Jane Kim

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jane Kim

| image = SupervisorJaneKim.png

| caption = Official portrait, 2014

| office = Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
from the 6th district

| term_start = January 8, 2011

| term_end = January 8, 2019

| predecessor = Chris Daly

| successor = Matt Haney

| birth_name = Jane Jungyon Kim

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|7|9}}

| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic (2008–present)
Green (before 2008)

| otherparty = Working Families (2022–present)

| education = Stanford University (BA)
University of California, Berkeley (JD)

| signature = Jane-Kims-signature.png

| website = {{url|janekim.org|Official website}}

| partner = Goodwin Liu

}}

Jane Jungyon Kim{{cite book |title=Annual Commencement: Order of Exercises |date=1996 |publisher=Stanford University |pages=35–36, 54}} (born July 9, 1977) is an American attorney and politician, and the first Korean American elected official in San Francisco. She represented San Francisco's District 6 on the Board of Supervisors between 2011 and 2019.{{cite news |last=Gordon |first=Rachel |title=Incoming S.F. supervisor Jane Kim has grand goals|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/30/BAIQ1H07OB.DTL |access-date=January 3, 2011 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=December 31, 2010}} She is a member of the San Francisco's Democratic County Central Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://sfelections.org/results/20160607/|title=SFDOE Results|website=sfelections.org}} She is executive director of the California Working Families Party.{{cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Progressive-Working-Families-Party-lands-in-16770927.php|title=Progressive Working Families Party lands in California, and is targeting moderate Democrats|last=Garofoli|first=Joe|date=January 13, 2022|access-date=January 13, 2022|website=San Francisco Chronicle}}

Prior to her election to the Board of Supervisors, Kim was a member and then president of the San Francisco Board of Education. In 2016, she ran for the 11th California State Senate District, but lost to Scott Wiener in a run-off election after finishing first place in the primary. She was a candidate for mayor in the 2018 San Francisco mayoral election, finishing third with 24.03% of the first-round vote.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Mayoral_election_in_San_Francisco,_California_(2018)|title=Mayoral election in San Francisco, California (2018)|website=Ballotpedia}}

She was the California political director and national regional political director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign.{{cite news | first=Tyler | last=Pager | title=Bernie Sanders Campaign Upping Its Game in California | url=https://fortune.com/2019/11/13/bernie-sanders-california-campaign-upping-its-game-ahead-of-super-tuesday-march-3/ | publisher=Fortune | date=November 13, 2019}}

Early life and education

Jane Kim was born in Manhattan on July 9, 1977,{{cite news |url=http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2010/09/thresa_sparks_and_jane_kim_sis.php |title=Theresa Sparks and Jane Kim, Sisters of Secrecy |last=Eskenazi |first=Joe |date=September 15, 2010 |work=SF Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206010828/http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2010/09/thresa_sparks_and_jane_kim_sis.php |archive-date=December 6, 2011 |access-date=June 28, 2021}} to South Korean parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Seoul in 1971.

Kim grew up learning both the English and Korean languages. Her mother owned a store selling women's clothing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Jane-Kim-takes-progressive-approach-to-pragmatic-12773996.php|title=For Jane Kim, now's the time to talk about cleaner streets|date=March 23, 2018|website=San Francisco Chronicle}} Her father joined Kiss Products, a global cosmetics company, while she was in college.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Its-Oppo-Dump-Time-SF-Mayoral-Candidate-Jane-Kim-Slams-Reporters-Questions-About-Her-Privileged-Upbringing-in-Medium-Post-481803801.html/|title = 'It's Oppo Dump Time:' SF Mayoral Candidate Jane Kim Slams Reporter's Questions About Her 'Privileged Upbringing' in Medium Post| date=5 May 2018 }} At age 14, Kim began studying taekwondo, eventually earning a black belt. She was involved with community activism, especially the issue of homelessness. While attending Spence School, a New York prep school,{{Cite web|url=http://www.spenceschool.org/page/news-detail?pk=929165|title=Jane Kim '95 Delivers Mary Frosch Lecture for Equity & Justice|date=May 1, 2017|website=The Spence School}} she stopped reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in her teens—she rejected the Pledge words "with liberty and justice for all," because she saw that LGBT people were not treated equally.{{cite news|last=Bajko|first=Matthew S.|url=http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=5433|title=Kim cites LGBT rights for pledge silence|date=February 3, 2011|work=Bay Area Reporter|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307163025/http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=5433|archive-date=2014-03-07}}

Kim graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Asian American Studies. She settled in San Francisco and attended the UC Berkeley School of Law. Kim earned a J.D. degree and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2009.

Career

File:Jane Kim in July 2006.jpg

After graduating from Stanford, Kim worked as a Fellow at Greenlining Institute in San Francisco and then as a Youth Community Organizer at the Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC). Reverend Norman Fong, who interviewed her, took a risk in hiring Kim as she was not Chinese American and did not speak Chinese but “she won him over.”{{cite news |url=https://www.sfweekly.com/news/the-identity-card/ |title=The Identity Card |date=October 27, 2010 |last=Roberts |first=Chris |work=SF Weekly |access-date=June 29, 2021}} Kim successfully led a youth volunteer and leadership program in San Francisco Chinatown for six years. Through her community organization efforts, she met power broker Rose Pak.

In 2005 Kim was elected president of the San Francisco People's Organization (SFPO), made up of many notable San Francisco activists and organizers. SFPO worked against several California ballot propositions in November 2005, and assisted with health care and affordable housing measures for San Franciscans through 2006.{{cite news |url=http://www.fogcityjournal.com/news_in_brief/catherine_rauschuber_061002.shtml |title=San Francisco Peoples' Organization celebrates one year anniversary |last=Rauschuber |first=Catherine |date=October 2, 2006 |work=Fog City Journal }}

San Francisco Board of Education

File:Jane Kim swearing in, SF Board of Education, January 2007.jpg. She became the first Korean American elected official in the city's history.]]

