Vote David Chiu

6,000 Strong UESF & 3 Tenants Rights Organizations Endorse David Chiu for Supervisor

San Francisco, CA — September 24, 2008 – David Chiu, candidate for District 3 Supervisor, has been officially endorsed by United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) and by the San Francisco Tenants Union for the November 4 election.

UESF represents the more than 6,000 San Francisco Unified School District employees including teachers, counselors, security aides, psychologists, community relations specialists, instructional aides, nurses, and speech pathologists and therapists.

“I am honored that United Educators of San Francisco has endorsed me as their choice for Supervisor as I continue to advocate for students, educators, and schools” said David Chiu, Candidate for District 3 Supervisor. “I look forward to continue working with all of my supporters to campaign for stronger schools as we near this critical November election.”

David Chiu is also the only District 3 Supervisor candidate to be endorsed by tenants rights organizations such as the San Francisco Tenants Union, the Tenant Associations Coalition of San Francisco, and the Community Tenants Association which is the largest tenants’ association in the District.

San Francisco Tenants Union has been fighting for the rights of tenants and for the preservation of affordable housing in San Francisco since 1971.

“In the District 3 Supervisor’s race, the San Francisco Tenants Union has decided to endorse David Chiu, a tenant himself who understands the threats facing all renters in our city today and has worked tirelessly to protect tenants and create affordable housing,” said Ted Gullicksen, Director of the San Francisco Tenants Union. 

“The battle lines in the District 3 race are clear, as David’s major opponents — who own their homes — are accepting thousands of dollars of campaign contributions from landlords and large real estate developers who wish to radically alter the housing landscape, at the risk of the 80 percent of District 3 who are renters,” said Gullicksen.

David Chiu recently served as the chair of the board of directors of the largest affordable housing organization in District 3 — the Chinatown Community Development Center — which has developed housing for over 2,000 low-income immigrants, families and seniors. 

A former civil rights attorney, David represented and has advocated for tenants facing evictions, including one of District 3’s largest Ellis Act evictions. 

David has been a tenant resident in District 3 for 12 years.

San Francisco – August 14, 2008 – David Chiu was endorsed for District 3 Supervisor by the San Francisco Democratic Party last night by a vote of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC) in what is considered by many political analysts as the single most important endorsement of the upcoming November 4 election.

“I am honored that the San Francisco Democratic Party has endorsed me as their number one choice for Supervisor as I continue to advocate for important Democratic values and issues,” said David Chiu, Candidate for District 3 Supervisor. “I look forward to working with my supporters and grassroots volunteers to strengthen the local Democratic Party as we head into this critical November election season.”

The San Francisco DCCC is the governing body of the San Francisco Democratic Party. The committee is comprised of 12 elected members from each of the 12th and 13th Assembly Districts, as well as Democratic state and federally elected officials who currently reside in San Francisco.

In recent years, David was twice elected chair of San Francisco’s 13th Assembly District Democratic Committee and served as vice president to the District 3 Democratic Club.  In the mid-1990s, David served as Democratic Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Constitution Subcommittee.

On June 3, 2008, San Francisco voters elected David Chiu to the San Francisco DCCC to represent the 13th Assembly District.  David received 22,524 certified votes and placed third out of a highly competitive field of 32 candidates in the 13th Assembly District DCCC race; the top 12 vote getters were elected to the DCCC.

Small Business Commissioner and Former San Francisco Assistant D.A. Represents New Generation of Leadership for City Hall

August 9, 2008 – Dozens of community and neighborhood leaders today announced their endorsements for David Chiu, candidate for District 3 Supervisor in San Francisco.  The campaign announced their endorsements at the official opening of David Chiu’s campaign headquarters this afternoon on Polk Street in District 3.

“I am honored that my friends are supporting my candidacy with their generous endorsements,” said candidate David Chiu.  “My campaign is about listening to the concerns of all district residents so that we can together identify, create and implement workable solutions to our neighborhood problems.”

San Francisco’s District 3 is home to many diverse and vibrant neighborhoods including North Beach, Chinatown, Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill, Polk Street, Nob Hill, Union Square, Financial District, Barbary Coast and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Supervisor Candidate to Participate in Public Financing and Voluntary Spending Limit

August 7, 2008 – David Chiu filed his candidate nomination papers with the San Francisco Department of Elections today, officially making him a candidate for the office of Supervisor for the City and County of San Francisco in District 3. The election will be held November 4, 2008.

