exist. Look, i understand there are serious and violent cases we address but need to start treating children like children. And treat adults like adults. Thank you. Over the past 10 years i have been studying the brain. I done traumatic brain injury cases and in fact, the youth of today are smarter than of 20 years ago because they are exposed to so much information. The developmental age should be lowered at 16 years old in most instances a person is able to know what is right from wrong. In that connection if you commit a heinous crime on a case by case basis, if you are 16 or older im going to take a second look. And that is true. And if you dont do that, you are sending a message as language as you are not 18 you can slaughter people of look at florida that was a heinous result from a jury and we need to stop that. Look, it is on our door stepful dont think it cant happen here. You are in the comfort of your homes and watching tv and sipping lattes. Guess what there is a crazy person may be 16 or 50 and may shoot all of us. To protect against that i think we have to everyone has to be evaluated. Everybody whether a youth or not. Then, we can make that determination. Im not going to blanketly excloud it, no. Thank you. The next question will start with joe this is an appropriate you can pick up where you left up on the last question. Hate crimes against minority populations on the rise attacks against communities such as asian, arab have suffered various attacks in the bay area. What will you do one to ensure prerp traitors of hate crimes are brought to justice, 2, pro vied communities with access to Law Enforcement resources to prevent hate crimes and 3, create a tolerant community for all. Thank you, yes the last 22 years i have been trying cases in court around this country. Most of my case i have to prove racialan mus. That is what is at stake here. Having an office that is brave enough to charge a hate crime and that is competent enough to actually prove it. I have been doing that. There is no mist row and cases have you the smoking gunful i have noose in my case. I have noose in a lot of my case but i a lot i dont have nooses. And so i have to still prove the cases by evidence and i do prove those case i do it successful low im not afraid to do that or sends a message to the people that are coming to San Francisco to prey on vulnerable we will not tolerate it your days of preying on our people are over in San Francisco. Thats not the message we are sending today. We saw the pictures of our city commissioner who was brutalized by one of the people. That commissioner is endorsing my campaign he knows that stops under my administration. And it stops by sending i message. This da has not charged a hate crime yet what message is that sending . John. I appreciate the Politics Around and the attention that has been given to the asianamerican community but this is a real and personal issue to some of us. I have been the victim of a hate crime. I went through the criminal process as a victim. I understand the failings and the to treat victims with care and have language appropriate service. To have Trauma Informed Services and wrap around service. We for long treated our victims as they are another witness and this is when we will use to score a conviction and get a mop on the wall or whatever. You know these are real communities that are hurt. This is my community that is hurt. I have been around this community for my life and career. I am 2020 past pedestrian americanasian bar information who faced the issues during the opinion dem and i can the rise in asian violence took over. I appreciate the kind words but i wish folks would step up and be there for the community instead of just talking about it. November 7, 200 knife my nephew was slaughtered in San Francisco streets. I seen death first hand. Hate crimes are heinous. But everyone is entitled to protection. You should not be robbed because you are white, black, yellow or brown. Should not be shot because you are white, black, yellow or brownful i guarantee crime is crime i will prosecute it accordingly if you are a victim you will get the same treatment that any person of a different race would get. And i will be draconian on racialan mus i have tried civil rights cases about this defense and plaintiffs and i know the burden. Plain and simple, an evil will crime and evil motive attached i will accommodate them with the promote requests for sentencing and appropriate prosecution. So, with that said, i am against any discrimination and abuse because of race and i will tree it accordingly. Thank you. On brook. So first of all, it is different when you are in the criminal system it is in the the came burden of proof as in civil courthouse. We have a duty to prove something beyond and an obligation not to charge something we cant proof beyond. I spent 21 2 years as a hate crimes prosecutor it is the hardest things to prove statute only crimes that requires proof of motive you have to prove what was going in the mind the time they committed the attack. And so, when i have said is that we will prosecute anyone who commits a specific type of crime in this city to the extent we can and we should. Whether or not there is a hate crime charge they will be accountability but cannot charge things simple low because it is politically cute to do so we make sure we are charging people with the actual crimes that we believe they committed and that we can prove they committed. And stow this is what im. Determineed do make sure that we follow that ethical obligation. To make sure our victims are supported through the press they understand the decisions we make and build up the Victims Services to make sure our victims have the support they need and the Language Services they need in order to understand this system. Thank you, brook. Jot next question. Please. The next question goes to john. Upon many communities have been distressful of Law Enforcement. And that includes the District Attorneys office as a Law Enforcement agency. What role do you think trust and trans paraphernalias play in the District Attorneys office . And as District Attorney, you commit to be truthful and transparent with San Francisco whether about thein are workers of the office or about your past as a private citizen. Yes the prosecutor has a special role in our Justice System. It is not you might be lead to believe to secure convictions and put people in jail temperature is to do justice you