In 2003 while campaigning for Green Party mayoral candidate Matt Gonzalez, Kim observed that Asian Americans were not well represented in San Francisco politics despite the size of its population. In 2004, she decided to run for the San Francisco Board of Education. In a field of 12 candidates seeking four seats, Kim came in seventh place; her bid failed in part because she was a member of the minority Green Party and did not have the backing of the Democratic Party. In 2006, Kim mounted a stronger campaign and she came in first in a field of 15 candidates seeking three seats. Kim was the top vote getter in every district except Marina/Cow Hollow, West of Twin Peaks and Castro/Noe Valley. In 2007, she became the first Korean American elected official in San Francisco. Kim's election was part of a more liberal shift in the school board joining Fellow Green Mark Sanchez, Eric Mar, and Kim-Shree Maufas.{{cite journal|url=http://www.gp.org/greenpages/content/volume11/issue1/elections6.php |title=Major California election successes in 2006 |date=Fall 2009 |journal=Green Pages |volume=11 |number=1 |last=Feinstein |first=Mike |author-link=Mike Feinstein |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302222759/http://www.gp.org/greenpages/content/volume11/issue1/elections6.php |archive-date=2014-03-02 }}{{cite journal|url=http://www.gp.org/greenpages/content/volume11/issue1/elections8.php |title=Sanchez chosen President of San Francisco Board of Education |date=Fall 2009 |journal=Green Pages |volume=11 |number=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302222326/http://www.gp.org/greenpages/content/volume11/issue1/elections8.php |archive-date=2014-03-02 }}

In 2006, the school board took up the issue of whether to continue the 90-year-old Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program in San Francisco high schools. The board voted to phase out the JROTC program over two years. In December 2006, previous to taking office, Kim learned about a death threat against her that was sent from a JROTC cadet to his friend on Facebook. The cadet had also used MySpace to threaten a high school girl who argued prominently against JROTC.{{cite news |url=http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=5148 |title=Perpetrator of Jane Kim Death Threat Identified |date=November 29, 2007 |last=Norton |first=Marc |work=BeyondChron }} Kim spoke to the cadet herself and reported that he sincerely regretted his actions.{{cite news |url=http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1436 |title=Threats may hinder efforts to revive JROTC |date=December 28, 2006 |last=Cassell |first=Heather |work=Bay Area Reporter }} Kim took the position that the JROTC program should not be hosted by San Francisco as long as the U.S. military continued its "don't ask, don't tell" policy.{{cite news |url=http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2308 |title=JROTC likely to get another year in SF |date=October 11, 2007 |last=Cassell |first=Heather |work=Bay Area Reporter }} In June 2008 Kim and Norman Yee submitted a proposal to accept JROTC programs as optional after-school activities, without giving students physical education (P.E.) credit toward graduation.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2009/05/11/key-jrotc-vote-tomorrow |title=Key JROTC vote tomorrow |last=Redmond |first=Tim |date=May 11, 2009 |work=San Francisco Bay Guardian}} In October, Kim proposed an alternative program called Student Emergency Response Volunteers (SERV) that would train students in emergency preparedness and disaster relief.{{cite news |url=https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/10/21/18545746.php |title=SERV Program to Be Proposed at School Board |last=Shaw |first=Randy |date=October 21, 2008 |work=BeyondChron}} The bid to remove or replace JROTC failed in a 3–4 vote held in May 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/05/11/daily31.html |title=San Francisco school board votes to keep JROTC |date=May 13, 2009 |first=Vasanth |last=Sridharan |work=San Francisco Business Times |publisher=American City Business Journals}}{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-school-board-to-vote-on-JROTC-3161996.php |title=S.F. school board to vote on JROTC |date=May 13, 2009 |last=Tucker |first=Jill |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

In March 2008, Kim and Sanchez traveled to Israel as members of the U.S. Green Party to investigate whether the party should continue to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions program targeting Israel for its occupation of Palestine. Kim complimented a youth village program near Haifa, recommending its director be brought to San Francisco to help train educators.{{cite journal |url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/34809/local-progressives-step-beyond-normal-boundaries/ |title=Local progressives step beyond 'normal boundaries' |last=Palevsky |first=Stacey |date=April 24, 2008 |journal=J. The Jewish News of Northern California |publisher=San Francisco Jewish Community Publications }}

Kim re-registered with the Democratic Party in 2008 after Barack Obama was elected president.Eskanazi, Joe (June 13, 2011) [http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2011/06/green_party_san_francisco.php "It Ain't Easy Being Green."] SF Weekly.

In 2010, she was elected president of the Board of Education. As board president, Kim had to negotiate statewide budget cuts that resulted in a two-year shortfall of $113 million for San Francisco schools. She authored and led the first district-wide Restorative Justice Program to address the disproportionate suspension and expulsions of African American students and won a pilot to establish ethnic studies classes in all San Francisco public high schools.Smith, Jeremy Adams (December 11, 2011) [https://sfpublicpress.org/bucking-a-punitive-trend-san-francisco-lets-students-own-up-to-misdeeds-instead-of-getting-kicked-out-of-school “Bucking a Punitive Trend, San Francisco lets students own up to misdeeds instead of getting kicked out of school”] San Francisco Public Press Kim stated that the program will “be a cost savings to the district if we’re able to retain more students” and that there is “flexibility to find funding” in a budget of $400 million.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/ethnic-studies-seen-as-smart-move-despite-deficit/Content?oid=2135116 |title=Ethnic studies seen as smart move despite deficit |date=February 24, 2010 |last=Aldax |first=Mike |work=San Francisco Examiner }}

