Alan Wong
- Office: Supervisor, District 4
- Election Date: June 2, 2026
- Candidate: Alan Wong
- Due Date: January 7, 2026
- Printable Version
Thank you for seeking GrowSF's endorsement for the June 2, 2026 election! GrowSF believes in a growing, beautiful, vibrant, healthy, safe, and prosperous city via common sense solutions and effective government. Our work includes running public opinion polls to understand what voters want, advocating for those changes, and ensuring that the SF government represents the people.
The GrowSF endorsement committee will review all completed questionnaires and seek consensus on which candidates best align with our vision for San Francisco.
Please complete this questionnaire by January 7, 2026 so we have enough time to adequately review and discuss your answers.
Your Policy Goals
We’d like to get some details about your high-level goals and how you intend to use your elected office to achieve them.
What policies do you hope to change or preserve by running for Supervisor, District 4? Please be specific, and list them in order of priority.
As a supervisor, my top three priorities are public safety, making government work for everyday people and small businesses, and family support.
As of October 15th, 2025, the San Francisco Police Department is 500 officers short of its recommended staffing levels. I would support initiatives to close that gap and fully staff the SFPD so that they can successfully enforce existing laws and end open-air drug dealing.
Opening a business in San Francisco is a painful, grueling process that can shut doors before they have a chance to open. I want to cut bureaucratic red tape to make government work and be less burdensome for its ordinary people and small businesses, not against them.
In 2022, San Francisco was identified as the major U.S. city with the fewest children. If families are going to succeed in the City, we need to support early care and education. Families should have the choice of where to send their kids to school, whether that's the public school down the street from their house, or to one of the Sunset’s numerous private schools. Determined and studious children should be supported in their quest for higher education, and I believe that San Francisco can do more to support them. If we do not invest in our children's education, families will look elsewhere to settle down.
Why those policies?
If you are going to start a family in San Francisco, the Sunset District is the first place you look for a home. The Sunset District is known as a safe, clean neighborhood where children can walk to nearby quality schools. The small-business corridors in District 4 give the Sunset its unique character, and many of these businesses are family-owned. I would like to keep it that way by continuing to find ways for both businesses and families to thrive. The Sunset should be a place where children can feel safe walking home from school and stopping by their favorite bubble tea shop on the way.
Explain why your #1 goal is your #1 goal.
For San Francisco to thrive, public safety must be the number one priority. Stories of brazen retail theft, violent crimes, and vehicle break-ins frighten tourists and leave our downtowns abandoned. While residents are starting to feel safer, nothing ruins an outing more than walking through an open-air drug market and seeing the suffering they cause. We need to address drug dealing and support staffing the SFPD and Sheriff’s Office to arrest drug dealers and get those who are struggling with addiction into recovery programs that work.
Public safety investments are critical for residents to feel safe, for small businesses to flourish, and for commerce and activity to return to our neighborhoods.
How will you build the coalition and political capital to enact your #1 goal? What obstacles will you face, and how will you overcome them? Will the power of the office of Supervisor, District 4 be enough to achieve this goal?
Over my years as a community advocate and a city college trustee, I have built a diverse coalition of supporters across both political aisles. My campaign has the support of the mayor, a majority of the board of supervisors, and the current and previous sheriffs. I can use these relationships to draft educated public safety policy.
I can’t make significant improvements to public safety alone; I need to work with the mayor and other supervisors to ensure proper budgeting for public safety needs.
I would support having a budget that adequately supports our San Francisco Police Department and public safety agencies. I would also create a supportive environment for the overwhelming majority of law enforcement while simultaneously holding bad actors accountable.
Will the power of the office of Supervisor, District 4 be enough to achieve the other goals?
As Supervisor, I can introduce ordinances to cut red tape and eliminate excessive rules for ordinary people, and oppose new burdensome regulations and rules that hamper small businesses from conducting everyday activities. In the short term, half of my staff is committed to constituent services and will be a resource for shepherding businesses through the bureaucracy of today's city hall.
San Francisco has areas of procedural and legislative bloat, making it hard for the city to serve its residents effectively. Give three examples of legislation that should be repealed.
There are some clearly inactive or outdated commissions and advisory bodies that should be taken off the books.
There are layer upon layer of procedures and bureaucracy for the government to make decisions. For municipal government to operate effectively, we need to consider which processes, procedures, and rules are outdated.
