In anticipation of the San Francisco mayoral election, The Epoch Times is interviewing the mayoral candidates. This article is the third in the series. View the whole series HERE.
Dennis Herrera, who is the city attorney for San Francisco, has degrees from Villanova University and George Washington University. He has a background in maritime law and served in President Bill Clinton’s administration in the early nineties as Assistant to the Maritime Administrator. After returning to San Francisco in 1996 he started working for the city, and was eventually elected to be the city’s first Latino City Attorney in 2001. He lives with his wife and son in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco. An abridged version of this interview was first published on June 9, 2011 in the San Francisco print edition.
The Epoch Times: Can you tell us when you began to be interested in public service? What inspired you to devote yourself?
Dennis Herrera: Well, I’ve always been professionally interested in public service. I moved out to San Francisco from the east coast in the late 80s, and soon after arriving here I got involved in public life. First in the early 90s, 1990 or so, with the waterfront planning advisory board, which was an advisory body that was supposed to come up with a land use plan for the San Francisco waterfront. It was done in reaction to Proposition H that was on the ballot in 1990. After that, I just continued with my public involvement, getting involved with local democratic clubs in San Francisco. I worked with the California Democratic Party. Then after President Clinton was elected in 1992, I went to serve in his administration in Washington D.C. for two-and-a-half years. Even doing that, I used to come home every six weeks to the home that I recently purchased in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco.
My being involved in public service has been long-standing for the entirety of my professional career, even before I ran for elected office. Even after I got back from the Clinton administration, I got my law firm; I’ve been on the transportation commission and the police commission before I ultimately ran for city attorney in 2001. So it’s been a big part of my career, at all different levels.
ET: What’s the most meaningful thing you’ve done while in public service? Can you give an example?
DH: I’ve had a tremendous opportunity at a lot of different levels of being involved in government. Really seeing the ability that one has to make a difference in their community and people’s lives through the power of the government, or in my case, most specifically, using the law to make a difference in people’s lives each and every day. You look at what’s going on in this country and the cynicism that people have about government at the federal and state level. I really believe that getting involved in the local government gives you the greatest opportunity to make a positive impact in people’s lives each and every day.
One thing that I always highlight is something that probably doesn’t get much press attention because we have a lot of big interesting cases. But the case that I’m most proud of—that has made the biggest difference in people’s lives is one that doesn’t get much press. I brought in the first seed money for the very first Boys and Girls Club in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco. It was providing programming to 200 kids that previously didn’t have anything there to provide them with programming opportunities. Making a difference in kids’ lives—that’s what really inspires me and makes it all worthwhile.
ET: Are there any difficulties that you’ve struggled through?
DH: I think it’s dealing with a mindset that a lot of people have: “Government doesn’t matter, we can’t make a difference,”—frustration with government—and when you look at it, it shouldn’t be that surprising because for 40 years people have been told that government is the problem, it’s not the solution. I fundamentally disagree with that. Unfortunately, people are so cynical, and they don’t really have an understanding of how important government is to making a difference in people’s lives. … Those that are wealthy often don’t need them that much. ... Those on the other end of the economic spectrum have lost all hope. But, the fact of the matter is, collectively as a society, we all need to come together and understand [that] there’s a real role for government to undertake enacting positive change that helps the broader community. Fighting through that cynicism that people have is probably the most difficult to deal with.
ET: You came from a working class family. What helped you be successful along the way?
DH: I think that we’re a country of democrats. We’ve gone through different periods of immigrant groups coming to the United States. But what I think we have to remember as a country are the contributions that all the different communities that have immigrated to America—how they’ve enriched our culture having expanded opportunity—have brought new skills. How they have contributed to the melting pot of what makes America so special. The European immigrants, Latino immigrants, and Asian immigrants—they all have had a tremendous role in defining who we are as a country and as a society. I think that’s the greatest strength that America brings to the world.
ET: When you grew up, what was the turning point, coming from an immigrant family? Opportunity?
DH: For me it’s always been education. My dad and my mom always focused on the importance of education. Unfortunately, when I was a young boy, I probably didn’t appreciate that as much. I also didn’t take school seriously when I got into high school. I had mentors who really looked out for me and ensured that I would have opportunity up to the college level. And I vowed that I would do everything that I can to make those people proud of what it was that I was pursuing, that I wouldn’t let them down. That’s something that I’ve always felt an obligation to uphold, the mentorship of those folks and the opportunities in college that they gave me in terms of allowing me to get into the college of my choice. I was probably a borderline student to get into the school. But I always said I would repay them with being successful, doing hard work. And that was something that my parents always encouraged and my mentors did as well.
ET: Now you also have a child. How do you teach him?
