With a stamp of approval Tuesday from the Board of Supervisors, gay transit advocate Mike Chen should be sworn in as a member of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors in time to take part in its October 1 meeting. And he will be met with his first controversial vote, as the oversight body is expected to take up next Tuesday Mayor London Breed's proposed ban on RV overnight parking on city streets.
In May, Breed had nominated Chen to succeed Lydia So, whom she had named to fill a vacancy on the city's planning commission. The mayor appoints the seven members of the SFMTA board, while the supervisors have confirmation power over her nominees.
The supervisors' Rules Committee delayed voting on his nomination in late July in order for Chen to meet with Chinatown leaders and others. Board President Aaron Peskin, who represents the historic neighborhood as the District 3 supervisor, had requested the postponement due to "radio silence" from Chinatown transit advocates on Chen's appointment.
Peskin is one of the three members of the Rules Committee along with District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, the rules chair, and vice chair District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí. (Peskin and Safaí are both running against Breed in this year's mayoral race.)
During August Chen met with various leaders and interest groups in Chinatown. It paved the way for the Rules Committee to vote 2-0, with Walton absent, at its September 16 meeting in support of seating him on the SFMTA board. The supervisors then voted 11-0 at their September 24 meeting to confirm Chen to fill out So's term through March 1.
"I am excited to get to work and tackle some of the big challenges for the MTA," Chen, 33, told the Bay Area Reporter. "San Francisco transportation is great in many ways, and we also know it can be a lot better. I hope to be a part of the solution in tackling big issues like budget, outreach and making sure transportation works for everyday San Franciscans."
Chen returns both LGBTQ and Chinese representation to the transit body. Its last out commissioner, gay Mission cafe and event space owner Manny Yekutiel, resigned last fall.
"Mike is committed to a vision of a safe, efficient, and sustainable transit that works for all and creates a stronger, more vibrant San Francisco," stated Breed. "I'm confident he will be a valuable addition to the SFMTA Board of Directors, and I'm grateful for the support from the Board members who voted to confirm him."
A member of the SFMTA Citizens' Advisory Council since January 2020, Chen works as a data engineer at Coda Project Inc. He and his boyfriend live in a one-car household in Lower Pacific Heights along the Van Ness corridor.
Having appointed him to the SFMTA CAC, District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani said Tuesday that she was "very excited" to support his appointment to the SFMTA board. She said he would bring "thoughtful, well-researched solutions" to the role and has a "passion for public service" that will benefit the city.
A number of groups concerned about street safety issues supported seeing Chen be confirmed. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, San Francisco Transit Riders, and Walk San Francisco co-hosted a gathering in July for their members to get to know him.
"We were deeply impressed by Mike's understanding of transportation code and planning. He is able to articulate the agency's challenges in an accessible way paired, while bringing to bear collaborative problem-solving skills," wrote Christopher White, the bicycle coalition's executive director, in a letter to the Rules Committee. "We are confident that Chen will bring an equitable, solution-oriented attitude to all of these challenges, while continuing to uphold the City's Vision Zero, Transit First, and climate policies."
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