Connie Chan (politician)

Chan was born in Hong Kong and migrated to San Francisco at the age of thirteen with her family, who settled in Chinatown.{{Cite web|author=Dan Gentile|date=2020-11-16|title=What District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan learned from Kamala Harris|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Connie-Chan-Kamala-Harris-sf-supervisor-15717445.php|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}} She attended high school at the Galileo Academy of Science and Technology and earned her bachelor's degree at the University of California, Davis.

Chan was a spokesperson for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and City College of San Francisco.{{Cite web|last=Fracassa|first=Dominic|date=2020-01-20|title=Longtime local political aide to run for SF Richmond District's supervisor seat|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Longtime-local-political-aide-to-run-for-SF-14984295.php|access-date=2021-02-24|website=San Francisco Chronicle|language=en-US}} She also worked for the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens.{{Cite web |title=Chan Declares Victory in Tight San Francisco District 1 Supervisor Race |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/politics/decision-2020/chan-declares-victory-in-tight-san-francisco-district-1-supervisor-race/2394573/ |access-date=2021-02-24 |website=NBC Bay Area |date=November 10, 2020 |language=en-US}} At various points, Chan was an aide to Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, and Supervisor Aaron Peskin.

Two days after incumbent Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer announced she would not seek re-election in 2020, Chan (a resident of the Richmond District) announced her candidacy for the open District 1 seat. Fewer endorsed Chan to be her successor.{{Cite web |last=Thadani |first=Trisha |date=2020-09-23 |title=S.F. still faces a housing crisis. Where do the Board of Supervisors candidates stand on fixing it? |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/S-F-still-faces-a-housing-crisis-Where-do-the-15588709.php |access-date=2021-11-04 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US}} She also received the endorsement of two former supervisors who held the seat, Eric Mar and Jake McGoldrick.

In the November 2020 general election, Chan won by 134 votes against challenger Marjan Philhour, a senior adviser to Mayor London Breed. Philhour, a centrist candidate,St. John Barned-Smith, [https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/sf-pitta-philhour-chan-sign-18649735.php Tempers flare when S.F. candidate's campaign sign is removed], San Francisco Chronicle (February 5, 2024). had previously run for the seat in 2016, but was defeated by Fewer.

Chan was sworn into office on January 8, 2021.

Chan supported legislation by Supervisor Dean Preston to create a city-run public bank.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-27|title=SF supe introduces legislation to create first city-run 'public bank'|url=https://missionlocal.org/2021/01/sf-supe-introduces-legislation-to-create-first-city-run-public-bank/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Mission Local|language=en-US}} In February 2021, Chan supported a plan to provide free Summer Activities for San Francisco's elementary school students.{{Cite web|last=Thadani|first=Trisha|date=2021-02-28|title=Free summer camp for all young S.F. public school students? Costly city proposal could help families|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Free-summer-camp-for-all-young-S-F-public-school-15984290.php|access-date=2021-03-02|website=San Francisco Chronicle|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2021-03-01|title=SF Supervisors propose free summer programs for SFUSD students amid prolonged school closures|url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/sf-supervisors-propose-free-summer-programs-for-sfusd-students-amid-prolonged-school-closures|access-date=2021-03-02|website=Bay City News|language=en-US}}

In February 2021, Chan and Peskin called upon the city controller and Budget Analyst's Office to investigate the San Francisco Parks Alliance, amid a debate on whether to renew the city's contract with the Alliance to operate the SkyStar Wheel, a Ferris wheel at Golden Gate Park.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-23|title=SF Supes call for investigation into SF Parks Alliance contracts stemming from Ferris wheel debate|url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/sf-supes-call-for-investigation-into-sf-parks-alliance-contracts-stemming-from-ferris-wheel-debate|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Bay City News|language=en-US}} Chan and fellow Supervisor Aaron Peskin blocked a decision by the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission to extend the wheel's stay through 2025, referring it to a vote in the Board of Supervisors.{{Cite web|agency=Bay City News|date=2021-03-04|title=SkyStar Observation Wheel in SF's Golden Gate Park reopens|url=https://abc7news.com/10387606/|access-date=2021-03-17|website=ABC7 San Francisco|language=en}} Instead of the Commission's proposal for a four-year extension, Chan and Peskin proposed a one-year extension, citing complaints from Ferris wheel opponents regarding the wheel's bright lights and electric generator, which they said might injure wildlife, as well as the San Francisco Parks Alliance's linkage to a corruption investigation. The Board of Supervisors rejected the Chan/Peskin proposal on a 6–5 vote.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=Ferris Wheel Stays In San Francisco's Golden Gate Park Through 2025|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/ferris-wheel-to-remain-in-san-franciscos-golden-gate-park-through-2025/|agency=Bay City News/CBS News Bay Area}}{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=Ferris wheel will spin in Golden Gate Park for 4 more years after all|url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/ferris-wheel-will-spin-in-golden-gate-park-for-4-more-years-after-all|access-date=2021-03-17|website=KTVU FOX 2|language=en-US}}

As chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Peskin appointed Chan as chair of the Budget Committee,{{cite news |last1=Redmond |first1=Tim |title=Budget Chair Chan prepares for serious challenges to mayor's budget priorities |url=https://48hills.org/2023/03/budget-chair-chan-prepares-for-serious-challenges-to-mayors-budget-priorities/ |access-date=19 February 2024 |agency=48 Hills |date=March 3, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Wenus |first1=Laura |title=Listen: Supervisor Connie Chan digs into the budget and a bread bowl |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/podcasts/article/soup-supes-connie-chan-18103086.php |access-date=19 February 2024 |agency=Chronicle Podcasts |date=May 23, 2023}} whose other members were Supervisors Myrna Melgar and Joel Engardio.Mike Ege, [https://sfstandard.com/2023/06/29/san-francisco-lawmakers-hash-out-14-billion-budget-deal/ San Francisco lawmakers hash out $14.6B budget deal], San Francisco Standard (June 29, 2023). As Budget Committee chair, Chan supported extension of the COVID-19 pandemic-era CalFresh emergency benefits and called for eventually making the Muni system fare-free.

Chan disagreed with several of Mayor Breed's key priorities. Chan and other supervisors, along with the mayor, ultimately negotiated a $14.6 billion budget, which ended a $780 million deficit that had emerged in the two years of the pandemic,{{cite news |last1=Shanks |first1=Adam |title=SF supervisors adopt $14.6B budget, close deficit |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/politics/sf-budget-one-step-closer-to-law-after-supervisors-approve/article_b5cd0814-2023-11ee-b011-cf5ca6700fd5.html |newspaper=San Francisco Examiner |date=July 19, 2023}} and largely preserved Breed's major proposals on public safety and economic policy. The budget included close to $63 million in additional funding for San Francisco Police Department, representing an 8.5% increase in the department's budget. Chan opposed Breed's separate proposal for an additional $27 million supplemental appropriation to SFPD. The budget also adopted a compromise negotiated between Breed and supervisors regarding funding of the San Francisco emergency homeless shelter network. The budget adopted a limited version of Breed's proposal to offer tax incentives to firms opening new offices in downtown San Francisco.

In 2020, while running for the Board of Supervisors, Chan expressed support for building more denser housing along Geary Boulevard and other major thoroughfares, but only if the new developments were affordable housing; Chan also argued that building more market-rate housing does not increase housing affordability.

In 2021, Chan voted to block the development of 495-unit apartment complex (one-quarter of which were designated as affordable housing) on a Nordstrom's valet parking lot next to a BART station. The 8–3 vote in the Board of Supervisors was highly controversial.{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Heather |date=2021-10-30 |title=S.F.'s real housing crisis: Supervisors who took a wrecking ball to plans for 800 units |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/bayarea/heatherknight/article/S-F-supervisors-complain-about-our-housing-16576412.php |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US}}

In 2021, Chan supported the reopening of the Great Highway (a two-mile stretch of road bypassing the Outer Sunset) to cars. Auto access to the Great Highway had been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and turned into a walkway.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-30 |title=Politicians Talk of Climate Change, Revert to Status Quo |url=https://sf.streetsblog.org/2021/08/30/politicians-talk-of-climate-change-but-revert-to-the-status-quo/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=Streetsblog San Francisco |language=en-US}}

In a 2022 vote in the Board of Supervisors' Rules Committee, Chan and Peskin voted down a proposal (supported by Supervisor Ahsha Safaí and Mayor London Breed) to place a referendum on the city ballot to streamline the permitting process for certain housing developments; San Francisco takes substantially longer to approve housing permits than other California municipalities.{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Long permitting process makes S.F.'s housing crisis even worse |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/archives/long-permitting-process-makes-s-f-s-housing-crisis-even-worse/article_e3ff4b4e-8968-5ade-b107-baa5431e55a7.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=The San Francisco Examiner |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=J. D. |date=2022-01-27 |title=Mayor Breed's push to streamline housing production killed by supervisors |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/Mayor-Breed-s-push-to-streamline-housing-16807641.php |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US}} Breed described the vote as "obstructionism."