DH: My son ... is nine years old. He’s a very good student. He understands, better than I. ... He’s very talented with language. I think he understands the value of education. What I’m trying to instill in him is an understanding of the importance of speaking different languages but also having an international perspective and being culturally aware of the importance of having an international perspective and taking those influences. That’s something he gets through his program in school. That’s something very, very important, especially in diversity, like San Francisco, where we celebrate language and culture. If you’re going to be an internationally cosmopolitan in the city, you have to have that perspective.
ET: When your son studies other languages, do you also learn with him?
DH: No. When he was growing up our nanny always spoke Spanish. ... But he’s fluent in Mandarin. He goes to the Chinese American International School and he’s in third grade. He is fluent in Mandarin as you could be in third grade. We try to go to China at least once a year. It’s always an experience for me to watch him negotiating with taxicab drivers or hotel clerks or waiters about things because I don’t understand. His confidence level is great for his self-esteem and growth.
ET: As a city attorney, why do you want to be the mayor?
DH: Because I want to make San Francisco a city that works—provides people’s basic needs. [A city that] goes out and puts people back to work. I think that right now we have a very, very important election here in November, about what kind of city San Francisco is going to be. Not just the next four or eight years but the next 50 years. And you need someone who has the wish and skills and a track record of accomplishment—the belief in community in addition for the future—to make San Francisco a model for what a 21st century American city can be. I think I bring a unique set of characteristics and traits that other candidates in this race just don’t bring. It’s something I’m very much looking forward to conquering in the next six months.
ET: How much would your work as a mayor be different than as a lawyer?
DH: I don’t think there’s a job that prepares you better for being the mayor of San Francisco than being the city attorney. Essentially you are the attorney general for San Francisco. You are the general counsel to every single city department, agency, and commission—over 100 of them. You represent the mayor, every elected official; you draft all legislation, you negotiate all contracts; you defend the city whenever the city is involved in a lawsuit. You determine when the city has a claim against somebody else and when to file a lawsuit. And then you also have the ability to sue in the name of the people for the state of California and step into the shoes of the Attorney General. And oftentimes you are viewed by different people in city hall as a neutral arbitrator when there are disputes between other elected officials or when there are disputes with outside interest groups and city hall. Oftentimes people call on the city attorney to help solve these disputes. So I don’t think there’s a job that prepares you better for being mayor than city attorney.
ET: What are the top three things you want to change if you become mayor?
DH: I think there are three things that we need to focus on. Number one, to create an environment that rewards entrepreneurship and creativity, to ensure that we have a vibrant economy that puts people back to work and maintains San Francisco’s position of being an economically competitive city.
Number two, we have to demonstrate to the taxpayers that we’re being responsible with the taxpayer dollars that we already have. That’s why pension reform and health care-cost reform is so important. So we can then free up dollars to put into the third thing, which is ensuring that we are funding the most basic things to keep in San Francisco: competency, investments in Muni, in education, in public infrastructure.
We can do those things on the third sector if we’re doing the first two—showing that we’re sensitive to creating economic opportunity for the citizens that live here and that we’re being responsible to taxpayer dollars.
ET: So in terms of economic development, increasing jobs, what will be the measure that will be enacted to bring more jobs to the city?
DH: The most important thing that we can do is to have comprehensive business tax reform here in San Francisco. Right now we have a business tax that is totally antiquated. It’s based on the payroll tax. We’re the only city in the state of California that has a payroll tax. Only 8,000 of our 80,000 businesses pay. It’s a job killer; it doesn’t reward entrepreneurship or job creation. We need to have a tax summit on my first day in office—beginning then, which brings together business leaders, community leaders, and government officials to help design a new business tax system that is more fair to small and large businesses and also provides the city with a steady revenue stream that we need to fund those things that are our priority. That is the most important thing that we can do.
Number two, we have to recognize that we have a great future in the life sciences and health care and there are a lot of hospitals that need to be rebuilt here in San Francisco to meet state seismic guidelines. We need to move that process along as quickly as possible. Because number one, that’s going to provide immediate construction jobs in the construction industry, which has been decimated over the course of the last several years. But more importantly, it’s also going to help us attract and attain a more educated workforce. As we have an aging population, to ensure that if we’re going to be an international gateway city, not just in the U.S. but worldwide, we have to have a quality health care and life science system to support the health care needs of the aging population that we have. Those are the two most important things we can do.
ET: In terms of renovating the hospitals and health care, now the budget issue is something that the state is facing. Where will the money come from?
DH: You can’t just cut your way around the budget. You can’t just raise taxes as a way out of it. It has to be a combination of a lot of things. Number one, you have to grow the economic pie here in San Francisco. That’s why business tax reform is so important. But also, getting our pension, health care costs under control is also incredibly important because it will free up money that we can use for other priorities with taxpayer dollars that we already have.