Eliminating excess procedures and processes, and making it easier to recruit and hire police officers and personnel for vacant positions.
Cutting excessive red tape and bureaucracy to make government for small businesses and residents is a key part of my platform. I’m interested in creating a participatory voting project for residents to suggest and then vote on laws and regulations I should work on eliminating.
What is an "out there" change that you would make to state/local government policy, if you could? For the purpose of this question, you are not constrained to the office of Supervisor, District 4.
I would push our Capital Planning Committee to prioritize current and future bond dollars towards the emergency firefighting water system (EFWS) or auxiliary water supply system (AWSS). Expansion of either of these would be critical to ensuring the Westside and Sunset District is prepared in the case of a significant disaster and fire.
Your Leadership
We’d like to learn more about your leadership style and plan to execute effectively once you assume office.
When in office, how would you balance the needs of the electorate with the demands of special interests? Where do you foresee this being the biggest challenge?
Interest groups play a role in advocating for a variety of perspectives and constituencies in our pluralistic democracy. As an elected official, it’s my role to make decisions and balance the perspectives of interest groups with the greater good of society. One of the biggest challenges in making even-handed, reasonable policies is the tendency of interest groups to support rigid perspectives without any willingness to compromise.
When in office, how would you balance the needs of your district with the needs of the city? Where do you anticipate this being the biggest challenge?
As a supervisor, I am elected by district voters to represent them and vote on issues that affect the entire city. I always need to weigh the totality of the circumstances. District 4 values public safety, clean streets, and good schools, and I commit to being a champion on those issues.
How do you think the day-to-day management of a Supervisor’s office can be improved? How do you plan to run your office?
I’m dedicating half my staff’s time to constituent services, and the other half to policy, communications, scheduling, and executive support. I will continue to spend my time meeting directly with stakeholders and constituents and providing my staff with a vision for the city to support.
If you could measure the success of your term by 1 metric, and 1 metric only, what would that metric be?
Response time to constituent issues. Constituents often contact our office as a last resort when they have nowhere else to turn. My office will reply to constituent inquiries within 24 business hours and help constituents cut through bureaucracy to get the help they need. My office will ensure constituents are connected to the appropriate agency for support, and we will follow up to ensure those agencies meet their needs.
The Issues
Next, we will cover the issues that voters tell us they care about. We hope to gain a better understanding of your policy positions, and we hope that you use this opportunity to communicate with voters.
Public Safety
What is the #1 public safety issue today? Why do you believe this is the #1 issue?
The San Francisco Police Department is currently 500 officers short of its recommended staffing levels. SFPD cannot be expected to shut down the open-air markets while enforcing existing laws when 25% of its staff is missing. We need to fully staff our police and sheriff departments and ensure they have the tools and resources needed to do their job effectively.
What power would you have to solve this issue?
I would support having a budget that adequately supports our San Francisco Police Department and public safety agencies. I would also create a supportive environment for the overwhelming majority of law enforcement while holding the few bad eggs accountable.
What three things would you change about how SFPD operates?
I will support further civilianization of desk jobs so that more officers can move from the office to patrol while hiring professional staff who are knowledgeable and effective to fill those roles.
I also support the modernization of the SFPD using the latest technology, including, but not limited to, the RTIC Real-Time Investigation Center, to be a force multiplier for officers on the ground.
Finally, we need to strengthen incentives and recruitment for bilingual officers who are culturally attuned to our local neighborhoods. A successful police force reflects the community it serves, and we need a city that supports hiring officers who have a stake in the neighborhoods they patrol.
What small change do you think would have the biggest impact?
Since the pandemic, public perception of law enforcement officers has worsened. No one wants to go to a job every day and be treated like a villain. I believe that when elected leaders publicly support the SFPD in doing its job and hold bad eggs accountable, it will boost officers' morale and help them know that San Franciscans support them.