do justice by being truthful, being honest, having an open file system all of the discovery is shared with the parties. And you dont hide evidence. You dont hide behind press conference and photo ops. What you need to do and what i would do is try to work to restore trust within the communities by treating them fair low once theyure in the criminal Justice System that includes victims, witness, o fendzers because someone committed a crime does in the mean we stop feeling fair low we have a duty toup hold justice and that is an irrelevant they take seriously. I would commit to having an open policy on you know everything that gos in the office and improve data and accessibility for all people. Thank you. When i started practicing law i learned, tell the truth because you dont need to loyal the truth will do. And second he said the whole prosecute fegz is witness and documents. And that was it is easiest way to sum up the legality profession it is in the as complicated as you think temperature is simple. You have to turn over as john said. Turn over the evidence. I would work with the police not against them. But if there is something wrong with the evidence i will tell them. I dont want to go to trial with false evidence and i will in the go to try with false evidence im committed to transparency and think if you just work your case up correct low. Let the chips fall where they may. Full disclosure if the judge thinks it is case is inpresent he will 3 it out. If you get to trial then the witness are evaluated by the jury i will not with hold evidence and work with the Police Department, witnesses and the victims to keep in mind the victims not forget them. Have you to work with them. Thank you. Thank you. So we had an open file policy for some time for that is in existence the other thing is make sure the data dash boards dont display charging statistics but also display case resolutions soez people in the community understand how the cases are resolved whether or not that promotes ash counselability and they want to look at if there is disparities and treatments perform we are trying to work in the office to get that data. The other thing to make sure we understand we have to take a holistic approach toward this work. We dont get to only look at this through the lens of the victim or the person who is confidence crime or just the people as the city. We have to take a vow that looks at everybody. We have incorporate upon any remarks we want to make to include not only a victim but o fender i had situations where i talked to them to let them know why we are make an offer or hear when they need to present to me about a case that can work we will do. We invited the community to the table. Make sure that the community is included. This is distrust of the criminal Justice System. We have every reason to distrust the criminal Justice System. When i was 20 i entered the pleas academy bauftz read neil king incident i saw that man brutalized on the freeway. I decided i needed to be part. Change. I went through 2 Police Academies when i came to San Francisco i went through to be a da investigator. I worked in the San Francisco Police Department i know haa bad cop looks like. I investigated bad cops when i worked at the das office i was on the officer involved shoot. People distrust the system buzz it does in the work. When you see a 15 billion dollars budget and you see the crime and Mental Health and addiction and you see how people are victimized daily, thats why people dont trust the system. They distrust the system buzz they see a da that has the policies but does in the do anything. Thats why. We call it as it is. Thank you. The question is distrust. Thank you, joe. Audience you have been so good. Lets not break your record. I dont want to fine you. The next question we have had to skip one question. Lets not skip more. We want to hear from the candidates. This hen an excellent discussion. Please cooperate. The next question will go to maurice. San francisco has one of the highest crime rates in california. While our neighbors san mateo has the lowest. How would you accounts for large desparity between our 2 counties . Maurice . 200 knife i had the experience of dealing with Kamala Harris and ana gonzalez. My nephew was killed, murdered and i got all excuses. As to why it could not be done special what obstacles existed. I dont want another family to go through that. Never again. What im trying to do and to answer this question, is this there is a disparity in the charging because of the charging standards are different n. San francisco we have a real high charging standard and selective prosecutions opposed to enough toefdz go forward you go forward. If we have enough toefdz go forward im going forward. Thats the reason. They are draconian in san mateo they dont to the rit excuse. All i will do is adjust the charging standard fist i have a decent witness and there is something wrong, iingly let the jury decide that. We can equal it out by simple low submitting to stop the crime that is going on here just as san mateo is doing. Please, no applause. Brook . Having been a prosecutor for 8 years san mateo does not mess around they have er penalties for crim in their county then and there we do here. I watched as certain things here have been decriminalized boy the das office selective enforcement of laws boy the das office over the course of a number of years contributing to believing certain crimes are okay in San Francisco. Of course, we want to be our own person. We want to make sure we are being the most equal and fair we can. We want to rely on responsible alternatives to incars rigz we should not try to copy or emulate another county. But the same time again we need to restore account accountability to San Francisco it can look different of the for some a requirement of drug treatment. In it is making sure they go through a training program. And for otherers it is Mental Health treatment. For some who commit heinous crime its might be prison we have to have consequence on the table for people who commit xriem in San Francisco that has been the practical. We had people said it is a free for all. They have decided that this is the more accomplice to come commit their crimes. Then decide third degree is more optimistic accomplice to come commit a crime temperature is. You walk in a walgreens and steel and wuk out and not be practice cuted that is happening today. Can you [inaudible] the times you get rest when