There are two other things we can do. Number one, go to zero-based budgeting to create entrepreneurship amongst city departments. Each and every department has to approve each year the amount of money that they are entitled to build a budget from the ground up instead of just working on a baseline from last year and cutting 10 percent. I want to see the value each and every year of what our city departments provide. We need nonprofit reform. We have to recognize that the nonprofit sector provides vital delivery of city services, oftentimes on our behalf. But dollars that are going to be available are going to be less and less. … The city can be a better customer and for nonprofits to be the providers. I identified a whole range of cost savings and ... services that could be merged without impacting in a negative way the delivery of services that people need.
You put those four things together and I think you will have our budget on a healthy course of direction.
ET: You mentioned how to reform business taxes and payroll taxes. What about the Twitter deal?
DH: The Twitter deal pointed out the problem because we shouldn’t be making tax policy in reaction to a company threatening to leave. So we highlighted the problem that we’ve ignored for far too long—that the way to encourage all businesses to stay in San Francisco is to change our payroll tax structure, so businesses both large and small won’t feel compelled to threaten to leave. To have a tax system that rewards them for being here.
ET: What’s your point of view on pension reform?
DH: I think that it needs to happen. Most people in city government thinks it needs to happen and a lot of labor leaders think that it needs to happen. I’ve been encouraged ... those in city government and those in the business community and those in the labor community have sat down and tried to craft a consensus solution that will be put on the ballot this November. I’m optimistic that we’ll come up with a consensus measure that addresses these things so we can ensure that we have long-term fiscal stability in the city and county.
ET: Muni has lot of problems. What are the steps that you will take to improve transportation?
DH: Well, some things are already underway. There are a lot of work role changes, changes in negotiating that are already happening in the city with respect to Muni. I think those are good. We have to have probably route modifications to speed Muni up. We have to get people to understand its value and that’s why having a bus rapid transit program implemented so that more people in San Francisco who have traditionally been riders see the value of Muni and show their willingness to invest in it. I think those are extremely important things.
ET: How is your work as an attorney related to changes to Muni?
DH: Well, public safety, certainly, even though I’m not the police, I’m not the district attorney. I’ve recognized that those that are involved in the civil law have a role to play. That’s why several years ago, in response to a rising tide of gang violence in a variety of neighborhoods in San Francisco, I instituted a gang injunction program to try to limit the ability of gang members who we could demonstrate were creating public nuisances in particular ways, and limit their activities and ability to terrorize neighborhoods. I did it in the Bayview and in Mission Valley and in the Western Addition. It was extraordinarily successful. We’ve also done that and had that success I think with balancing civil liberty concerns. I think that’s helped the environment. So we’re always going to be on the lookout for what we can do in the city attorney’s office to help promote public safety and ensure that our citizens are as safe in their communities as they can be. So it’s always on my radar screen.
ET: In terms of the central subway project, there’s a portion of the Chinese community more concerned about the part that goes to Chinatown. What do you think of this? Are you aware of some concerns that some community members of Chinatown have?
DH: I know there have been some concerns about cost; I just know that we need to do whatever we can to ensure that San Francisco is up to its desire to be a transient-versed city. That’s why I think the Chinatown subway and the bus rapid transit are important vehicles to help promote efficiency in a society that really is transient-versed. That protects neighborhoods by taking cars off the street. But it also ensures that it’s good environmentally. I think those are important projects, that when you support, can continue to be moving forward in a way that enhances fiscal responsibility and community accountability.
ET: With regards to concerns that Muni currently has many problems, facing a great deficit compared to the amount of money that will be put into the central subway, it’s a difficult choice for the city. What’s your take?
DH: The Chinatown subway—the central subway, is moving forward. The money has been provided from the federal government so there’s been some operating money or other Muni money that’s been provided to help bridge some gaps. We have to make sure that, whatever we’re doing on our central subway and money that we are using to finance it, it doesn’t compromise the integrity of the existing operating system, and hopefully we’re not taking operating money that could be utilized to make Muni be more efficient and better run to support the capital infrastructure growth on the other side. We have to keep those two sides separate and make sure they’re both getting the attention and support they need.
ET: How can we improve credibility and transparency in government? What are the top reasons for the problem?
DH: I just think it’s a constant challenge. We always have to ensure that our governmental institutions are being responsive to communities’ needs and solving problems that are a priority for those in our communities. You also have to ensure that it’s a participatory process and that people feel that they are engaged and transparent, that they have a say, that they are stakeholders in the decision process. There is a substantive results-oriented approach and the process itself, but both help inspire confidence in our governmental institutions, and they are both extremely important in terms of inspiring confidence in the fact that we have a government that works, that’s transparent and proactive in addressing people’s needs.