In addition to boosting morale, I believe that if we, as a community, begin to support law enforcement officers again, we will attract quality candidates, thereby raising recruitment numbers.
| Should San Francisco… | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Try to achieve “full staffing” for SFPD? (Defined as about 2,100 officers, according to the City) | X | |
| Arrest and prosecute street-level fentanyl dealers? | X | |
| Investigate, arrest, and prosecute fentanyl distribution ringleaders (like organized crime and cartel members)? | X | |
| Arrest and prosecute street-level vendors of suspected stolen goods? | X | |
| Investigate, arrest, and prosecute the leaders of theft rings and fencing operations? | X |
When considering appointments to the Police Commission, which sets SFPD's use of force guidelines, what do you consider to be important in the candidate?
Appointments to the police commission should be pragmatic and non-ideological, ideally politically neutral as well, but above all, they should have experience in public safety or in advocating for justice-involved individuals.
What are the ideal Police Commission candidate’s views on the following: public drug use, sidewalk vending (including food and stolen goods), use of police technology (drones, AI), and shoplifting.
I believe that the ideal Police Commission candidates' initial views matter less than their ability to engage with each issue. An ideal candidate should examine arguments and research every issue that comes before them before they make up their mind. Too often, San Francisco legislators have already made up their minds before the vote is even called.
Substance abuse
In general, how should the City handle people who are abusing drugs on City sidewalks?
The City should treat those individuals with respect while also holding them accountable to our already existing laws. If they are breaking city laws, they should be arrested and tried for their crimes, and those struggling with addiction should be given the option to be placed in treatment programs that get them on the path to recovery.
If someone is passed out from drugs on the sidewalk, how should the City respond?
Public Safety professionals should provide wellness checks to anyone who is passed out on the sidewalk, whether or not drugs are suspected to be involved. They should then be medically evaluated and given life-saving treatment if necessary.
Do you support the creation of safe consumption sites in San Francisco? If so, please detail how they should be run. If not, please explain a viable alternative.
Public drug use on our streets is illegal and unacceptable. I support drug-free options that prioritize getting those struggling into treatment programs focused on sobriety and job training.
Do you support sober housing? Why or why not?
For many struggling with addiction, housing is the first step on the path of recovery. Sober housing provides a safe place for those on their path to recovery and should be paired with job training programs and mental health support services.
Mental Health
Should San Francisco amend our current laws around mental health crisis intervention to better help people suffering on the streets? If yes, why and how? If not, why not?
San Francisco needs to do more to get individuals suffering on the streets into programs and services that are proven to help those struggling with addiction along their path to recovery.
What aspects of San Francisco’s conservatorship policies would you change?
The Board of Supervisors has a responsibility to evaluate our conservatorship policies to find solutions that do the most good. The dialogue around conservatorship has evolved over the past decade, and I believe a thorough audit of our current policy is well overdue.
Some have argued that San Francisco should place people who are experiencing mental health crises on the streets into involuntary mental health holds at psychiatric facilities. Do you agree or disagree with this view? Please explain why or why not. If you agree with this view, please outline some guardrails and oversight the City must provide to prevent abuse. If you disagree with this view, please outline your preferred alternative solution as well as any drawbacks it might have and oversight it might need.
We currently do not have enough resources to get all those facing mental health crises into psychiatric facilities. Before we can place all who are experiencing mental health crises into facilities, we first need to discuss where we are going to get those resources and what these additional facilities will look like.
Small Business
What would you change about the process of new retail business formation in San Francisco, across zoning, permitting, renovations, fees, and financing? Please be as specific as possible.
I support Mayor Lurie’s PermitSF initiative to reform the city’s permitting process, making it easier, simpler, and more transparent for small businesses to start or operate. I will support and champion opportunities to create a welcome environment for retail business formation in San Francisco.
To improve zoning, permitting, renovations, fees, and financing, I would like to launch a program in my office to solicit constituent feedback and identify burdensome laws for elimination. Whenever fiscally possible for the city, I would like to reduce or eliminate fees that are overly burdensome or unnecessary. I would like to streamline permitting so that small businesses have a straightforward checklist of items to complete rather than a byzantine maze of never-ending bureaucracy.
| Which of these types of businesses should be permitted by-right vs require special government approval? | Allowed | Needs Permission |
|---|---|---|
| Bars that don’t serve food | x | |
| Bars that serve food | x | |
| Vice businesses (strip clubs, liquor stores, etc.) | x | |
| Formula retail (Starbucks, Safeway, Whole Foods, etc.) | x | |
| Cafes & restaurants | x | |
| Professional offices | x |
If San Francisco adopted policies that allowed all non-vice businesses to open without special hearings, what would you do to help local small businesses compete with large national chains?
