Lydia So nominated to fill the vacant seat on SFMTA Board after a one-year delay

(SAN FRANCISCO) After a long delay, Mayor London Breed announced on June 16 the nomination of Chinese American Lydia So to the 7-member San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors which has no Asian representation for almost one year.

According to Breed's press release, So, who is fluent in English and Cantonese, lives in San Francisco and has been a longtime resident of the Mission neighborhood.

"Lydia has extensive experience in public service and has been a longtime advocate for San Francisco and her community,” Breed stated in the press release. “With her knowledge and commitment to serving our communities, I am confident Lydia will be able to work closely with the SFMTA on addressing transportation issues and advancing transit priorities that are critical to continue to move our City forward.”

So founded her own architecture firm in San Francisco in 2015. She managed the Apple retail real estate team in North America prior to starting her business.

“Public transit connects people to their community. I am honored to have Mayor Breed’s trust to take on this leadership opportunity to improve the public transit system in San Francisco, especially during a time this city is recovering from the pandemic,” So said in the press release.

So did not respond to the request for comment by press time.

“Lydia So is highly qualified to the Board of the MTA, particularly when it comes to ensuring the safety and accessibility of public transportation for seniors and addressing the needs of monolingual minorities,” said Annie Chung, President and CEO of Self Help for the Elderly.

Malcolm Yeung, Executive Director of the Chinatown CDC, joined Chung to support the appointment.

If the appointment is approved by the Board of Supervisors, So will fill the seat left by Sharon Lai who resigned in July 2022. All 7 members of the SFMTA Board are appointed by the mayor.

Breed first nominated Gloria Li to replace Lai in September 2022. Li's appointment was opposed by District 1 Chinese American Supervisor Connie Chan and tabled by then Committee Chair Aaron Peskin at the Rules Committee meeting in October 2022. Li withdrew her nomination at a later time.

Since July 2022, there has been no Asian representation on the SFMTA Board. While the Asian population has grown to 36% at the 2020 census and the Asian ridership has reached 40% in San Francisco.

The Chinese community has urged Breed to appoint more Chinese and Asians to the SFMTA Board for months during a time that a number of the high profile anti-Asian hate and violent incidents occurring on buses or at bus stops, including a 15-year-old high school student who was stabbed aboard at Union Square when he took a bus after school at North Beach going home in March.