That’s a constant battle.
ET: What will you do differently than other mayors in terms of that?
DH: I think that most mayors understand the importance of that. I’m just going to be as transparent as I can. ... like my record of 9.5 years, and carry out what I’ve done as city attorney and institute that in the mayor’s office. If you want to inspire confidence in people and the ability of government to make a difference in their lives each and every day, you need to show them results, but you have to also feel that they have a stake in how you got an outcome. I’m very collaborative and I reach out and I’m inclusive, and I don’t know if all mayors have had that, but that’s certainly something that I’m going to have.
ET: What about the homicides in Chinatown in the last half year—one at Fisherman’s Wharf, and one was a high school student. It raised a lot of concerns about gun control and violence. What do you think of the effectiveness of gun control to improve the situation?
DH: We don’t have nearly as strong of gun control here in San Francisco, but we should. I think that we need to leave to localities the ability to control, to meet the public needs in their particular communities. The challenges that you have in an urban environment with firearms might be different than those challenges you have if you live in a rural environment. But we should have the freedom to legislate, to meet the challenges that we have in our own communities. I think that we need more effective gun control here in San Francisco and we should be able to tailor to meet the challenges that we have with guns in an urban city like San Francisco.
I think we need more regulation of firearms here in San Francisco.
ET: What about immigrant services and education, i.e. in Chinatown. There are some programs offered, but due to budget cuts they will be eliminated. How do you value those services?
DH: I value them. I think that things we do for our youth are incredibly important. That’s why when I talked to you about our gang injunctions and when I talked about the most rewarding thing as an attorney is to create an opportunity for young people. I believe that everything that I’ve done as city attorney is premised on demanding accountability but providing opportunity. I think we need to do that for young people. If we say we value young people, but we’re not providing the services that they need to give them alternatives, then we are not doing them right.
With respect to immigrants, similarly, as I said, we are a nation of immigrants and we know that there are many people here who are pursuing the American dream and fighting for economic opportunity that they did not have in the countries from which they came. Being pro-immigrant and recognizing that we have to provide support for immigrant communities isn’t just good for them, it’s good for our economy, as a city and as a country. I think that the better we provide those services, the better we are going to be in the long term to be a vibrant, multicultural city and a country that can compete economically.
ET: Where will the funds come from to provide these services?
DH: This is all about making choices. The more that you can help to float the economic pie, the more that you can show that you’ve been responsible to taxpayer dollars that you can have, the more money you’re going to have available to fund those things that are your priority. Youth program and services that responds to the needs of immigrants are at the top of the list and deserve attention.
Freeing up money to enable us to fund those programs is something extremely important.
ET: How do you like to spend your free time?
DH: I like to spend time with my boy. I’m a huge baseball fan. I love to read. I love the water. I love to spend time with my family. I have a big family—my son’s baseball games, soccer games, and basketball games. I enjoy that very much, spending time with him. I love to ski, although I don’t get much time to do it these days.
ET: How much time do you spend with your son?
DH: Now, since I’ve been running for mayor it’s less and less. I’m lucky if I get home to see him before he goes to bed. But I’ve always been a pretty involved Dad. I generally don’t miss things, so I try to spend as much time as I can with him.
ET: Is there anything you’d like to share with our audience? Maybe something helpful to your life, helpful to others?
DH: Just to value community and how much we can all do working together, and those of us who are involved in public life, we can’t do it on our own. Especially in these tough economic times and these challenging times, it’s so important that our community be civically engaged, and that we all come together to solve problems, and that we put aside the things that divide us. Really come together, because we’re going to have a tough role over the next several years, and it’s especially important that those, especially locally—we’re going to have to fend for ourselves in a lot of ways. But if we come together as a community and put faith in each other to help solve problems, there’s really nothing that we can’t do.
We’re certainly an international city, and we’re a beacon for communities throughout the world. We sit here on the cusp of the Pacific Rim, and our relationship with Asia has always been important and a priority. That’s something that we need to watch and encourage. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re taking international positions that are in conflict with what the U.S. government has said. But we are a city that cherishes our relationships with sister cities everywhere. That’s something that’s good for us as a city, and we just need to do whatever we can to further ties and relationships with countries across the world so we can make San Francisco be as internationally welcoming as we possibly can.
ET: Is there anything else you want to add?
DH: I think it’s going to be an important election for San Francisco, and it’s going to dictate the direction we go for decades to come. I look forward to having a conversation with your viewers over the next seven months to show how I have a vision for how San Francisco can be a city that’s a model for a 21st century American city.