San Francisco Supervisor

Kim had lived in various neighborhoods of San Francisco, including Polk Gulch and the Sunset.{{cite web |url=http://sfist.com/2004/10/28/sfist_interview_jane_kim.php |title=SFist Interview: Jane Kim |first=Eve |last=Batey |date=October 28, 2004 |work=SFist |access-date=February 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516062246/http://sfist.com/2004/10/28/sfist_interview_jane_kim.php |archive-date=May 16, 2016 }} She moved to District 6 in 2009 and subsequently ran in the San Francisco Board of Supervisors election to fill the seat being vacated by Supervisor Chris Daly. District 6 includes Union Square, Tenderloin, Civic Center, Mid-Market, Cathedral Hill, South of Market, South Beach, Mission Bay, Treasure Island, Yerba Buena Island, and Alcatraz. Kim announced her candidacy in January 2010, then she kicked off her campaign in June, at a party attended by former mayors Art Agnos and Willie Brown, as well as the President of the Board of Supervisors, David Chiu, who knew Kim from having shared housing for more than two years.{{cite journal |url=http://news.asianweek.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=2d8fa0d0038b2ab7a15c76d9b0355d15 |title=And the Nominees Are …San Francisco's School Board Candidates |date=September 3, 2004 |journal=AsianWeek |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021050205/http://news.asianweek.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=2d8fa0d0038b2ab7a15c76d9b0355d15 |archive-date=October 21, 2006 }} Kim ran against several candidates, including Theresa Sparks, who was endorsed by mayor Gavin Newsom, and liberal Debra Walker, who was endorsed by the Democratic Party and most labor unions. When Brown contributed $5000 to the Kim campaign, some of her progressive supporters questioned whether Kim was being supported by a political machine. Kim's campaign was seen as having the approval of Rose Pak, but the California Democratic machine of the 1960s and '70s was "dormant".{{cite news |url=http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2010/10/14/willie-brown-and-accusations-machine-politics-d6 |title=Willie Brown and accusations of machine politics in D6 |date=October 14, 2010 |last=Jones |first=Steven T. |work=San Francisco Bay Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016173327/http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2010/10/14/willie-brown-and-accusations-machine-politics-d6 |archive-date=October 16, 2010 |access-date=September 26, 2019}}

Kim won the race for supervisor in an upset victory. When she was sworn in she became the first Korean American supervisor in the nation. She told KoreAm magazine that without the backing of labor unions and the media, and with her own Democratic Party endorsing her opponent, the only strategy she had available was the "old-fashioned" one of visiting as many constituents as possible. This was called Kim's "Fifty-Nine Precinct Strategy" (referring to Howard Dean's fifty-state strategy{{cite web |url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/11/09/919024/-Jane-Kim-8217-s-8220-Fifty-Nine-Precinct-Strategy-8221 |title=Jane Kim's 'Fifty-Nine Precinct Strategy' |last=Hogarth |first=Paul |date=November 9, 2010 |work=DailyKos |access-date=February 28, 2014}}) because of the many neighborhoods of the district that were targeted.{{cite journal |url=http://iamkoream.com/jane-kim-following-her-true-north/ |title=Following Her 'True North' |date=February 2011 |last=Young |first=Bernice |journal=KoreAm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223233738/http://iamkoream.com/jane-kim-following-her-true-north |archive-date=2014-02-23 }} Less support came from the Korean community, who participated little in the election, than from Chinese American supporters, especially senior citizens in Chinatown, and a broad base of San Francisco youth.{{cite news |url=http://newamericamedia.org/2010/11/jane-kim-wins-sf-supervisor-seat-with-multiracial-support.php |title=How Jane Kim Won SF Seat With Multiracial Support |date=November 26, 2010 |last=Lee |first=Aruna |work=New America Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130080836/http://newamericamedia.org/2010/11/jane-kim-wins-sf-supervisor-seat-with-multiracial-support.php |archive-date=November 30, 2010 |url-status=usurped |access-date=September 26, 2019}}

=Pledge of Allegiance=

Kim stood up during the Pledge of Allegiance at Board of Supervisors meetings but refused to recite it in keeping with the decision she had made in her youth.{{cite news| url=https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Jane-Kim-s-brave-stand-on-Pledge-of-Allegiance-2530816.php | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709183106/http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-02-04/opinion/27100781_1_pledge-liberty-and-justice-allegiance | url-status=live | archive-date=July 9, 2012 | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | title=Taking the Pledge | date=February 4, 2011}} Within a few weeks of being sworn in, her silence gained the attention of local and national news media.{{cite news |url=https://abc7news.com/archive/7921804/ |title=Supe Jane Kim refuses to recite Pledge of Allegiance |date=January 26, 2011 |last=Tyler |first=Carolyn |work=ABC News / KGO-TV }}{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/02/san-francisco-supervisor-criticized-refusing-recite-pledge-allegiance/|title=San Francisco Supervisor Criticized For Refusing To Recite Pledge Of Allegiance |date=February 2, 2011 |work=Fox News }} She said in 2011 that the words "liberty and justice for all" were not yet a reality for many in the United States including communities of color, the LGBT community, immigrants and women. Kim said she was committed to "helping our nation achieve those ideals." On July 10, 2013, following the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor, declaring unconstitutional the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Kim recited the Pledge along with the other supervisors. Kim said that, for her, DOMA had "symbolized th[e] inequity" of American justice.{{cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_23632931/san-francisco-supervisor-kim-says-pledge-allegiance-first |title=San Francisco supervisor Kim says pledge of allegiance for first time |agency=Bay City News |date=July 10, 2013 |work=San Jose Mercury News }}{{cite news |url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/07/10/sf-supe-begins-saying-pledge-of-allegiance-after-doma-struck-down/ |title=SF Supe Begins Saying Pledge Of Allegiance After DOMA Struck Down |date=July 10, 2013 |work=CBS News |location=San Francisco}}

=Twitter tax break=

File:CounterPULSE Jessica Robinson Love, mayor Ed Lee, supervisor Jane Kim.jpg and Supervisor Kim pose with Jessica Robinson Love, left]]

