Josh Wolf for Mayor

The goals of the SFWPC are to organize all women in order that they may unite in their efforts to eradicate sexism, racism, ageism, violence against women, and poverty. SFWPC supports the following bottom line issues: the appointment and election of women to public office; safe, livable, and green communities; livable wages and pay equity for equal work; accessible, quality health care, senior services, child care and early education; reproductive freedom; the elimination of violence against women; and the eradication of all forms of discrimination against women and girls.

PART I

A. ELECTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN

1. If elected, how would you promote the election and advancement of women? Name two specific examples of things you would do.

As mayor I would look into establishing a Women’s Commision to advocate for women’s issues, propose legislation to the board and act as a watch dog against violations of women’s rights.

I would also supplement any existing programs in our schools that foster leadership, civic involvement, and counter-act sex and gender stereotypes

2. Would you support the appointment of women to The City’s Commissions and Boards?

Absolutely, there is a dire need for more women to be involved in City Government at all levels.

B. LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

1. What do you feel are two or three of the major issues that need to be addressed to make San Francisco’s communities more safe and livable?

First and foremost we need to transform the police’s relationship with the community. The dominant form of policing should be foot patrols, and the same officers should be assigned to the same neighborhood consistently. The police must become a part of the community and not be perceived as an occupying force. It’s time to restore service to the credo, “To protect and serve.”

In order to empower the community and provide visible avenues for support services and existing resources, I will work to develop community centers in every neighborhood in San Francisco and partner with existing centers to create a network that connects the entire city and provides for the needs of the people of San Francisco.

2. What will you do, if elected, to make San Francisco more family friendly?

I will work to restore our neighborhoods and communities, promote family-friendly housing, and encourage mutual aid between neighbors.

C. LIVABLE WAGES AND COMPARABLE WORTH

1. Do you support raising wages so that all San Francisco workers can meet their family’s basic needs with one full-time job? If you support this concept, and if elected, what would you do to advance sustainable wages for all workers?

Too many people are forced to work multiple jobs to sustain the lives of themselves and their families. This contributes to the breakdown of the family structure. I support a living wage, sick leave, and health care for all. In order to ensure that workers earn a sustainable wage, I will embrace cooperatives and worker –owned businesses in which workers share in the success of their labor. I feel that this is the solution to economic disparity, and the only solution to the wage-inflation spiral.

In order to meet the employment needs of San Francisco, I will develop a job corps for public improvement projects and a path for groups and individuals to start their own small businesses and copoperatives.

2. Currently, per federal comparative statistics, females in comparable positions make $0.85 to the dollar for a man in the same position. Do you support the concept of pay equity in the workplace for comparable work? If you support this concept, and if elected, what would you do to advance pay equity in the workplace?

I firmly support pay equity in the workplace and the destruction of the glass ceiling, both of these are still hindering women’s success today and a change is long overdue. The Womens Commission will be empowered to survey and address inequities through proposing legislation and publicizing issues.

D. HEALTH CARE

1. What do you think are the major issues in health care for women in San Francisco, and how would you address them if elected?

Obviously reproductive health issues are very important to women, and the City needs to ensure that all women are provided the fiscal and practical means to obtain birth control solutions and access abortion services. Since am neither a woman nor a health care professional I cannot provide a definitive answer to this question and would not seek to, in order to address women’s health issues in a comprehensive manner I will need the advice of knowledgeable women and will conference with the Womens Commision and other local advocacy groups to work together to identify needs and develop solutions.

2. What initiatives have you supported or would you support to enable uninsured San Franciscans have access to quality health care?

I support Healthy San Francisco, and am in favor of universal health care. Healthy San Francisco must be further expanded and developed in order to provide a model for the United States. This is an urgent problem and if the US doesn’t respond to this vital need we must make it happen here.

E. DEPENDENT CARE

1. What should the role of the government be, if any, in expanding quality, accessible child care, early education and elder care resources? Please give one example of what you will do if elected.

As we all know, “it takes a village to raise a child,” the same can be said for the care of our elders. While government programs can help, we must develop stronger communities that can provide child care for working families and other care giving needs while providing employment for others in the community. As mayor I will develop the means to connect caregivers with those in need, develop new programs and increase the visibility of existing programs through the network of community centers I have outlined earlier.

2. What new funding sources would you support to ensure that all San Francisco families have access to quality dependent care programs?

Those businesses that have flourished in San Francisco have been successful, in part, because of the unique environment and opportunities provided by the city and as such have an inherent responsibility to support the city in turn.

F. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

1. Do you support maintaining a woman’s fundamental right to choose a safe, legal abortion?

Absolutely.

2. Do you support a minor’s access to abortion without parental notification, parental consent or a court order? What was your position on the November 2005 Proposition 73 and November 2006 Proposition 85? How have you worked for or against these propositions?

Yes, and I opposed both Proposition 73 and 85.

3. Do you oppose restrictions that would interfere with a physician’s medical judgment to determine the safest and most appropriate abortion procedure to use to terminate a pregnancy?

No.

4. Do you support public funding of abortion services without restriction for low-income women who depend on the government for their health care?

Yes.

5. Are there any restrictions to abortion that you support?

No.

G. ELIMINATION OF ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

1. If elected, how would you improve San Francisco’s response to rape, child prostitution, and domestic violence?

It is vital that victims not only feel safe reporting crimes of rape, child prostitution and domestic violence, but that they are comforted and provided for throughout the painful process. In these situations, it is often vital that victims are able to leave the environment and reestablish an independent existence. Comprehensive support for this is necessary and should be provided.

H. ERADICATION OF DISCRIMINATION

1. If elected, what would you do to help eliminate sexual harassment?

If elected I would work with the Women’s Commission to identify and resolve issues of sexual harassment and if necessary draft legislation and partner with enforcement agencies to end it in all contexts.

2. Do you think Affirmative Action is still necessary for women and minorities? If so, what would be your top priority to ensure affirmative action for women and minorities?

Yes, I do feel that Affirmative Action is still necessary and my top priority would be to engage in outreach to communities and organizations to ensure that job and training opportunities are readily promoted, accessible and available. Once this is accomplished, we need to track results and measure success.

PART II

A. CAMPAIGN ISSUES

1. Why are you running for this office and what are your major issues?

I am running for mayor to actively engage the people of San Francisco in determining the future of San Francisco. There is a wall between the people and city hall and I am working to break it down. San Francisco has a history of machine politics and participatory democracy must take its place if the people are to be championed over the interests of big business and the establishment. I am working to revitalize communities by building organizational tools for both physical and affinity based communities.

Beyond community building, my top issues include reducing the rate of violent crime, providing mechanisms for the homeless to become self-sustainable, realizing the Transit First Charter and empowering the people of Hunters Point and other communities to participate in the revitalization of their neighborhoods.

2. Demographically, or otherwise, who do you consider your base of support and why?

I consider my base of support to be those people who have an interest in taking part in defining the future of their city because that is what my campaign is all about.