Daniel Lurie becomes the first mayoral candidate in 2024 to open a campaign office in the heart of San Francisco Chinatown

SAN FRANCISCO — Daniel Lurie has become the first mayoral candidate in the race of 2024 to open a campaign office in the heart of San Francisco Chinatown. Three of his loyal supporters with deep Chinatown roots applauded Lurie's vision to show his commitment to serving the Asian community with a daily-operated campaign office in Chinatown.

Now is in the countdown with only eight weeks left until the November 5 election and four weeks until voters start to cast their votes. Mayoral race is among the most contested items locally in the San Francisco November election. Voters will decide if they want to keep the status quo to elect an incumbent or a new mayor to lead the city in a new direction for the next four years.

A total of 13 candidates will be running for San Francisco Mayor in the November election. The media and political organizations have placed their attention mostly on five candidates, incumbent Mayor London Breed, former Interim Mayor and former District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell, nonprofit executive and heir to Levi's fortune Daniel Lurie, President of the Board of Supervisors Aaron Peskin , and District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai.

Every vote counts, especially in any very competitive political race. Getting more support from Chinese and Asian voters has become a common strategy for all candidates in San Francisco in recent decades, since Chinese is the largest ethnic group behind White in the city in both the general and registered voter populations.

According to the latest data from the City's Department of Elections, 510,608 voters have registered for the upcoming November election. Among them, 468,440 voters registered in English, 30,036 voters filled in the registration forms in Chinese, outnumbered 7,816 voters registered in Spanish.

In the 2020 U.S. Census data, the White population in San Francisco had been down to 39.1%, Asians had grown to 33.7%, Hispanic or Latino population was 15.6%, Black population was 5.1%.

Among the Asian residents in San Francisco, Chinese was the largest group with 21% in 2020, followed by Filipino 4.4%, Indian American 2.2%, Korean 1.5%, Vietnamese 1.4%, and Japanese 0.9%.

Lurie's campaign headquarters is located in Inner Sunset on Irving Street and a field office is in the Mission District. The new Chinatown campaign office is located on Clay Street in the heart of Chinatown facing the Portsmouth Square where many elderly Chinatown residents stay in the daytime for fun and rest as their "living room".

As the first mayoral candidate in 2024 to open a campaign office in San Francisco Chinatown, Lurie said the Chinatown field office has been very significant both to the Chinese community and himself.

"By opening a campaign office in Chinatown, I’m sending a clear message that this community’s voices, concerns, and contributions are central to the future of San Francisco," said Lurie. "This office will serve as a hub for listening, engagement, and action, ensuring that Chinatown’s needs are not just heard but prioritized as we work together to create a safer, more inclusive city."

Lurie said his Chinatown office would be open daily from noon to 6pm with staff and volunteers.

Three of Lurie's super volunteers and supporters, retired San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Commander Paul Yep, retired SFPD Captain Robert Yick, and community leader Ann Yuey, were among the first to tour the Chinatown campaign office prior to the opening ceremony held on September 6.

All three of them have had strong ties and deep roots in Chinatown and were excited to learn the idea from Lurie of setting up the Chinatown campaign office. Yep and Yick were both born and grew up in Chinatown, while Yuey is a Chinatown resident for five decades.

Yep is one of the most respected Chinese American police leaders in San Francisco. Yep was born in the Chinese Hospital in Chinatown and raised by a single mother at the Ping Yuen Public Housing. His mother by working multiple jobs saved money to send Yep to the private Saint Mary School in Chinatown.

Yep joined the SFPD in 1994 and was elected by his peers as the President of the Asian Peace Officers Association (APOA) for a number of years until he was promoted to the rank of Captain. The APOA bylaw restricts any ranking on or above Captain to serve on its Board of Directors.

During his tenure at the SFPD, Yep had served as the Captain of Central Police Station. He created and designated a Sergeant position to supervise the entire Chinatown area and assigned most Chinese American officers patrolling Chinatown to ensure the safety for the community when he was the commanding officer at the Central Station which covers Chinatown. At one time, there were up to nine foot beat officers assigned in Chinatown under Yep's watch.

Yep took an early retirement in August 2023 after serving in the SFPD for 28 years. Since his retirement from the SFPD, Yep has still maintained a close relationship with the Chinatown community as a leader and volunteer.

Once Lurie announced his run for mayor, Yep became one of the very first Chinese American leaders to endorse Lurie's candidacy. "Being the only mayoral candidate setting up a Campaign Site in the heart of Chinatown, exemplifies his commitment to the API community," said Yep.

"Located near Portsmouth Square, it will provide the Chinese community access to his plans to improve San Francisco and an opportunity to get to know him better near the 'living room of Chinatown'," Yep said.

Yick took an early retirement almost at the same time as Yep in 2023. Yick followed Yep to endorse Lurie's candidacy early this year. Like Yep, Yick was also born and grew up in Chinatown. Until now, Yick still lives in a neighborhood close to Chinatown.

Yick is a fifth generation San Franciscan. His grandfather Robert Yick was the former President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and founder of the famous Robert Yick Company which was established in 1910 in San Francisco. The company has gained a reputation fabricating stainless steel Wok Ranges and manufactured custom stainless products for restaurants. It has helped so many Chinese restaurants build their custom kitchens in the city and across the nation.

By growing up and following his grandfather in San Francisco Chinatown, Yick joined SFPD in 1993 and took an early retirement in 2023 after serving for 29 years as a Captain at the Taraval Police Station. Yick also served as the Captain of Central Police Station prior.

When asked why he supported Lurie for mayor in a city where his family has been home for several generations over a century, Yick said he shared many values with Lurie who was also born in San Francisco and Lurie's family has roots in the city.

"I know that Daniel has a lot of priorities that also include public safety," said Yick. "I am familiar with what our needs are, and I believe that his priorities are very much in line with what is needed for San Francisco to continue to provide that adequate service."

Yick liked Lurie's ideas to bring everyone together. "He really wants city agencies to work together. Not only that, but city agencies with state and federal agencies, and as mayor just ensuring that everyone works together and is on the same page and have the same goal is really first and foremost, should be the priority."

85-year-old Ann Yuey has been a super volunteer posting signs for Lurie for months around Chinatown where she has resided for almost five decades.

Yuey was born in Kong Kong and went to college in Macau. Her father was a school principal in Hong Kong managing four high school campuses at the same time. She founded a childcare center teaching young age children prior to coming to San Francisco in 1973.

Yuey was a mother of four young sons when she first immigrated to San Francisco and settled down in North Beach next to Chinatown. She has fallen in love with San Francisco and has never left the City.

"San Francisco is a beautiful city welcoming all immigrants," said Yuey. "But I am so sad to see our city becoming a city full of violent crimes, drug addicts, homeless people with mental illness, and garbage on city streets everyday."

"This upcoming election provides us an opportunity to make a change and elect new leadership for the city," Yuey said. "It will be a tough job as the next mayor. Daniel still wants to take the challenge to make San Francisco a better city for everyone. I share many values with Daniel in his platform including public safety."

Yuey said she would also spend more time at Lurie's Chinatown office as a volunteer. " It is a great way to reach out to our voters," said Yuey.