yet if the politicians alone could solve our problems, we would not have them. what is missing is your voice at city hall. holding government and politicians accountable. we need to create the kind of government that forces the politicians to listen to us. not just during election season, but all year round. i know that we can do better as a city and change things about how we are running the city. that is why my campaign is organizing thousands of san franciscans every day. on our website, we had 100,000 hits. i would like to tell you more about how you can join me to change this city together. thank you. [applause] >> my name is leland yee. i want to be your mayor. i have experience and a proven record of accomplishment.

23 years, i have worked on the board of education, hoping to improve education for the board of supervisors in with in your state legislature. i have worked hard to endorse -- to improve education. teachers have endorsed by candidacy. the sierra club has endorsed my candidacy. i have worked hard to protect and expand health care, which is why nurses have endorsed me. one of the other things that is important in my candidacy, i will be 100% independent of power brokers. i, with all of the experience and discussions i have had with you, have come up with five policy booklets. it allows you to hold me accountable. over 130 propositions on how to improve sentences go. thank you very much. thank you.

[applause] >> thank you for your brief opening statements. you will get a chance to expand on everything you want to talk about tonight. right now, we will proceed with journalists. then we will ask questions to the candidates of their choice. that means that not everyone will be called on. i will call all the journalists in alphabetical order. after that they will initiate, maybe, a lightning round to all candidates that may consist of yes or no answers, horror hoorays hands. candidates will have one minute to answer each question. >> thank you, sheriff. great to be here. [unintelligible]

my first question is, we want to avoid scripted answers. what with your biggest disappointment in high-school? how does that in their you now? >> i had no date to the senior prom. i asked a couple of girls. it was a different time. 1973. at some level, i knew that i was gay, but i was not ready to come out. it had to do with the isolation i felt moving from new york city to hear. it makes me hopeful now, wanting kids of all ages to be able to be out. my child has started a public school. you and i talked about this. my child is a tomboy. even in the first month of

school, we had experiences that really surprised me. it reminds me that being a gay man matters. hopefully as mayor i can be a person that can change that dynamic, stopping all leading wherever it takes place. [applause] -- stopping bullying wherever it takes place. [applause] >> this is for mayer leave. you regularly rely on a private automobile to get around. how can you ask people in san francisco to embrace public transit policies that you do not yourself embraced democrats because of my schedule, i have to be at meetings across town every day. unfortunately, i cannot ride my bike or walk as much as i would like. having said that, our city car is the chevy volt.

i have been a demonstrator for the electric vehicle. we want to make this city the electric vehicle capital of the world. we want to think that we have not only inspire the private sector to take advantage of electric vehicles, but we have done away with how we work with partners and car sharing, establishing the first residential car sharing spots just the other day. car sharing, as well as electric vehicles, are the future. [applause] >> mr. shapely? >> i get to ask the first lightning round question. the way that the winner of this election will be chosen, ranke

choice of voting. do you support this form of voting in its current form? do you think it is a good idea? please raise your hand. >> ok. >> if you would support repealing it or changing it, raise your hand. can i ask you, separately, one repeal, one change? >> we should support changing it. >> you want to get rid of it? why? or change it? >> if you look at the way this election is constructed and has played out, it has done some good things in terms of producing collegiality. i also think that it has been difficult for the electorate concerning differences between candidates. i think that elections are about choices, leadership, and the public having the opportunity to make meaningful distinctions

about policy positions. it is unavoidable that candidates do not speak in black and white as much as they should on the issues. they speak in gray tones so that they do not alienate others. of a runoff, and i think it was a good system then, and that the 20 to change it or repeal it. >> ok, thank you. -- and i think that we need to change it or repeal it. >> ok, thank you. >> the only thing i would like to changes look at the district 10. you had over 20 candidates and people having three choices. that meant a lot of ballots were exhausted. in a race like ours, people

should have the option to vote for candidates, more consistent with the number of candidates qualify, so you do not have the ballots and exhausted. >> all right. >> my question is that much has been discussed in the media about a power broker, especially in the chinese community. do you think that is the right way to describe her, and what is your idea of the power brokers in other communities? >> i do not use the word power broker. the thing that it is important that a mayor listen to everybody in the communities. and every committee, would that make big decisions. every decision that i may, whether it was the purchaser or the public works director or the city administrator, i had the choices of making sure that that listen to everybody before the decision was made. but the ultimate decision is made by the mayor independently