Twitter is an online social networking service that was headquartered in District 6 on Folsom Street when Kim took office. In January 2011, Twitter announced it was considering moving a few miles south to the city of Brisbane because the company was expanding and needed ten times more space.{{cite news |url=http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2011/01/twitter_considering_moving_out.php |title=Twitter Considering Moving Out of San Francisco |last=Sherbert |first=Erin |date=January 13, 2011 |work=SF Weekly}}{{cite news |url=http://sfappeal.com/2011/02/tax-exemptions-for-twitter-proposal-officially-announced-at-city-hall/ |title=Twitter Tax Break Proposal Officially Announced At City Hall |date=February 8, 2011 |work=The San Francisco Appeal |agency=Bay City News}} Mayor Ed Lee indicated that he wanted Twitter to stay, so Kim led a team made up of mayoral staffers and Supervisor David Chiu to quickly shape a proposal which she sponsored in early February: Twitter would benefit from a six-year payroll tax exemption on net new jobs if it moved into the neglected and distressed mid-Market Street neighborhood of Kim's district. Talks centered on the company moving to the old Furniture Mart, a large Art Deco office building vacant since 2008.{{cite news |url=http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2011/02/08/jane-kim-on-board-with-drawing-twitter-to-mid-market/ |title=Jane Kim on board with drawing Twitter to Mid-Market |first=John |last=Coté |date=February 8, 2011 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} Kim's tax break proposal would apply to any large company willing to settle in the economically depressed area. Observers felt that this, Kim's first proposal as supervisor, signaled a break with her previous progressive record, to show a pro-business aspect.{{cite news |url=http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2011/02/sf_supervisors_try_to_lure_twi.php |title=Twitter with Tax Breaks |last=Sherbert |first=Erin |date=February 9, 2011 |work=SF Weekly}}{{cite news |url=http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2011/04/05/jane-kims-credibility-problem |title=Jane Kim's credibility problem |last=Jones |first=Steven T. |date=April 5, 2011 |work=San Francisco Bay Guardian}}{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/SF-s-Twitter-tax-break-plan-spurs-political-fight-2387943.php |title=SF's Twitter tax-break plan spurs political fight |last=Gordon |first=Rachel |date=March 20, 2011 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}{{cite news |url=http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2011/03/15/twitter-tax-its-not-all-about-jane-kim |title=Twitter tax: It's not all about Jane Kim |last=Redmond |first=Tim |date=March 15, 2011 |work=San Francisco Bay Guardian}} Former supervisor Chris Daly was critical; he said the plan could not help the city's budget shortfall, a serious problem resulting in jobs and services being cut. Agreeing with this assessment, Local 1021 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) also opposed the plan.{{cite news |url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/03/19/seiu-opposes-san-francisco%E2%80%99s-twitter-tax-deal/ |title=SEIU Opposes San Francisco's Twitter-Tax Deal |date=March 19, 2011 |work=CBS News, SF Bay Area KCBS}} Other businesses expressed anger that they would be unable to take advantage of the tax break.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/more-san-francisco-companies-wonder-why-twitters-tax-break-would-be-exclusive/Content?oid=2171740 |title=More San Francisco companies wonder why Twitter's tax break would be exclusive |last=Begin |first=Bruce |date=March 22, 2011 |work=San Francisco Examiner}} The city Controller's Office reported that the difference between Twitter leaving entirely or moving to mid-Market with the tax break was possibly worth $54 million in added revenue spread over 20 years.{{cite news |url=http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2011/03/twitter_payroll_tax_central_market.php |title=Twitter Promises to Stay in San Francisco – if City Gives Tax Break |last=Sherbert |first=Erin |date=March 16, 2011 |work=SF Weekly}}

In April 2011, the Board of Supervisors voted to approve the payroll tax exemption plan.{{cite news |url=http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2011/04/twitter_tax_break.php |title=Twitter Tax Break Sails Through, Corporate Blackmail Does Work |last=Sherbert |first=Erin |date=April 5, 2011 |work=SF Weekly}} Two weeks later, Twitter signed a ten-year lease on the Furniture Mart building.{{cite news |url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/04/22/twitter-signs-lease-to-sf-mid-market-building/ |title=Twitter Signs Lease To SF Mid-Market Building |date=April 22, 2011 |work=CBS News, SF Bay Area KCBS}} The Twitter tax break remained a defining issue in the San Francisco mayoral election of 2011: Incumbent Lee supported the exemption while challenger John Avalos criticized it.{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/19/twitter-tax-deal-san-francisco-mayor_n_904056.html |title=Twitter Tax Deal Done – But Not For San Francisco's Mayoral Candidates |last=Sledge |first=Matt |date=July 20, 2011 |work=Huffington Post}} Lee retained his seat in the election. By June 2012, Twitter had settled 800 employees into the new location renamed Market Square,{{cite news |url=http://blog.sfgate.com/techchron/2012/06/11/twitter-employees-revel-in-companys-new-headquarters/ |title=Twitter employees revel in company's new headquarters |last=Huet |first=Ellen |date=June 11, 2012 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} and Kim was invited to visit. She posted a photo of Twitter's new "micro health kitchen".{{cite web |url=http://sfist.com/2012/06/11/behold_twitter_headquarters_new_mic.php |title=Behold: Twitter Headquarters' New 'Micro Health Kitchen' |date=June 11, 2012 |last=Keeling |first=Brock |work=SFist |access-date=March 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227222249/http://sfist.com/2012/06/11/behold_twitter_headquarters_new_mic.php |archive-date=December 27, 2014 }} Other tech companies such as Spotify and Yammer took advantage of the payroll tax exemption plan.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/02/business/twitter-helps-revive-a-seedy-san-francisco-neighborhood.html?_r=0 |title=Twitter Helps Revive a Seedy San Francisco Neighborhood |last=Shevory |first=Kristina |date=November 1, 2013 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite web |url=http://ced.berkeley.edu/events-media/news/renovated-market-square-building-transforms-urban-desloation-of-sfs-mid-mar |title=Renovated Market Square Building Transforms Urban Desolation of SF's Mid-Market |date=February 14, 2014 |work=Events + Media |publisher=College of Environmental Design, UC California, Berkeley |access-date=March 4, 2014}}

=Sheriff controversy=

File:Attorney Jane Kim.jpg]]

In 2010, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi represented District 5, which shared a border with District 6. Mirkarimi, a fellow ex-Green Party member and progressive politician, accompanied Kim one day during her District 6 door-to-door campaigning in the border area.