In 2022, Chan authored a bill that would have streamlined the development of 100% affordable housing that met the requirements laid out in the bill.{{cite news |last1=Alvarado |first1=Madison |title=Proposition E — Affordable Housing – Board of Supervisors |url=https://www.sfpublicpress.org/proposition-e-affordable-housing-board-of-supervisors/ |access-date=19 February 2024 |agency=San Francisco Public Press |date=October 13, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Hom |first1=Annika |date=May 24, 2022 |title=Affordable-housing charter amendments compete. What’s the difference? |url=https://missionlocal.org/2022/05/affordable-housing-charter-amendments-compete-whats-the-difference/ |access-date=19 February 2024 |agency=Mission Local}}{{cite news |last1=Chan |first1=Connie |date=June 7, 2022 |title=City Hall: Connie Chan |url=https://sfrichmondreview.com/2022/06/07/city-hall-connie-chan-18/ |access-date=19 February 2024 |agency=Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon}}{{cite news |last1=Staff |date=May 24, 2022 |title=Supervisor Chan to Introduce Affordable Housing |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/Supervisor-Chan-To-Introduce-Affordable-Housing-17194313.php |access-date=19 February 2024 |agency=SF Gate}} Chan and the owners of the long vacant Alexandria Theatre announced the City and the building owner were exploring a development agreement to convert the former movie theatre into 76 housing units, with affordable housing units on-site.{{cite news |last1=Salazar |first1=James |title=When a movie house becomes homes: Alexandria Theater unveils new plan |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/housing/sf-supe-connie-chan-unveils-new-inner-richmond-housing-plan/article_afcd438c-572f-11ee-bad5-93d0d09140bb.html |access-date=19 February 2024 |agency=San Francisco Examiner |date=September 19, 2023}}

In December 2023, Chan and Peskin asked the city attorney to sue the State of California to challenge the implementation of SB 423, a new California law (sponsored by state Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco) that allowed streamlined approval for housing development projects. In their letter, Chan and Peskin asserted that the law unfairly discriminated against San Francisco, and that San Francisco had sufficiently produced market-rate housing. Weiner criticized Chan's and Peskin's letter as an attempt to encourage the filing of a "frivolous lawsuit" and criticized city authorities for creating "extreme impediments" to resolving the San Francisco housing shortage.Aldo Toledo, [https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/peskin-chan-weiner-housing-18585523.php Two S.F. leaders want to sue California over its housing mandate], San Francisco Chronicle (January 2, 2024).

In response to SB 423, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a package to reform San Francisco’s byzantine housing permitting and review process, by a 9-2 vote, with Peskin and Chan opposing.{{cite news|title=S.F. passes crucial housing reforms. Will it be enough to satisfy the state?|last=Toledo|first=Aldo|date=Dec 5, 2023|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/san-francisco-supervisors-housing-18535145.php|work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

Chan sought reelection in 2024, running again against Philhour in a rematch of the 2020 race. The race was hotly contested.Danielle Echeverria, [https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/connie-chan-campaign-kickoff-19084637.php SF Supe Connie Chan, facing tough challenge, kicks off reelection bid], San Francisco Chronicle (March 16, 2024).Aldo Toledo, [https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/connie-chan-sea-cliff-18709972.php This wealthy SF area could be deciding factor in key supervisor race], San Francisco Chronicle (March 10, 2024). As was the case in the campaign four years earlier, Chan ran as a progressive while Philhour has run as a centrist/moderate.

Chan won her reelection in a count that was called on November 11.Joe Burn, [https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/11/san-francisco-election-2024-connie-chan-wins/ Supe Connie Chan wins tight race to keep her job], "The San Francisco Standard" (November 11, 2024).

Chan's long time partner, Ed, is a member of the San Francisco Fire Department. The couple has a son.{{Cite web|title=District 1 {{!}} Board of Supervisors|url=https://sfbos.org/supervisor-chan-district-1|access-date=2021-02-25|website=sfbos.org}} Like many Asian women of her generation, she is named after American news anchor Connie Chung.{{Cite news |last=Knight |first=Heather |date=2024-02-18 |title=No, Your Honor, You Can’t Call Yourself ‘High Justice’ on the Ballot in Chinese |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/18/us/chinese-ballot-names-san-francisco.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |work=The New York Times}}

{{reflist}}

{{SFSupervisors}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chan, Connie}}

Category:Hong Kong emigrants to the United States

Category:Living people

Category:University of California, Davis alumni

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:California politicians of Chinese descent

Category:Women city councillors in California

Category:San Francisco Board of Supervisors members

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)