David Chiu also filed campaign papers today with the San Francisco Ethics Commission declaring that he accepts the voluntary spending limit, and will participate in the City’s public financing program.

“I fully embrace the spirit and letter of San Francisco election and ethics law as best government practice – accessible and fair to all who participate – open and transparent for all who observe,” said District 3 Supervisor candidate David Chiu. “Today, I am also very proud of my grassroots campaign team of neighborhood volunteers and what they have accomplished, and I look forward to continuing bridge building between neighborhoods to get things done for our district.”

The David Chiu for District 3 Supervisor campaign has been successful in building a strong grassroots coalition of volunteers, neighborhood leaders, citywide officials and local organizations.  With their help, David has been able to reach a number of significant milestones, including:

• 77 – Endorsements by elected officials, organizations and community leaders
• 250 – Volunteers that have walked precincts, put up signs, and made voter phone calls
• 1,300 – Valid District 3 voter signatures gathered by campaign volunteers
• 100,333 – Dollars raised in six months (January to June) from 541 donations

Signatures Represent Broad Base of Grassroots Neighborhood Support for David’s Candidacy

San Francisco — July 24, 2008 – David Chiu, candidate for District 3 Supervisor, rallied today on the steps of City Hall with volunteers, supporters and friends as he comes one step closer to officially declaring his candidacy for Supervisor by submitting to the San Francisco Department of the Elections 1,300* valid voter signatures he and dozens of volunteers gathered in District 3. 

“Today, I am proud to submit these signatures that my volunteers and I collected throughout Polk Street, North Beach, Telegraph Hill, Chinatown, Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Barbary Coast and our amazing neighborhoods of San Francisco’s District 3,” said David Chiu, candidate for District 3 Supervisor in San Francisco. 

“I am very encouraged by and look forward to continuing our grassroots campaign’s conversations with our neighborhoods about our district’s top concerns and partnering together with residents throughout our entire district to create workable solutions.”

*According to the San Francisco Department of Elections, David Chiu submitted 1,300 valid signatures.  For comparison’s sake, only 6 of the 11 other District 3 Supervisor candidates submitted signatures, and those 6 collectively obtained only 1,362 valid signatures.

Commission Passes Resolution Supporting Small Business Facing Serial Lawsuits

San Francisco – July 24, 2008 – At a Special Meeting of the San Francisco Small Business Commission convened today, the Commission unanimously passed a resolution authored by Commissioner David Chiu to protect small businesses facing serial lawsuits alleging violations under the Americans for Disabilities Act. 

In recent years, several attorneys have filed these cookie-cutter lawsuits, including one attorney who has brought lawsuits against at least 30 San Francisco small businesses in 2008 after being previously sanctioned by a federal judge.

Passed 5-0 by the Commission, the resolution emphasizes that all businesses must comply with the ADA, but condemns the legal tactics of these litigants and warns the public about the situation.  The Commission urges the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to provide funding for experts to advise small businesses regarding their ADA obligations, to assist small businesses facing these lawsuits, and to enact legislation to ameliorate the situation.

David Chiu, Small Business Commissioner, said “the lifeblood of our neighborhoods are our small mom-and-pop stores and restaurants, and these vexatious litigants are draining the lifeblood of our small businesses.  Our city must do what it can to assist these businesses, while ensuring that accessibility is protected.”

The San Francisco Small Business Commission functions as the City’s central point of information and referral for entrepreneurs and small businesses located in the City and County of San Francisco. By championing “business-friendly” policies, marketing the contributions of the small business sector, and developing appropriate assistance programs, the Small Business Commission works to support and enhance an environment where small businesses can succeed and flourish.

AABA of Greater Bay Area Is Largest Local Asian American Bar Association in United States

San Francisco — July 2, 2008 – David Chiu, candidate for District 3 Supervisor, has been endorsed by the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area (AABA).  The endorsement was announced tonight at a North Beach reception given in David’s honor, hosted by District Attorney Kamala D. Harris, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, and other legal community leaders.

