San Francisco Police Officers Association endorses early for D1 Supervisor candidate Marjan Philhour, opposes incumbent Connie Chan

(SAN FRANCISCO) Public safety has been seen as the top priority issue both for voters and candidates in San Francisco in 2024. San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA) has taken an early step to publicly endorse District 1 (D1) Supervisor candidate Marjan Philhour and oppose current D1 Supervisor Connie Chan for re-election.

On January 8, SFPOA and Philhour called for a press conference in front of the Richmond Police Station to announce the endorsement. A number of the crime victims from different ethnicities joined the event to support Philhour to be the next Supervisor representing the Richmond District which is one of the Asian neighborhoods in the City with almost 40% population Asians.

Four candidates have filed papers to run for D1 Supervisor in November 2024, Marjan Philhour, Jen Nossokoff, Sherman D'Silva, and Jeremiah Boehner. As of January 10, Chan has not been listed as an incumbent candidate.

This is the third time for Philhour to run for the same seat as D1 Supervisor in the November 2024 election. In previous two runs, Philhour both lost as the second top runner. The election results in the 2020 November election showed that Philhour only lost by 125 votes from Chan under the ranked-choice voting system.

"Richmond District has a special meaning for me growing up in this neighborhood," said Tracy McCray, President of the SFPOA, a union representing the majority of the police officers serving at the San Francisco Police Department.

This was also the first time in four years for SFPOA to take a position on a political campaign since their opposition to former District Attorney Chesa Boudin's campaign in 2020.

McCray has served at SFPD for over 30 years. "Every single vote matters, we support Marjan Philhour," McCray said.

Besides the endorsement for Philhour, McCray also publicly opposed Chan for re-election. "Supervisor Connie Chan doesn't take this district seriously," McCray said. "She has delayed the police budget." Currently Richmond Station has fewer officers almost by 60%.

Former Richmond Station Captain Michelle Jean, who is currently serving as the Tiburon Police Chief, joined McCray to support Philhour. "Connie Chan lacks leadership," Jean said Philhour understood the needs of the community, supported police officers and would provide up to date technology for the department to fight crime.

Amy Lee, a Chinese immigrant crime victim in an anti-Asian hate attack, spoke at the press conference to support Philhour. Lee was assaulted when she was riding a bus. in the City. "The police officers responded quickly. The officers also helped me to get a restraining order preventing the suspect from getting close to me. I carry that paper with me all the time. The Asian community needs the police officers to protect us," Lee said in Cantonese.

Philhour thanked the endorsements from SFPOA and members of the law enforcement. "I am deeply honored to have earned the support of San Francisco police officers. They are putting their lives on the line in our streets every day, ensuring our safety and working under a city infrastructure that has been hostile to them for too long. Supervisor Connie Chan has failed our neighborhood and its residents.”

Wind Newspaper sent a request for comment to Julie Edwards, spokeswoman for Chan's campaign for re-election. Edwards instead forwarded the request to Chinese American civil rights leader Henry Der to comment.

"She (Chan) has established a positive working relationship with the Richmond District Police Captain, currently Chris Channing, and his police officers, reassuring merchants and businesses on Clement, Geary and Balboa Streets that they can safely carry out their economic activities in service of Richmond District residents," said Der, a 50-year longtime resident of Richmond District.

"Supervisor Chan has regularly supported the Mayor's annual budgets as they relate to funding and staffing for the SF Police Department. Under Supervisor Chan, the Richmond District remains one of the safest neighborhoods in all of San Francisco," Der further said.

"Supervisor Chan is focused on the needs of the Richmond District. We don't need a supervisor who is controlled by downtown and high tech interests who get behind certain plans that are not in the best interests of Richmond District residents," Der commented.

Latest crime data from the San Francisco Police Department indicates that robberies in the Richmond District in 2023 were up by 51.7% than 2022. There were a total of 87 robberies reported in 2022. The robbery cases increased to 132 in 2023 with 51.7% more than in 2022.

There was one homicide in Richmond District in 2022. Four homicides were reported in 2023 with a 300% increase. Burglary reports in 2023 were up by 7.5%, 475 burglaries in 2023 and 442 in 2022.