you make a new article about temperature women are fendzing for themselves in the city. This is bad. And yes, crime is up in the left 4 months by the way. And you know why crime is not up in san mateo or marine jump over the wall to the presidio. Because they dont to the rit it. 2 words it is leadership and action. Those other 2 words. Leadership and action. Thats when we need from the da. Thoodz what you will get when you elect me. John . Thank you. Well you know i do recognize that it is true Violent Crime has shot up since the appointment. Looking at the 2 of them, it it is complex, okay. I will tell you a secret from the criminal justice side of things, san front is everybodys first accomplice it take a case, why . Because you can go to trial. Why can you go to trial . Buzz they dont put together good case here. Im sorry but it it is a history of it. In san mateo the investigators, Police Actually put together pretty air tight cases that you know if you go to a jury your upon chances are in the good. There are resolutions and they can get higher terms buzz they have good case. We have never had good case. It is i say, easy to trii case in San Francisco against this office in the upon current state. And yea it is unfortunate butt truth. Lose leadership and management in favor of politics and press release this is office needs leadership now. Thank you, john. Well run out of time. Brook. When are you to to address root causes of crime especially pet crimeful property kyle, theft and low level drug dealing. We have to do a number of things for our people who have Substance Abuse disorders make sour we get them in treatment and allow them a chance to be successful they cant be confronted with a drug dealer. Especially in the tenderloin where most of the treatment programs are. We have to make sure because when you look at the ecosystem, right. Drug dealing fuels addiction. Addiction makes people commit the low level crimes. Help them stay in recovery. Other thing is we need to with most of the o fendzers if in the all make sure weave have responsible alternatives to incars rigz that propel them in a positive direction. You cant tell somebody, dont come become and commit another crime and not equip them with the ability to be successful. One thing i have done myself is to make sure that we are using what the programs are to make sure if somebody needs a job who grew sxhup never had hope of taking care of themming we have them in Vocational Training and ged so they can be successful when wont sends them out of the system. Criminal Justice Reform needs to happen. And it is a national conversation. But it has to start in San Francisco. Only accomplice where we can be successful and start the success. I have been a civil rights lawyer for 2 year and i understand, i fully understand how our criminal Justice System oppressed people of color. We need to look at the root causes. There are cash bail. Rich people should not get a pass they get a pass in this current system. Civil assess ams. No knock warrants killing young africanamerican individuals all over. This is what we have to focus but work close with sacramento to get this done. Sacramento tried to abollish cash bail we brought it become as voters because there were no great alternatives. We need an alternative to get people become to court but work with sacramento, a lot of people in sacramento i can work with to make sure we have alternatives to do away with the tools of oppression that exist in our system and begin the work of criminal Justice Reform. John . The criminal Justice System exists as it is currently to clean up on the back end of when we did not do on the front end. When we provide community and people with resources they need. People are not driven on commit crimes especially low level. Petty theft, car break ins property crimes we are talking about you in. As i agree with da jenkins here we need to provide services how you go about doing that statute way we difrm i agree this people with Mental Health need Mental Health treatment. People with Substance Abuse issues needs to be addressed. People unhouses and are dont have a by the to eat if they steel a loaf of bread are we putting them in prison . Ip dont agree. I think there are ways to divert a case like that to teach member it is in the acceptable and connect them with services so they have the opportunity to succeed. We have to give all people not just the People Like Us that went it law school and larceny, but everybody the chance to succeed. Maurice . For low level crimes im not a heartless man i will make exceptions and try to help anyone who is involved in crime at the lower level as john said steeling a loaf of bread or jay walker. Bottom line is thats not who i target. One things i have planned to do is i will have tuesday once an among commune i will try to help the kids get jobs so they can stand on their feet and stop stealing. There are jobs out there. I will talk to them and go at this time nishgds not sit behind the desk and push paper. I will go out and see the problem, who needs a job and get nel in contact with people who can get a job. I think that is how i will do it but as far as the thefts i dont agree that theft are always petty crimes. You steel someones computer you 10 their whole life. We cant just classify crimes as the quality of life crime when is they are not. We have to have a difference. For those crimes that reach that level this go over and become a serious crime i will practice cute those crimes. Thank you. Everyone finished with this question . Another mistake. The next question goes to for me. Okay. Yea. The San Francisco Police Commission found that only 8. 