with the standard that is the choice in the best interest of the city. that should be the standard and the only standard by which a mayor makes that decision. so taking into consideration all of the opinion that people will give to the mayor, to the board of supervisors, to the various hearings that we would hold, and we have a very elaborate system to get those opinions done. the ultimate choice has to be that a mayor makes that decision in the best interest of the city, and that is what i have been doing for 22 years. [applause] >> this question is for supervisor of a los. you have been a very strong proponent of expanding services for the poor, of shoring up our parks are putting more resources into muni, helping out the public schools when you can. from city hall, you want these to pay benefits for contractor workers. all that takes a lot of money. where are you going to get the revenue for that, and if you cannot, how are you going to set

the heart priorities that need to be set? >> thank you for your question. i have been at city hall now since 2005. i have been supervisor since january 2009. a lot of my work has been trying to find revenue for the city. one of the first pieces of legislation was part of trading was a changeover from the payroll tax to our gross receipts tax. unfortunately it was never enacted. last year i put on the ballot and in increased to our real estate transfer tax. it was passed by the voters and supported by labor and community organizations. it was raised from january this year to june 30 of 2012, $45 million that held the mayor to balance the budget. a look at the income tax. state law has enabled us to do a local income tax. we just had a veto from governor brown for local vehicle license fee today, and i was crushed by that. but i have been looking at all kinds of sources of revenue, as well as partial taxes or we need

to shore up money for our education and parks. i support the idea of a partial tax for city college. i feel like we have to be prioritizing within our department and about de prioritizing other areas of our department. i will talk about that later today. [applause] >> this question is for sanitary -- center yee. your critics say that you talked only about what people want to hear. if you could change any city policy oarlock that would probably never be supported by voters, what would it be? in other words, what is an unpopular position that you take that you think is just right? >> well, first off, i think that oftentimes when we're talking about policies, it is very, very easy to make those particular issues black-and-white issues. rather, in reality, and in real life, there's always going to be differences of opinion and

looking at different types of variables. it >> keep in mind, the question is what policy do you support. >> for example, would you like it all the time? there times when there are differences. i think that is the point i would hate for you. i the one issue that is going to be extremely difficult for everyone in this city and county of san francisco is with the realignment up services, health care, social service, and public safety, back down to the city and not having the revenue. having the gumption to say that we have got to look at an income tax. it is going to be extremely difficult for individuals. >> so you support an income tax? >> i have already said that we have got to get a variety of different revenue streams, including income tax. i think that will be rather difficult discussion for everyone in the city. those individuals that think they may like it and those individuals who say absolutely

not. >> i have a question to senator yee as well. in the state budget last year, you said because of the deep cuts to education, social service, and health care. but if you are elected mayor and the budget restraints for c to cut one single social service program, which one would it be? >> well, the difficulty is really comparing apples and oranges. what happens that the state level is that we do not have the degrees of freedom to raise revenue, were as you have greater degrees of freedom to raise revenue at the local level. so at the state level, when it constantly we're cutting back on education, social services, and so on, at some point i have said enough is enough. i am not going to do that anymore. i have always wanted to increase revenue. the difficulty is not having the opportunity to then raise the revenue. i am not prepared to allow us

not to have the discussion at the state level. at the local level, you are going to have plenty of opportunities to look at how you increase revenues. it is a different set of parameters that we're dealing with the state level versus local. that is why it is really comparing apples and oranges. [applause] >> this question is for jeff adache. using your pension reform measures should not be construed as anti-union. the two largest contributors to your ballot measure campaign have funded republicans in ohio and wisconsin who have spearheaded efforts to take on the public employees' unions. the unions here have been upset about that. are they wrong to connect the actions of your contributors in the midwest would let you are planning for the ballot? >> what was said in the media was not true. i mean, these individuals have contributed to a variety of

people, including republican candidates for governor, but they have never, you know, put money into anti-union efforts in either of those states. remember, when i started working on reform, not a one of these elected officials stepped up to the plate and acknowledged that this was a problem. i went out and raised funds from san franciscans to support it, but when it became clear that this was going to be a major matt -- a major battle, remember, this is something like $3 million to oppose the first effort, not acknowledging that this was even a problem. i went to the two of them. one of them as a democrat. he also supported barack obama and mac in dollars when he ran for mayor. again, to pigeonholed -- pigeonhole individuals simply because they're supporting a particular effort, despite the fact that we need effective

