One of the key reasons why John knows we need an independent District Attorney is that San Francisco is safer when city government works better. In recent years we have seen on-going corruption scandals in key departments — and that means the city isn’t working as hard as it should to house the homeless, clean up our streets, and deliver the kind of basic services that help make our city secure. An independent District Attorney matters — because that sends the message that public servants are hired to do the people’s business — not to pursue political advantage or financial gain. 

John served as a San Francisco Police Commissioner, where he fought to make sure our police department met the highest standards San Francisco deserves (and officers want). He was past president of the Asian American Bar Association, where he took on the challenge of anti-Asian violence, working to bring all communities together to address crime in every corner of San Francisco.

As an attorney, he has represented victims of violence — and he understands the pain of victims. That’s just one of the reasons why he believes the District Attorney must take a preventative approach to violence — intervening early to prevent crimes rather than simply waiting to prosecute crimes that could have been prevented with smart programs like keeping young people in school, job training, mental health treatment and other proven ways to reduce crime.

John believes strongly that San Francisco needs an independent District Attorney, standing up to the powerful and fighting for the people. He says to those hurting our residents or abusing the public trust, there will be consequences, including jail. No one is above the law.