1 of reported crimes in 2021 lead it know arrest San Francisco pds lowest rate in 10 years and among the lowest Law Enforcement success rate in the country. Hudo you thbl electric offul solved crimes will play in your job as District Attorney . It has 100 . To do with lack of leadership and low moral in this city. I was a Police Officer. I took many risks i knew the look on peoples face when i give them safety. When they called 911 in the night. We are the number one job the number one job of the da in San Francisco is to keep people safe. We are failing our people in San Francisco. Our Police Commission needs to stop worrying about the things they do and start doing things that keep people safe. A policy that says once you get in a vehicle the police cant chase you. There is good policy not having car chase in cities. I get that. But day after day when you parade a police chief in front of press conferences and demoralize the Police Department you upon sends a message to the Police Officers we dont support you. I will send a message i will support the good Police Officers of the city this do their w and i will support them by putting consequence become in crimes that you take the risk it make a good rest. I will do the work to make sure there is acounsel act there is no personal up here. Thank you. There was a chronicle data piece a few months ago that showed san front is the most policed city in california. We have the most police here per capita and the lowest crime rate clearance weight. Why is this . Well, you know i hate to say it but 4 years on the Police Commission taught me a problem with culture. I will tell the truth i was not able to fix it the culture is engrain in the the police union that believes that you know some of nel believe we dont matter. Covered by a journalist Heather Knight covered [laughter] gave our innerim District Attorney our debut. It is a problem until we address that and make there was another data pin that came out the other day 25 of cops live in San Francisco. How invested are you in a city you dont live in but you take a paycheck from. We need to change the culture. Of San Francisco and policing. Thank you. Maurice. I want to st. College prep and tlefrn had a relative in the Police Department i grew up respecting the police. They have a very difficult job. When you hear lets defunds the pleas that does in the work for anyone. We defund the pleas they hear that. They are worry body going to jail because than i shoot a suspect who is shooting at them. We have to it is in the the Police Department. We have to change the way we evaluate things. You been shot at . I have it is a split second decision. Guess what t is sdoifl make the Police Officers do this daily. And i want to thank them for it. Im not going to attack them. And i my position is it work with the police to make it help. Lets get together, joint low and investigate joint low practice cute the things and joint low assist the community in getting become and standing on the 2 feet instead of the community we are in this is an abyss like a zombie land. Please. Yes, of course we have to acknowledge they are under staffd and they have been demoralized as people pointed out for a number of reasons. And including like i said the decriminalization of crimes boy the da and refusal to prosecute those who have been rested. What i have Done Since Taking Office is foster a working rep with chief scott and his staff and have my chief deputies meet with the command staff to form a new working rep and partnership what san front needs to move forward in the right direction. In addition to that, i gone around to the police stations and 5 so far to talk to the rank and file. To say, gone are the days we dont value the work you do. If you investigate a case correctly and you bring it to us we will make sure there is accountability. We have to make sure that they feel motivated do work at the high level and again the right way. Thats what i have been trying to do of course, we then and there if than i dont make arrests and follow up cases there is little for us to do in the prosecution end. We need to move that ball forward. Thank you. For the next question will start with john. A part of social justice means reflecting on past societial whoas, issues, scars such as over policing in the war on drugs. What will you do if you regret over policing on low income minority areas . What i will do hopefully is win the election in november. You know00 autointerim da restarted the worry on drugs targeting minority communities dispropotionately and also suggested they are bringing back life in prison for member when used drugs with another person if this person dies. That the truth is tough i understand that. But this is the case. So what that does every public healing professional will tell you every Public Health professional will tell you that this prosecutor will cost human lives. People will die because of the ignorance of the policy that have been reputeiated across the country. Ladies and gentlemen, please. Cooperate. And so look, we cant have the rishl low discrimination pols and cannot do the worry on drugs people are using drugs together men charged for murder. Then people dont call help. For help they dont call 911 this is proven and best practices. I dont know how this came out and nobody did a google search. Them is going to cost lives. Thank you, john. Maurice. Thank you. There are a lot of inequities this went on before i was born and and they are conditioning to occur. What i will do is to have a uniform prop to enforce the lu. This means color does in the matter. Sexual preference does not merit. Rishl become ground does not matter. So, to help historically community discriminated against i will help you by not. Emplaying i system of discrimination. I will target the most serious crimes. So day one, of my administration i will grab every warrant case in the left 20 yers approximate take them to the grand your thats a promise. Familiar there is a witness around and if there is a victim around. If there is a victims family around. What you can do for the minority communities is to help them get the same treatment that all the other communities get. I will do that. I will treat everyone equal. I dont care what color you are or your race i care you are a human and entitled to dignity, respect and protection of the law. Brook. As a black woman, raised boy my black mother with a father from elsalvador i understand the inequities in the system i know what it looks like Family Members guess sentences and know what it looks like to have Family Member who is have had their loved one murder. And not have an opportunity to get justice in this city. We have an obligation to make sure we serve all communities. What most communities of color tell you they want good policing they dont want to be right beaten they dont want to have evidence plantod them but want to feel safe and make sure that when something happen in their communities they have member in the system who will fight for justice so this we are not left to fight for ourselves. And so that is the key. Is to making sure this we are an office and we are Police Department that reflects the upon communities that we serve. Who does our job the right way and gives justice to