penchant for in the city. thank you. [applause] >> question for david chiu. the city over the years has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on services for housing and the homeless, yet it is still a big problem, especially aggressive and intimidating panhandling. we have heard that from tourists and residents. what is the problem? why does the city seems unable to fix that problem? what gets in the way, and how do you balance civil liberties with public safety? >> part of what has gotten in the way is our city over the years has swung between two and the odd couples. on the one hand, law enforcement to billets criminalize homeless activities like aggressive panhandling. on the other hand, a perspective that keeps law-enforcement out and only focus on social services to homeless. i think we have to do a better job of integrating these services to this is why i was proud is to give -- to support the community justice center. this is why i am proud to

support increasing -- >> we have talked about this for 25 years. you go to other cities like new york, and it does not seem to be a problem. why is san francisco different? >> in new york city under review juliani, there was a different political culture that allow that mayor to take homeless folks off the streets. i think with a bit more disregard for civil liberties in the context. in san francisco, we do stand up for civil liberties. we stand up for compassion and treating homeless folks with dignity. i am a big supporter of supportive housing, making sure when we provide housing, we bundle but with the appropriate social services, mental health services, the dragon out all services that we need and case management that we need to make sure that we are delivering services to hold votes accountable. >> what do you tell a tourist or resident who has been harassed by a homeless person? >> first of all, we hope that you do not necessarily give them money, that you direct them to places in the area where they can get help.

i am supportive of the project homeless connect project, making sure we direct folks in the right way. the reality is there have been five mayors in a oroville have promised to end homelessness. this is a very difficult issue. i think if we do a better job integrating different services, using data, we can spend our money and more efficient ways. >> all right, i have a question. if you were mayor, how would you fight a gang violence, and would you support youth curfew's day and night in gang injections? >> i am supportive of the city attorney's gang in junction. i am also supportive of curfews. but i do think that the issue is a little more systemic. i'd think that we need to really look at our schools and the opportunity that our children have for not only good education but also good jobs when they get out of school. what we see with a lot of the members of our gang community is

that the kids have nowhere to go. they are out after 1:00 in the morning at a very young age, and is one of the reasons why i am very supportive of the neighborhood school initiative. we need to give local control of our schools back to our communities so that our kids, when they leave school, at the end of their day, they have church programs and community centers to go back to, like they did 20 years ago when i was growing up. so we had a system in place then where children would go from their schools and to their community centers, and would have after-school programs, athletic programs, tutorials, and that whole system has really gone into -- has gone sideways and now our kids travel 45 minutes across town and have no real anchor. >> thank you. >> language axises a very important issue in the immigrant community. -- language access is very

important. as in the year, how would you have concrete steps to address that and implement that? >> in san francisco, we're blessed and have been blessed for a century in after being a place that people come from all over the world to be a part of our community. in recent years that we have known we have vast amounts of our $6.8 billion government, services that are not being provided, as they could, to individuals in our community to do not speak english. this is why i was brought to champion the language access ordinance in my first year in office. one of the challenge in a budget-type environment is we have not had the money to put into the types of translation services that we need the money to hire folks who are either from the communities or can work with sensitivity to the diversity of communities we have. last year, i was proud to sponsor money in the budget to make sure that we had a minimal level of transition services in one of our department, but we need to do better. i would want to make sure that we're really truly making city

hall and city government and accessible to all. >> ms. gordon. >> to what. this message -- this question is for tony hall. regarding the san francisco century policy, the city has been very strong in defending the rights of undocumented immigrants to live here in san francisco. would you advocate changing it, and if so, would you expect your police department in your human services agency, the sheriff's department, although that is is every elected official, adult probation department, juvenile probation to change the way they're handling the issue? >> yes, you heard me stay in the opening statement that goes with the only candidate that would put an end to a century city. it is not that want to deport people. it put public safety in jeopardy. and the first responsibility of the mayor -- is this thing on? here we go.

the first -- there we go. the first responsibility of an elected official is protect the safety of the citizens. i am not after reporting. i do not want to deport people, but i want to know what they were accused of. i believe in the secured amenities act, obama's secured committed this act. i think sanctuary city is a politically incorrect policy that puts public safety at risk. i want to do process. i want a hearing for those people accused of crimes and due process. and they have to suffer the consequences of images like the rest of us do. under this present policy, undocumented aliens accused of committing a crime have more rights than citizens here in san francisco. >> as a follow-up, would you expect your city employees, if you were mayor, to cooperate productively with the federal authority? >> absolutely. i would expect and to cooperate when it comes to the safety of all citizens in every way