Mirkarimi was elected sheriff in 2011, but he was soon embroiled in a controversy regarding violence allegations that he had restrained his wife by grabbing and bruising her arm. For this he was suspended by Mayor Lee. About two out of three San Franciscans polled said they thought Mirkarimi should not be reinstated as sheriff.{{cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_21377509/san-francisco-poll-indicates-most-residents-think-sheriff |title=San Francisco: Poll indicates most residents think Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi should be removed |date=August 22, 2012 |work=San Jose Mercury News |agency=Bay City News Service}} Despite this popular sentiment, in October 2012, Mirkarimi was reinstated through the votes of four progressive supervisors: Kim, Avalos, David Campos and Christina Olague.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/backlash-for-board-backing-for-mirkarimi/Content?oid=2317446 |title=Backlash for board backing for Mirkarimi |last=Griffin |first=Melissa |date=October 17, 2012 |work=San Francisco Examiner}} Kim said she voted to reinstate Mirkarimi because his wrongdoing was less than that described by the city charter as grounds for removal. On the other hand, she said she would support a recall election to remove Mirkarimi by popular vote.{{cite news|url=http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/sf-supervisor-would-support-sheriff-recall-vote/nSbDT/ |title=SF supervisor would support sheriff recall vote |date=October 11, 2012 |work=KTVU |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224033837/http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/sf-supervisor-would-support-sheriff-recall-vote/nSbDT/ |archive-date=December 24, 2013 }} San Francisco Chronicle columnist C. W. Nevius criticized Kim's position as that of a "political weathervane," unworthy of a leader.{{cite news |last=Nevius |first=C. W. |author-link=C. W. Nevius |date=October 18, 2012 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/nevius/article/S-F-progressives-badly-need-a-leader-3958244.php |title=S.F. progressives badly need a leader |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} San Francisco Bay Guardian editor Steven T. Jones was more supportive, describing how Kim was persistent in questioning Deputy City Attorney Sherri Kaiser to determine what misdemeanor might be considered too small for the mayor to dismiss any elected official.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2012/10/10/supervisors-reinstate-mirkarimi-rejecting-lees-interpretation-official-misconduc |title=Supervisors reinstate Mirkarimi, rejecting Lee's interpretation of official misconduct |date=October 10, 2012 |last=Jones |first=Steven T. |work=San Francisco Bay Guardian}} Kim explained to her supporters that her decision was based on Mirkarimi not abusing the power of his office to commit wrongdoing, a point required by the city charter. She also expressed her worry that the case would have set a precedent allowing the mayor too much power over elected officials.{{cite web |url=http://sfist.com/2012/10/10/brace_yourselves_for_the_inevitable.php |title=Brace Yourselves For The Inevitable Mirkarimi Recall Proceedings |date=October 10, 2012 |last=Dalton |first=Andrew |work=SFist |access-date=February 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517024956/http://sfist.com/2012/10/10/brace_yourselves_for_the_inevitable.php |archive-date=May 17, 2016 }} SF Weekly columnist Joe Eskenazi suggested that Kim's support for Mirkarimi kept her out of the running for president of the board of supervisors in 2014.Eskanazi, Joe (January 7, 2015) [http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/ross-mirkarimi-sheriff-vicki-hennessy/Content?oid=3330638 "Name Your Poison: Ross Mirkarimi Fights Against Tough Odds and a Well Named Foe."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505183122/http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/ross-mirkarimi-sheriff-vicki-hennessy/Content?oid=3330638 |date=2016-05-05 }} SF Weekly. (Retrieved 2-24-2015.)

=Street renaming=

In March 2013, after Polish labor organizer Lech Wałęsa made anti-gay remarks, Kim announced that she would seek to rename San Francisco's tiny Lech Walesa Street. The narrow one-way street was originally named Ivy Street but was changed in 1983 to honor Wałęsa. Kim suggested that Gay Games co-founder Tom Waddell be honored instead of Wałęsa, especially since the Tom Waddell Health Center was at that location.{{cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_22779714/san-francisco-supervisor-may-seek-rename-lech-walesa |title=San Francisco supervisor may seek to rename Lech Walesa street after gay leader |date=March 13, 2013 |work=San Jose Mercury News |agency=Bay City News Service}}{{cite news |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/wiping-lech-walesa-off-san-franciscos-map-would-require-a-feat-of-democratic-solidarity/Content?oid=2320902 |title=Wiping Lech Walesa off San Francisco's map would require a feat of democratic solidarity |last=Eskenazi |first=Joe |date=March 17, 2013 |work=San Francisco Examiner}} The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to change the name as Kim proposed.

=Bicycling=

File:Jane Kim speaks at Bike To Work Day 2010.jpg in 2010]]