each and every bhorn come through the system victim and o emfender to make sure that restores trust into the system. Thank you, brook. Joe. Equal justice under the law. The job of the chief prosecutor is not to practice cute color, race or anymoring identifying aspect it is the practice cute behavior. That is what we do. As i mentioned in the prior answers earlier of the criminal Justice System is broken. There are tools of oshg preparation guilt had as a civil rights attorney i have been work to fight that on the civil side. I was a member of the boys club and paid for colleges as your next da i will do the adds using the authority the stature of the District Attorney to call in the billion airs and give j. W. S to at risk youth. There is no reason we cant do temperature i forgot 5 years ago i started the National First responders fund. And as a founder and executive director we are in 364 departments around the country and in 36 states we support First Responders First Responders the moral will come become when i become District Attorney they know i have their become. Skwoo thank you. The next question goes to maurice. Govern newsome signed ab2195 provides prosecutors with the discretion to offer an alternative public nuisance plea in specific drug related case and this will allow citizens and noncitizens to avoid collateral consequence of drug convictions such as homelessness, enemployment and deperation. Will you direct your attorneys to offer this alternative plea and if so under what circumstances . Maurice . Thank you. Im responding in a vacuum i have not read 2195 it sounds like discretionary. And with had in minds, alternate to convictions and restore civil rights are always the preferred method. You want to get people back in the system. Again my administration will target the serial recidivist not the person down on luck. When we need is to respond to that level of crime. That level of crime is what is causing the problem. We had a heinous level of crime that is ignored on collateral issues that issue to mow 2195 great lets help anyone restore their civil right. Bottom line is, we have a sear recidivist will kill you or family, i dont want a part of that i will make the difference and enforce the law. I will enforce it as it exists but again, we have to look at the whole big picture. Are we letting them become out on the street . Thank you. We have an obligation to ensure this we take immigration status in account. That is something we continue to do. We fully understand what that looks like in our line of work. We have to make sure that when we look at people who are continuing to pick up more serious crimes you when we can do for them. We should be making sure that we have again the form of the accountability present in every situation. And looks differents for different people and should be trying to explore the way to rehab somebody while holding on to their ability to function as a full human next our society that is regardless of whether or not you are a citizen or not. We want to make sure that we give everybody that initial opportunity to do so. And for some people you need a second and third chance. Zoe to Pay Attention what crime they commit. How many times and what their become grounds is there are things we look at and most certainly respect that we are a sanctuary city regardless of what someone is convicted on we will not pavement with Immigration Agency in the touz facilitates anyone deportation. Thank you brook, joe. Thank you. Collateral consequence others core of what Justice Reform is here to fix the tools built in the system. Any tool from the governor or legislator or where this tool come from whether a health care provider. These other tools we need to use in the criminal Justice System to keep people from become breaking laws. I mentioned earlier, addiction is not illegal. Addiction is a Public Health crisis. We need toet get the people help. When than i are in lop burden out of minds 3ing ridiculouses at cars or stick member with a needle thats a crime and thats when we failed you. Whether it is this tool the governor gives or other tool it is goed have more tools in the box of the prosecutor in San Francisco. And as your lead practice cuter in San Francisco i will use every tool to keep you safe. Thats my number one job. If you dont feel safe i failed you. The bill signed by the governor 2195 buildos previous law in california. That requires prosecutors to consider immigration status. What this does is give an immigration safe plea where otherwise they would be deportable. We want through this recall and the interim da made an argument for increasing people charged with fent until to make them deportable. Thats what this law was done to stop or give another option to. Look, you can say well not deport them from San Francisco but the minute they cross county lines or ice findses out they are getting deported. If the punishment is the same they are faith the exact same consequences by under the new law as under the sale fentanyl the same prison. Same jail and probation and parole. The difference is the deperability. When prosecutorsment to make people deportable, i think that is a problem in a sanctuary city like San Francisco. We are losing questions. The next quell go to brook. In assessment 2022, San Francisco board of supervisors passed a 15 among Pilot Program granting the san front Police Department more lives surveillance power. How will you over see police surveillance, who will be responsible for making sure the Police Follow the revving ligzs as written and ensure that the data is deleted on the time line set out in regulations . Brook. We should always function really as a checks and balance for the work of the Police Department. And so of course if we have evidence that was obtained illegal low or against a protocol or law we take that account and something defense bar pays attention to file a motion to suppress that piece of evidence. I did support surveillance act because in our view, when you have been a trial lawyer in the criminal system in San Francisco, one thing is clear jurorsment Video Evidence. San francisco jurors are the toughest yourors to try a case they want to convict the right personful Video Evidence allows you to make sure the juries have what they need in order to make the right decision. What it is does is give us as prosecutors the 8 to exxon rit those who are not get of a crime and i tell that you since becoming da i had to review