“The Asian American Bar Association has endorsed David Chiu for District 3 Supervisor,” said Celia Lee, AABA President.  “Like AABA, David Chiu has a strong sense of community responsibility and will bring his deep experience and significant talents to serve the public interest.”

AABA is the largest local Asian American bar association in the country and is one of the largest minority bar associations in California.  Founded in 1976, AABA provides Asian American attorneys in the San Francisco Bay Area with a vehicle for the unified opinions and positions on matters of concern to all Asian American attorneys.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement and confidence of the Asian American legal community through the endorsement of AABA,” said David Chiu, candidate for District 3 Supervisor in San Francisco.  “As a public representative, I will continue my fight to ensure people from all walks of life have access to justice, to work tirelessly for equality, and to improve public safety.”

Community Tenants Association Continues Its Fight for Affordable Housing

San Francisco — June 25, 2008 – David Chiu, candidate for District 3 Supervisor, was officially endorsed today by the Community Tenants Association (CTA) at a news conference at Bayside Senior Housing.  Founded in 1987, CTA is the largest tenants organization in the District 3, and advocates for the creation of affordable housing, the preservation of existing affordable housing, tenants rights, and housing policy.

David Chiu, candidate for District 3 Supervisor in San Francisco, said “as Supervisor, I will continue to work closely with community based organizations like CTA, to ensure affordable housing for District 3 and all of San Francisco, to protect our tenants, and to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.”

David is committed to ensuring that the San Francisco Democratic Party continues to take positions that reflect our city’s shared progressive values.

San Francisco – On June 3, 2008, San Francisco voters elected David Chiu to the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC) to represent the 13th Assembly District.

David received 22,524 certified votes and placed third out of a highly competitive field of 32 candidates in the 13th Assembly District DCCC race; the top 12 vote getters were elected to the DCCC.

The San Francisco DCCC is the governing body of the San Francisco Democratic Party. The committee is comprised of 12 elected members from each of the 12th and 13th Assembly Districts, as well as of Democratic state and federally elected officials who currently reside in San Francisco.

“I am deeply humbled that the good voters of Assembly District 13 supported me to continue advocating for important Democratic values and issues,” said David Chiu, who is also a November District 3 candidate for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. “I look forward to working with my supporters and grassroots volunteers to strengthen the local Democratic Party for the November election.”

The top 12 DCCC vote getters in the Assembly District 13 are (in order of votes received):  Aaron Peskin, David Campos, David Chiu, Laura Spanjian, Robert Haaland, Leslie Rachel Katz, Rafael Mandelman, Debra Walker, Chris Daly, Scott Weiner, Michael Goldstein, and Joe Julian.

Real Estate Watchdog Program Generates Initial Revenue Success

April 24, 2008 - Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting announced that the Real Estate Watchdog Program had its first success, allowing San Francisco to collect an additional $1.34 million in revenues after a private citizen informed the Assessor Recorder’s Office of an unreported change of ownership for a commercial real estate property.

In 2006, Mayor Newsom signed the Real Estate Watchdog ordinance, introduced by Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting and passed unanimously by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.  Based on a program concept proposed by Small Business Commissioner David Chiu, the ordinance creates a financial incentive for individuals to report information regarding changes of ownership of San Francisco properties that have not been properly reported to the Assessor-Recorder’s Office, so that all commercial properties would be assessed at fair market value and pay their fair share.

“The success of this ordinance is now dependent on the public’s participation — we need you to be our eyes and ears and help us hold property owners accountable for unlawful activity,” said Ting.  “This program sends a message to property owners that we are not going to tolerate unreported changes of ownership.”  Ting recommended that the whistleblower be awarded $59,803 for providing his office with information of the unreported change of ownership.

According to Chiu, the legislation was inspired by an Internal Revenue Service program that has generated over a billion dollars by deputizing citizens to collect lost tax revenue and identify potential fraud.

“This is an example of how good government is supposed to work — we created an innovative program to enlist the help of San Franciscans to ensure that all taxpayers are paying their fair share,” said Chiu.  “We need to ensure that the city is collecting all available revenues, particularly in tight budget years when every dollar is needed for critical city services.”