Kim has tackled several issues regarding the use of bicycles in San Francisco. While serving on the Board of Education, she supported new bike racks for eight middle schools, and she promoted Bike-to-School Day.{{cite web |url=http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/02/26/sf-school-district-encourages-students-to-bike/ |title=SF School District Encourages Students to Bike |first=Benjamin |last=Caldwell |date=February 28, 2009 |work=StreetsBlog SF |access-date=March 5, 2014}} Though she never rode a bike in her childhood or at college, Kim told the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition in 2010 that she had been introduced to the city's "bike culture" and was slowly learning how to ride, a process that heightened her awareness of bicycle safety concerns.{{cite web |url=http://www.sfbike.org/?vote10_d6_kim |title=Jane Kim: 2010 Candidate for District 6 Supervisor |year=2010 |publisher=San Francisco Bicycle Coalition |access-date=March 5, 2014}} In 2011, Bike-to-Work Day she rode as a passenger on the rear of an extended bike, but on May 10, 2012, she pedaled herself to City Hall.{{cite web |url=http://sfist.com/2012/05/10/congratulations_supervisor_jane_kim.php#photo-2 |title=Congratulations, Supervisor Jane Kim, On Your First Self-Propelled Bike To Work Day |date=May 10, 2012 |last=Dalton |first=Andrew |work=SFist |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109093825/http://sfist.com/2012/05/10/congratulations_supervisor_jane_kim.php#photo-2 |archive-date=November 9, 2014 }} With Mayor Lee, Kim backed the Yerba Buena Street Life Plan which was announced in 2011 for the area around Yerba Buena Gardens in District 6. The plan included new bike paths and more bike parking.{{cite news |url=http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2011/08/02/the_yerba_buena_street_life_plan.php |title=The Yerba Buena Street Life Plan |last=Kuchar |first=Sally |date=August 2, 2011 |work=Curbed SF |publisher=Vox Media}}{{cite news |url=http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2012/12/17/san_franciscos_first_artful_bike_racks_unveiled.php |title=San Francisco's First "Artful" Bike Racks Unveiled |last=Kuchar |first=Sally |date=December 17, 2012 |work=Curbed SF |publisher=Vox Media}} In September 2013 when the San Francisco Police Department was criticized for its investigation of a cyclist fatality that happened the previous month, Kim requested a hearing to discuss improvements for such police procedures.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2013/09/04/kim-calls-hearing-how-sfpd-investigates-cyclist-fatalities |title=Kim calls for hearing on how SFPD investigates cyclist fatalities |date=September 4, 2013 |last=Jones |first=Steven T. |work=San Francisco Bay Guardian}} Along with Supervisors Yee and Avalos, in January 2014 Kim called for the city to adopt a multifaceted bicycle and pedestrian safety initiative modeled after the Swedish Vision Zero program.{{cite web |url=http://sf.streetsblog.org/2014/01/14/imagine-no-deaths-supes-safe-streets-advocates-call-for-vision-zero/ |title=Imagine No Deaths: Supes, Safe Streets Advocates Call for 'Vision Zero' |first=Aaron |last=Bialick |date=January 14, 2014 |work=StreetsBlog SF |access-date=March 5, 2014}} Kim ushered the most protected bike lanes, 18.6 miles, of any San Francisco Supervisor during her time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/on-her-last-full-day-in-office-supervisor-jane-kim-cuts-the-ribbon-on-one-last-bike-lane-project/|title=On her last full day in office, Supervisor Jane Kim cuts the ribbon on one last bike lane project|date=2019-01-08|website=The San Francisco Examiner|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-11}}

=Environmental impact appeals reform=

San Francisco supervisors had previously tried unsuccessfully to reform the process by which a citizen could use the 1970 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) appeals process to challenge a building project on the basis of its environmental impact.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/new-rules-governing-san-francisco-environmental-impact-appeals-approved/Content?oid=2513294 |title=New rules governing San Francisco environmental impact appeals approved |last=Sabatini |first=Joshua |date=July 17, 2013 |work=San Francisco Examiner}} In 2012 Supervisor Scott Wiener proposed new rules that would restrict such challenges. Bicycling advocate Ben Christopher was supportive of Wiener's proposal, citing one instance in 2005 when a single citizen held up the city's comprehensive bicycle plan.{{cite news |url=http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2013/04/ceqa_scott_wiener_bike_projects.php |title=Is CEQA Bad For Bike Projects? |last=Christopher |first=Ben |date=April 12, 2013 |work=SF Weekly}} However, critics such as the Sierra Club said the proposed changes would weaken CEQA's protections.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Support-Supervisor-Kim-in-CEQA-showdown-4488762.php |title=Support Supervisor Kim in CEQA showdown |date=May 5, 2013 |last1=Myers |first1=Michelle |last2=Casey |first2=Mike |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} In April 2013 Kim proposed a competing set of reform rules which Eric Brooks of the Green Party reported as "more CEQA friendly."{{cite news |url=https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/05/20/18737127.php |title=California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) threatened in San Francisco |last=Brooks |first=Eric |agency=KPFA Evening News |date=May 18, 2013 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center}} Wiener and Kim hammered out a proposal combining elements of both versions; this was passed unanimously by the Board in July 2013. Kim said the reformed rules would not prevent the public from "giving input" to construction projects.

= Evictions =

In September 2016, Kim authored the Evictions Protections 2.0 bill to protect tenants from "no fault" evictions, which had seen an uptick.{{Cite news|url=https://roomiapp.com/blog/2017/05/24/san-franciscos-eviction-protections-2-0-protects-renters/|title=How San Francisco's Eviction Protections 2.0 Protects Renters - Roomi Blog|date=2017-05-24|work=Roomi Blog|access-date=2018-05-30|language=en-US}} This rise in "no fault" evictions coincided with a spike in market rent, causing landlords to evict tenants in rent controlled units in order to rent spaces at the higher market rate. 83% of the city's evictions were no fault evictions.

The ordinance prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for small infractions, dubbed “gotcha evictions,{{Cite web|url=https://cjjc.org/mediapress/what-is-eviction-protections-2-0|title=Causa Justa Just Cause {{!}} What is Eviction Protections 2.0? - Causa Justa Just Cause |website=cjjc.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-30}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/S-F-tenants-groups-fight-gotcha-evictions-6413712.php|title=S.F. tenants groups fight 'gotcha' evictions|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=2018-05-30}}” such as leaving shoes or strollers in the hall, painting a bedroom, hanging laundry out to dry, etc. The bill also removed lease restrictions created by landlords on roommates that are less than the maximum number of persons permitted by applicable laws, such as the SF Housing Code.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mhalllaw.com/PracticeAreas/kim-2-amendments-prohibit-san-francisco-landlords.asp |title=Kim 2.0 Amendments Prohibit San Francisco Landlords From Enforcing Lease Provisions Limiting Occupants|website=www.mhalllaw.com|access-date=2018-05-30}}

The legislation was co-sponsored by Supervisors Campos, Mar, and Avalos and was passed on October 14, 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://sfbos.org/supervisor-kim-press-releases|title=Press Releases {{!}} Board of Supervisors|website=sfbos.org|language=en|access-date=2018-05-30}}