multiple cases involving surveillance. One time i was able to determine with staff somebody act in the self defense and not move forward with charges that may not have been the case without that video. There was no witness to had come forward. Thank you, brook. Joe. I had a jury in the fifth circuit of texas they were the toughest jury i had seen in Racial Discrimination case with 10 clointss were all africanamericans you want a tough jury. We have a u. S. Constitution. A california constitution. We have all of the rules to protect us as individuals and rights to privacy. Right . But if you are out in the sdpreet you are doing something in the vow of the public in a private camera catches you should a prosecutor use that. Absolutely. Should a prosecutor obtain that evidence inappropriate low. Absolutely not. The rules of evidence apply. Your rights to privacy apply. If requires a warrant get a warranty and do leg work as a popular or da investigator or da. Get a warrant. I got dozens when i was a da investigator late in the night showing up at a judges house to get a signature to get a video released this is hard work. The das office should be doing. Dont worry about the noise and what the board of supervisors is doing reality is your rights to privacy and other rights that are layered on top are protecting you as individuals as long as it is prosecutors follow the rules. Okay um look i worked on this surveillance ordinance on the Police Commission. There was an ordinance in accomplice this allowed police live access to surveillance for serious and i have 11 cases. All this does allow it for low level cases so creating a system of mass surveillance in San Francisco. Sfpd did in the follow the existing law and got sued by the aclu from live monitoring protests. The idea you can go out as a citizen and prosecute test against your government in a controversial issue whenever your positions are, and the government is going to surveill you to watch you and follow you to see where you go and watch what you do, this to me standses in the face of freedom that i believe america stands for. I oppose this ordinance. Ed they were in the able to follow the first one they broke the law there example the aclu came and cloned it up and now it it is not just the Security Camera its is everybodys cam ares theyville access to. And so it is mass surveillance and does not make us safer. I think we have time for one more answer . Well, it is form over substance. Im a fan of electronic surveillance butt right way as mr. Veronese mentioned. We need to go through the hoops. We need to get the not the luin motion you go at this time court and ask to get the right to conduct surveillance. Now surveillance when you out in public, there is you are basically in the Public Domain so posts crime surveillance to me is protective not protected. For example, if you commit the crime you murder someone and later you are restd and you say no, you should not got this because you did not go through the hoops to dpet the Fourth Amendment hoops that should not be a concern. What they are talking about is live surveillance and they may intrude in your Fourth Amendment rights. However it is in the slout if you go at this time border you dont have Fourth Amendment rights. Fourth amendment does in the apply have well at the border. So, with unless a state of emergency no harm with going through the motions getting the law in motion and get the documentation in in order and getting what you need. Thank you. Thank you. We have time for one last question. Im going to over rowel my handlers. And do a different left question. Because on the evening news i saw the horrible problem in hahn hattan on the subway. Joe, you are going to start this round and the question is, how would you improve Public Safety on Public Transportation like municipal and bart . Look, Public Transportation whether you walk down the street or on a city bus you deserve to feel safe in the city. What we see last week, a muni bus used as a get away car for people who stolen stuff from a store. Right. Thats a city we live in. But we need to empower popular and give them trinning and the commission to passport them and the board of supervisors to support them. Get moral autopsy in the Police Department but we have to put the Sheriffs Department on work in any other county in this country. The Sheriffs Department or the chief patrol agents of any county. We gotta put them out of baby sitting the city buildings. Put them to work patrolling, hoir new officers dont defunds the Police Department f. Up want to dem fund the Police Department reimagining that the Police Department should look like. Reimagining what a 21st criminal Justice System should electric like. We need more patrol officers in the street. More walking the beat and living in this city like i did. I patrolled the area where my mother lived. It mattered to me. Thats when we need in San Francisco. We just dont see at this time cops are 3ing their hands up thats gotta stop. Thank you. John . One of the thing i wed on on the Police Commission was what joe mentioned, which is getting Police Officers out of the car in the community. Wuking foot beats. You know there is opposition to that. For a variety of reasons. But you know having populars out in the communities where well is increases in Violent Crime orring dangerous crime is good. We need Police Officers that are willing to dot w this are willing to enengage with the community. Part of the community. Because you know it does not matter if you are a cop and out there. If the neighborhood does in the trust you, nobody will come to you for the problems. Thats why they need to reestablish the police and the prosecutors reestablish trust with communities to have true Public Safety. Because without it, you know there is 2 sides on each end wanting the same thing. We need to Work Together and need to rebuild trust. Thank you. With respect to Public Transportation you have a vulnerable population. Children and elderly and everybody. It needs heightened scrutiny. Im for police getting involved with the community being present. Riding on the bus with the citizen. Daily. I think that interact width community is important. You cant have it both ways and say i dont want the police and complain about crime. Have you to incorporate the 2. They cant if i can themselves. With in in mind we have freedom of association and this is the most beautiful frip in the constitution. You can associate