Arthur Tom

I did not hesitate when deciding to choose a campaign slogan: “Art of the Sunset” has a double meaning that is clear to friends and neighbors who have followed my record of service to the community.

My father’s family first came to San Francisco from China in 1851 and my mother was an immigrant. This background motivated me in-part to serve on the Immigrant Rights Commission to help ensure that San Francisco remains an open, attractive and vibrant city.

After graduating from U.C. Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, I worked as a certified public accountant and later joined Coldwell Banker as a Realtor to help individuals and families find their home in San Francisco.

This experience, combined with my proven community leadership, led to my appointment as a commissioner on the SF Assessment Appeals Board, where I settled disputes between the City and property owners over property taxes. Currently, I use my financial expertise as a tax auditor working for the city and county of San Francisco by collecting millions of dollars for much-needed city services.

A central priority of my campaign is family housing. As supervisor, I will work to expand programs for moderate-income home buyers. I would also streamline the permitting process to legalize Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and advocate for rules that would encourage homeowners to release these valuable untapped units on the market.

We need balanced solutions for increasing housing density, taking into consideration the neighborhood’s characteristics, needs and infrastructure.

When I served on the SF Taxi Commission I worked to insure prompt, safe and efficient public transportation. As supervisor, I will prioritize reliable public transit and better communication between SFMTA and riders regarding time accuracy and community input for proposed changes.

I also founded a SAFE neighborhood watch group to raise awareness and prevent crime through community policing, and believe in hiring a multilingual police force that represents the neighborhoods in which they serve to foster trust among residents.

My goal is to preserve the Sunset’s appeal for families and community character. In 2008, I founded the Friends of West Sunset Playground, a group that rebuilt an unsafe, unclean and underutilized playground into a thriving community center.

I believe in carrying out common sense reforms for our neighborhoods, including improved senior services, reliable public transit, pre-school and after-school programs for children and community-based public safety solutions.

As a homeowner and father of two young children, I am driven to improve the quality of life in the Sunset/Parkside by contributing to the vibrancy of the community and fighting to bring back much needed services to the place we love and call home.

www.arthurtom.com