=Affordable housing=

In April 2015, the San Francisco Giants and Mayor Lee announced a large community development proposal, Mission Rock, to replace the parking lots near AT&T Park, where the baseball team plays. The proposal required voter approval in November 2015.{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/mission-rock-san-francisco-giants_n_1404505.html |title=Mission Rock Plans Revealed: San Francisco Giants, Mayor Lee Detail Plans For Community Development Project At AT&T Park |date=April 4, 2015 |last=Wilkey |first=Robin |work=Huffington Post }} In May 2015, the Giants announced that 33% of the project would be devoted to affordable housing, to match Mayor Lee's goal for all new construction.{{cite news |url=http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2015/05/05/giants_back_away_from_waterfront_density_embrace_affordable_housing_at_mission_rock.php |title=Giants Back Away from Waterfront Density, Embrace Affordable Housing at Mission Rock |last=Anderson |first=Lamar |date=May 5, 2015 |work=SF Curbed}} Kim determined that a larger proportion of the project should be devoted to affordable housing, and she drafted a competing ballot initiative with the assistance of Tenants and Owners Development Corporation (TODCO), a non-profit community housing planning group.{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2015/06/giants-kim-mission-rock-affordable-housing-giants.html |title=Giants, Sup. Kim to duel in ballot measures over Mission Rock megaproject |date=June 2, 2015 |last=Weinberg |first=Corey |work=San Francisco Business Times}} The danger of a competing ballot initiative brought the Giants to negotiate. Kim and the Giants worked out a deal to increase the project's affordable housing to 40%, and Kim dropped her own ballot initiative.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2015/06/16/giants-and-jane-kim-reach-deal-to-increase-affordable-housing-at-mission-rock-development-to-40 |title=Giants and Jane Kim Reach Deal to Increase Affordable Housing at Mission Rock Development to 40% |last=Wong |first=Julia Carrie |author-link=Julia Carrie Wong |date=June 16, 2015 |work=SF Weekly}}

In 2021, Kim was involved in efforts to lobby against the construction of a 495-unit apartment complex on a parking lot next to a BART station in San Francisco which only committed to 14.5% affordable units on-site for residents who make between 50-110% AMI (individuals who earn $45,000-93,000/year, unaffordable to low-income residents in South of Market and Tenderloin).{{Cite web|last=Dineen|first=J. K.|date=2021-10-27|title=Why did S.F. supervisors vote against a project to turn a parking lot into 500 housing units?|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/Why-did-S-F-supervisors-vote-against-a-project-16569809.php|access-date=2021-10-28|website=San Francisco Chronicle|language=en-US}} The next year, a proponent of project filed an ethics complaint against her, alleging that she worked as a lobbyist for TODCO in opposing the housing project.{{Cite news |date=2022-03-18 |title=Former Supervisor Jane Kim Targeted in Ethics Complaint Over Controversial Stevenson Street Project |url=https://sfstandard.com/city-hall/former-supervisor-jane-kim-targeted-in-ethics-complaint-over-controversial-stevenson-street-project/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=The San Francisco Standard |language=en-US}} Kim was reported to be a paid employee for TODCO, supplying TODCO-prepared materials to the Board of Supervisors. Kim responded that she advocated against the housing project on her own time. City ethics regulations bar ex-officials from lobbying on issues that they covered while in office.

=Free tuition at community college=

In April 2016, Kim proposed that tuition should be free at City College of San Francisco (CCSF), which had seen a 30% decline in students over the previous four years, had lost $35 million in state funding tied to attendance, and was in danger of losing its accreditation and more state funding. Some 20% of the college students had already been granted a fee waiver by the City of San Francisco; Kim said that these students should also have free books, transportation and child care.{{cite news |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Supervisor-Jane-Kim-wants-City-College-to-be-free-7258644.php |title=Supervisor Jane Kim wants City College to be free of charge |last=Green |first=Emily |date=April 19, 2016 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}} Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, himself a proponent of free college tuition, voiced support for the idea.{{cite web |url=https://www.counterpunch.org/2016/06/03/has-sanders-betrayed-his-revolution-by-endorsing-jane-kim/ |title=Has Sanders Betrayed His Revolution by Endorsing Jane Kim? |last=Baum |first=Rick |date=June 3, 2016 |work=Counterpunch |access-date=March 3, 2018}} To pay for this idea, Kim authored a real estate tax initiative to raise taxes on real estate sales and transfers over $5 million, with the goal of increasing city revenue by about $45 million per year.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/prop-w-raise-real-estate-taxes-make-ccsf-free/ |title=Prop. W would raise some real estate taxes to make CCSF free |date=October 6, 2016 |last=Lamb |first=Jonah Owen |newspaper=San Francisco Examiner}} Voters approved Kim's Proposition W at the ballot in November 2016. CCSF's accreditation was confirmed for seven more years starting in January 2017. The next month, Mayor Lee and Kim announced a deal through which the city would pay $5.4 million per year to CCSF students who had lived in San Francisco for at least one year, so that they could pay their tuition. The deal, called Free City, also provided $250 cash per semester for each low-income student who attended CCSF full-time, as well as $100 per semester for part-time students. The cash grants were for the students to pay for books, transportation, supplies, and health care.{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SF-reaches-deal-for-free-tuition-at-City-College-10912051.php |title=SF reaches deal for free tuition at City College |date=February 7, 2017 |last=Asimov |first=Nanette |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}} The Free City program was described by PBS as the first time that a US city made community college tuition free for all its residents.{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/san-francisco-becomes-first-city-offer-free-community-college-tuition-residents |title=San Francisco becomes first city to offer free community college tuition to all residents |date=February 8, 2017 |work=PBS NewsHour |publisher=PBS }} In September 2017 when the program began, enrollment at CCSF increased by 6,450 students, a "huge boost".{{cite news |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/huge-enrollment-boost-evident-first-semester-free-ccsf/ |title='Huge' enrollment boost evident in first semester of free CCSF |date=September 19, 2017 |last=Waxmann |first=Laura |newspaper=San Francisco Examiner}} Sanders spoke at CCSF to praise the successful program as "a model" for the whole country.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/bernie-sanders-praises-ccsfs-free-tuition-program-amid-pivotal-moment-country/ |title=Bernie Sanders praises CCSF's free tuition program amid 'pivotal' moment for country |date=September 22, 2017 |last=Waxmann |first=Laura |newspaper=San Francisco Examiner}}