with you want. Roadway a bus at mid notice and go buy a do nut if you want. Thats the bouty of america. Now there are people who will prey on you i would support an effort to get this resolved with the community. Let them trust us that we the police and patrol are with you. In the against you. Thank you brook. I think we restore ash countability in the system this is the thing that will function as a deterrent it people committing crimes. That is the biggest thing. Sour we can go with enhancements there are specific charge this is relate to conduct that happens on muni bus and modes of transmission because people are confineed this space. This is in the always the a the answer is making sure that as we promote accountability it looks promote. We want to also emphasize prevention and when that looks like on a policing side. I dont know it looks like a Police Officer on each bus. But we of course want to make sure they are in an area they can be responsive if something happens. And equipping muni drivers to make the necessary calls to Law Enforcement when something happens increasing work with municipal and he bart to make sure that those who are on the train or the bus are able to call and condition tact authorities when something helps to responded quick low is the best way to go about allowing Law Enforcement to intervenal. Thank you. Now come to the candidates closing statements. Closing stimulate in reverse. And remember you still have 75 seconds. You cooperated wonderful lowly and thank you. Maurice . No free bites at the apple. I said earlier im not a heartless man. I am going to target the serials criminals ones threatening your lives, property, jobs and economy. Keep in mind when the clowns commit crimes like they are now, than i are driving businesses out of the city. I w in the Insurance Industry and hear every day, we cant wit it pull our company out of california. Buzz of all the claims going on. Im here to change that. Im here to make you safe. And on november eighth you have a decision the decision has to be med do you want to continue with the status quo. Do you want progressive and selective prosecutions or do you want machine who will enforce the lu . Im a simple guy. I in a 6 pack joe i have a beer once in awhile. If you commit crimes, and this is simple analysis you dont have to be mart or brill iant or a scientist. Im going to enforce the law. Equally and i will ask for mechanic mum punishment for serious crimes thank you for the opportunity to address San Francisco [applause]. I will stay away from his apples. The dangerous business. Thank you, everybody, thanks for being a great audience. Im excited be a candidate for the next District Attorney of San Francisco. You know i think when we need now is series leadership and management. We need to put aside the politics and press conference put aside the connections to the most corrupt administration in the history of San Francisco. We need a strong mature, competent District Attorney to run this office to get it become in shape and to lead by example. And that means if the highest ethical conduct. And the highest moral and value system running throughout prosecutors office. I ask you to join the Democratic Party harvey milk. Rose pack, number of lected officials. Who supported me as the next District Attorney of San Francisco. [applause]. Jorps joe. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, i dont recognize this city anymore i grew up on the streets. Got a 13 year old child and want them to have the best version of sudden front the version than i had had i left the husband at 10 in the morning and my mother did not see me until din are time. No cell phones or pagers thats the san front i want to deliver this is not the san front we have we have women fendzing for themselves. There was 45 Police Report this is happened. Cross the defect da before a press conference about a warrant being out for this person you need a District Attorney that will keep you safe. Number one job of the District Attorney i President Trump as your next District Attorney i will bring you the leadership we have an Administration Live nothing attive realities the 2 vsed in the desk are d ainvestigators she does not understand when is like to walk the streets of San Francisco. Does in the understand how safe it is. Thats our reality and why im run to be the next District Attorney of San Francisco. I understand that safety is priority number one. I will give you the best version of sudden fran. You will hear about upon one person the only practice cuter. Look at the last 5 District Attorneys. Brook. What i will tell you im only one whos done the job for you 8 years. 8 years i dedicated moidz to San Francisco to its victims and it those who committed crime here. When i wuk around the city i dont get greeted by people who want more order and more safety. But i get greeted boy people who i practice cuted and Family Member i practice cute when say, thank you for being fair. Because thats what i tried bring in this role since 2047. Being a black and well tino woman coming in and want to make surety system was equal to people mriek me and fight for justice for victims most of whom look like me. So, this is the key to doing this work. It is it making sure that it is in the just tough talk but actually knowing what it takes to dot job and do it well. And so thats what i have to give to San Francisco. Is to lead this office not just boy my words but actions buzz thats what i have been dedicating moiz to for years now and i believe truly that now we have an opportunity to restore San Francisco to what it can be and has been. Keep need to keep pushing forward. Thank you. [applause]. I would like to thank all of our candidates for a good discussion. I think you have informed the people in this room and the people across the city who are listening. This is more of when we need in the democracy. We need to have civil discourse among our candidates. I think we got this tonight. For the most part. I want you to know that i supported myself through law school by think an r, in this building. This was the cafeteria. I had so many bad meals in this room. [laughter] thank god usf is in the serving dinner tonight. [laughter]. I want to thank all of you for participating in this discussion. Your vote has consequences and you being here tonight realize that more than anyone else. Let us all keep informed, let us vote in november and let us keep our city safe. My last growing up