possible. every way. [applause] >> this question is for mr. herrerra. the campaign as i have seen have was the focus not on you but on the gentleman to your left, ed lee. you have a slogan that says ed lee is getting it done for his friends and first contributors, not for us. and this is from today accusing ed lee of being deliberately dishonest by repeatedly filing disclosure forms late. do you think ed lee does not have the integrity to be mayor? >> i think that ed lee has a lot of integrity. i have no problem with his personal integrity whatsoever. but being mayor is about leadership and determining whether someone can be independent of folks that they are politically allied with. with respect to the press releases that i put out today, i did not say he was being deliberately dishonest. what i said was that on 69

occasions since he has been in the position of mayor, he has failed to file forms that require to be filed within five days on city contracts. he has failed to file the. those are the facts. >> the press release used the word dishonest. >> the facts speak for themselves. i would be interested in what he has to say are the reasons behind this. i understand that mistakes are made sometimes bit of a 69 times reveals a pattern-from the beginning, the question that i had was, was mayor lee going to be his own man? quick as they follow, is it awkward at all if he wins that you're still the city attorney? [laughter] >> let me tell you, and i will not reveal an attorney-client privilege, but we have met repeatedly since he announced his candidacy for this office, and we have both been very clear in interactions we have had with our staff that we expect everybody to be professional and carry out their

responsibilities. we have had many meetings, and i think we have done a pretty good job when we're discussing issues to separate out the professional from the political. and i have been actually heartened by that interaction we have had together. >> all right, thank you. >> a follow-up question regarding that issue, as a city attorney, do you have a legal right to a vice mayor lee -- to advise the mayor to file this on time? >> that is what the law is. it is clear that you have to do it within five days. it has been done by mayor newsom. it has been done previously. and if major lee had asked me, do i have to file this within five days, of course i would have told him they had to do so. but it has been common knowledge. it is none by the board of supervisors and by every state department. i have had to file them, too, for contracts that i approved. in that same time span, i have

missed one. i cannot speak for what other members of the board had done. but it is very clear in the law and very straightforward. >> thank you. this is a lightning round question, so raise your hand. do you support the central subway rail extension to chinatown? ok. i am going to start by asking you, dennis herrera, you did support it at one point. now you very publicly do not supported. what you tell the people of oregon, perhaps from the southeast section, which will be on the second extension in chinatown or the people in chinatown and have some of the most heavies' it transit rider chavern san francisco that you do not want them to at the subway project? >> what i would say is it is not the same project the voters voted on in 2003 when it was 60 -- 6 and 50 two million dollars, and now it is a $1.6 billion project. and it was supposed to connect

communities, and it was supposed to be part of the four corridors' plan. it does not connect communities in my opinion any more because of the route changes and no longer connects directly into connectsmuni metro system. when you look at your overall financial health of the muni, you look at how their routes have changed, you look at projections, and you look at the dramatic cost impact that would occur at a time when they're raising your parking meter rates to pay for a system that is broke, that it no longer fulfills its mission that was promised to the public. it no longer connects communities, and we need to come up with a system that is better designed and lives up to the promise that was made to people but in chinatown, and the southeast sector, and in communities throughout san francisco are screaming out for effective quality muni service. >> just a quick thought -- [applause] this is very far down the road in terms of being close to

securing federal funding. there's no indication there will be federal funding for another project coming through. you just get up on this? >> i think that we need to look at a redesign of the project. quite frankly, if you look at it, if you look at what is occurring in washington, i know that there were a number of discussions about what federal funding will be available for future new start programs. i mean, a lot of people have talked about fulfilling the promise of taking this all the way to fisherman's wharf. with the budget-cutting that is going on, when elected democrats and republicans talking about debt reduction, -- when you look at democrats and republicans talking back debt reduction, there's no guarantee that will happen. with the cost overrun, we're going to be responsible for every dollar of cost overrun that happens. from my perspective, there needs to be a redesigned to make sure that the people in chinatown get the service that they deserve. [applause] >> quick follow-up to david

chew. you have been a very strong proponent of the central subway. we do not have a lot of time on this. >> i have an answer to this, too. >> what is your answer to dennis herrera? is this a project that can come back with a second chance? i respect folks that have raised these questions. but these are questions that have been asked and answered for years. if we have discussed and debated this. at the board and throughout city government. we will not see that $1 billion that we have been expecting that will create 45,000 jobs and create a connection that you're talking about. i want to make sure that mission bay is connected to chinatown, to union square, to caltrain. i also think that no great city has ever regretted building a subway. but great cities regret not building subways. i happen to think we should not just do it in chinatown. i hope someou