Other elections

Kim ran for the 11th California State Senate District in 2016 against Scott Wiener. Kim received slightly more votes than Wiener in the primary election, but when the general election was held Kim was defeated by Wiener, 49% to 51%.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/california-state-senate-district-11|title=California 11th District State Senate Results: Scott Wiener Wins|date=2017-08-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-24|issn=0362-4331}}

Kim was a candidate in the 2018 San Francisco special mayoral election, held in June 2018 following the sudden death of Mayor Lee in December 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/supervisor-jane-kim-pulls-papers-mayoral-run/|title=Supervisor Jane Kim pulls papers for mayoral run|work=The San Francisco Examiner|access-date=2017-12-21}} Kim was seen as one of the top four candidates, along with Mark Leno, London Breed and Angela Alioto.{{cite news |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Labor-looking-for-a-front-runner-in-SF-mayor-s-12502613.php |title=Labor looking for a front-runner in SF mayor's race |date=January 16, 2018 |author=Matier & Ross |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle }} She received 24% of the vote in the election, finishing in third place.{{Cite web|url=https://sfelections.sfgov.org/june-5-2018-election-results-summary|title=June 5, 2018 Election Results - Summary | Department of Elections|website=sfelections.sfgov.org}} Because the election was conducted with ranked voting, most of Kim's votes were apportioned to the remaining two candidates in Round 8, with two-thirds of Kim voters choosing Leno as their next alternative, and one-fifth of Kim voters choosing Breed. The larger Kim apportionment to Leno did not overturn the strong lead taken early by Breed, and Breed was elected mayor.{{cite web|url=https://sfelections.sfgov.org/june-5-2018-election-results-detailed-reports|title=June 5, 2018 Election Results - Detailed Reports - Department of Elections|website=sfelections.sfgov.org}}

Personal life and media coverage

File:Jane Kim reading, monochrome.jpg

Kim plays electric bass guitar and has performed with the all-female indie rock band Strangely at small San Francisco venues including the Brainwash Cafe and Laundromat.{{cite web|url=http://www.livesoma.com/2010/08/06/jane-kim/ |title=Jane Kim – District 6 Supervisor Candidate |date=August 6, 2010 |publisher=LiveSOMA |access-date=February 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228221835/http://www.livesoma.com/2010/08/06/jane-kim/ |archive-date=February 28, 2014 }} In 2000 she co-founded Locus Arts in San Francisco's Japantown, a non-profit gallery and media performance space formed to support Asian American art; the gallery eventually merged with Kearny Street Workshop. For the Asian American Theater Company she served on the board of directors. She helped to save Bindlestiff Studio, a place for Filipino arts in SoMa. Kim occasionally serves as a judge at poetry slam competitions held by Youth Speaks. In 2004 she said her favorite musical artists included the Quannum Projects, a collective of hip-hop musicians such as rapper Lyrics Born and hip-hop duo Blackalicious. In 2010 she said her favorite song was "Triumph" released in 1997 by the Wu-Tang Clan.{{cite news |url=http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2010/09/rating_sf_supervisor_candidate.php |title=Rating SF Supervisor Candidates by Their Taste in Music, From Nas to Aretha |last=Port |first=Ian S. |date=September 28, 2010 |work=SF Weekly }}

Kim was selected by 7x7 magazine as one of "20 Hot 2010" persons in September 2010.{{cite journal |url=http://www.7x7.com/magazine/hot-20-2010-jane-kim-president-sf-board-education-and-candidate-district-6-supervisor |title=Hot 20 2010: Jane Kim, President, SF Board of Education and Candidate for District 6 Supervisor |date=September 18, 2010 |last=Labong |first=Leilani |journal=7x7}}{{cite news |url=http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/02/03/pledge-of-allegiance-dissenter-and-cover-girl-jane-kim/ |title=Supervisor, Pledge of Allegiance Dissenter, And Now Cover Girl Jane Kim |last=Brooks |first=Jon |date=February 3, 2011 |work=KQED News Fix}} She was pictured on the cover of SF Weekly in October 2010. Kim was featured on the cover of KoreAm magazine in February 2011.{{cite journal |url=http://iamkoream.com/editors-note-february-2011/ |last=Ma |first=Kai |title=Editor's Note |date=January 31, 2011 |journal=KoreAm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426050555/http://iamkoream.com/editors-note-february-2011// |archive-date=April 26, 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.sfbayareaobserver.com/2011/02/supe-jane-kim-steps-out-on-magazine.html |title=Jane Kim steps out, on magazine cover |date=February 1, 2011 |last=Russell |first=Ron |work=Bay Area Observer}} Nark magazine interviewed Kim in June 2012, asking her about her nightlife preferences. She said she appreciated the work of San Francisco Entertainment Commissioners who ease the friction between nightlife venues and local residents. Kim said wine and single-malt whiskey were drinks she enjoyed, especially Lagavulin.{{cite journal |url=http://narkmagazine.com/feature/206-cocktail-talk-with-supervisor-jane-kim |title=Cocktail Talk with Supervisor Jane Kim |first=Tom |last=Temprano |date=June 2012 |journal=Nark Magazine}}

In August 2016, Kim was reportedly dating California Supreme Court Associate Justice Goodwin Liu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Goodwin-Liu-now-dating-Jane-Kim-splitting-from-9193794.php|title=Clinton adviser, state justice in marital split — enter Jane Kim - SFChronicle.com|date=August 31, 2016|website=www.sfchronicle.com}}