in San Francisco has been way safer than growing up other places we we have that bubble, and its still that bubble that its okay to be whatever you want to. You can let your free flag fry fly here. As an adult with autism, im here to challenge peoples idea of what autism is. My journey is not everyones journey because every autistic child is different, but theres hope. My background has heavy roots in the bay area. I was born in san diego and adopted out to San Francisco when i was about 17 years old. I bounced around a little bit here in high school, but ive always been here in the bay. We are an inclusive preschool, which means that we cater to emp. We dont turn anyone away. We take every child regardless of race, creed, religious or ability. The most common thing i hear in my adult life is oh, you dont seem like you have autism. You seem so normal. Yeah. Thats 26 years of really, really, really hard work and i think thises that i still do. I was one of the first open adoptions for an lgbt couple. They split up when i was about four. One of them is partnered, and one of them is not, and then my biological mother, who is also a lesbian. Very queer family. Growing up in the 90s with a queer family was odd, i had the bubble to protect me, and here, i felt safe. I was bullied relatively infrequently. But i never really felt isolated or alone. I have known for virtually my entire life i was not suspended, but kindly asked to not ever bring it up again in first grade, my desire to have a sex change. The school that i went to really had no idea how to handle one. One of my parents is a little bit gender nonconforming, so they know what its about, but my parents wanted my life to be safe. When i have all the neurological issues to manage, that was just one more to add to it. I was a weird kid. I had my core group of, like, very tight, like, three friends. When we look at autism, we characterize it by, like, lack of eye contact, what i do now is when im looking away from the camera, its for my own comfort. Faces are confusing. Its a lack of mirror neurons in your brain working properly to allow you to experience empathy, to realize where somebody is coming from, or to realize that body language means that. At its core, autism is a social disorder, its a neurological disorder that people are born with, and its a big, big spectrum. It wasnt until i was a teenager that i heard autism in relation to myself, and i rejected it. I was very loud, i took up a lot of space, and it was because mostly taking up space let everybody else know where i existed in the world. I didnt like to talk to people really, and then, when i did, i overshared. I was very difficult to be around. But the friends that i have are very close. I click with our atypical kiddos than other people do. In experience, i remember when i was five years old and not wanting people to touch me because it hurt. I remember throwing chairs because i could not regulate my own emotions, and it did not mean that i was a bad kid, it meant that i couldnt cope. I grew up in a family of behavioral psychologists, and i got development cal developmental psychology from all sides. I recognize that my experience is just a very small picture of that, and not everybodys in a position to have a family thats as supportive, but theres also a community thats incredible helpful and wonderful and open and there for you in your moments of need. It was like two or three years of conversations before i was like you know what . Im just going to do this, and i went out and got my prescription for hormones and started transitioning medically, even though i had already been living as a male. I have a twoyearold. The person who im now married to is my husband for about two years, and then started gaining weight and wasnt sure, so i went and talked with the doctor at my clinic, and he said well, testosterone is basically birth control, so theres no way you can be pregnant. I found out i was pregnant at 6. 5 months. My whole mission is to kind of normalize adults like me. I think ive finally found my calling in early intervention, which is here, kind of what we do. I think the access to care for parents is intentionally confusing. When i did the prospective search for autism for my own child, it was confusing. We have a place where children can be children, but its very confusing. I always out myself as an adult with autism. I think its helpful when you know where can your child go. How im choosing to help is to give children that would normally not be allowed to have children in the same respect, kids that have three times as much work to do as their peers or kids who do odd things, like, beach therapy. How do speech therapy. How do you explain that to the rest of their class . I want that to be a normal experience. I was working on a certificate and kind of getting think Early Childhood credits before i started working here, and we did a section on transgender inclusion, inclusion, which is a big issue here in San Francisco because we attract lots of queer families, and the teacher approached me and said i dont really feel comfortable or qualified to talk about this from, like, a cisgendered straight persons perspective, would you mind talking a little bit with your own experience, and im like absolutely. So im now one of the guest speakers in that particular class at city college. I love growing up here. I love what San Francisco represents. The idea of leaving has never occurred to me. But its a place that i need to fight for to bring it back to what it used to be, to allow all of those little kids that come from really unsafe environments to move somewhere safe. What ive done with my life is work to make all of those situations better, to bring a little bit of light to all those kind of issues that were still having, hoping to expand into a little bit more of a Resource Center, and this Resource Center would be more those new parents who have gotten that diagnosis, and we want to be this one centralized place that allows parents to breathe for a second. I would love to empower from the bottom up, from the kid level, and from the top down, from the teacher level. So many things that i would love to do that are all about changing peoples minds about certain chunts, like the Transgender Community or the autistic community. I would like my daughter to know theres no wrong way to go through life. Everybody experiences pain and grief and sadness, and that all of those things are temporary