I support making it easier for small businesses to compete with large national chains by reducing bureaucratic red tape so that small businesses already on slim margins can survive and thrive in San Francisco.
| Should San Francisco… | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Reduce the time to obtain all permits to open a new business to no more than 3 months | x | |
| Reduce the cost of obtaining permits to open a new business | x | |
| Reduce the number of activities which must obtain permits, and expand the number of by-right activities | x | |
| Try to attract businesses of all sizes to the City? | x |
If you want to explain any positions above, please feel free:
N/A
Housing
Do you believe that San Francisco has a shortage of homes? Why or why not?
Yes, we need to build more housing of all categories. Housing is difficult, complicated, and expensive to build in San Francisco, and because of this, we have not been able to keep up with increasing housing demands.
Do you believe that housing prices are set by supply and demand constraints? Why or why not?
I believe that supply and demand constraints play a major part in housing prices.
What do you think about Mayor Lurie’s Family zoning plan?
I support, voted for, and have spoken publicly in favor of Mayor Lurie’s Family zoning plan. I grew up living in Sunset in-laws and have always wanted the opportunity to have my own place in the neighborhood, but the price of a typical home is almost $2 million. The Family Zoning Plan will give us more housing options and prevent Sacramento from coming in to make planning decisions for us.
Do you believe that building more housing is the #1 way to reduce the cost of living in San Francisco? Why or why not?
Building more housing is definitely at the top of the list to help make housing costs more manageable because housing is one of the highest costs of living in a major metropolitan area such as San Francisco.
| Should any of the following be exempt from CEQA, Discretionary Review, and Conditional Use permits? | Should be exempt | Should not be exempt |
|---|---|---|
| Homeless shelters | x | |
| Affordable housing | x | |
| Market rate housing |
| In general, is it too hard, just right, or too easy to… | Too hard | Just right | Too easy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expand your home (adding new stories, rooms, decks, etc) | x | ||
| Renovate your home (update bathroom, kitchen, etc) | x | ||
| Demolish your home and redevelop it into multifamily housing | x | ||
| Redevelop things like parking lots and single-story commercial into multifamily housing | x | ||
| Build subsidized housing | x | ||
| Build market-rate housing | x | ||
| Build homeless shelters (including navigation centers and “tiny homes”) | x |
If you want to explain any positions above, please feel free:
N/A
Transit Infrastructure
Do you believe the MUNI funding crisis should be solved by taxes alone? Why or why not? If not, what other solutions do you suggest?
In addition to raising revenue, we need to ensure that MUNI uses its existing resources and budget efficiently. Before taxpayers and voters will have confidence in further funding, they must have confidence in our public institutions.
Should it be the policy of San Francisco to build a citywide protected bike lane network? Why or why not?
I would support a citywide network of bike lanes with the goal of respecting and supporting other transit modalities as well, so that it is not a zero-sum game. We also need to support those who take public transit, drive, bicycle, or ride share.
Is Vision Zero the right goal? Why or why not?
Yes. We should strive to eliminate all fatalities. We can do this through thoughtful planning, preventative measures, public awareness, street design, and enforcement. While we are planning, we must consider all transit modalities such as public transit, driving, bicycling, and rideshare so that it is not a zero-sum game.
Should San Francisco prioritize buses over car traffic by creating more bus-only lanes and directing traffic enforcement officers to ticket drivers who ignore the restrictions?
I would weigh bus-only lanes on a case-by-case basis based on what is the greatest number for the greatest good.
Budget
San Francisco is facing a large budget deficit due to declining tax revenues from our struggling downtown. What would your approach be to fix this?
I favor a middle-of-the-road, incremental, and pragmatic approach. We need to review all options, including reducing spending while prioritizing key city services, considering savings from vacant positions, attrition, as well as raising revenue.
City Hall staffing has grown 27% while the city’s population has stayed stagnant. Would you support right sizing city government to rebalance the budget? Why or why not? Compare SF to other cities & counties.
We must ensure that public dollars are used for the public good. City and County staffing figures should be based on ensuring that essential and public services are provided to San Franciscans.
District-Specific Questions
What are your top priorities for your first 100 days in office?
Since taking office, I’ve been listening – at community meetings, inside small businesses, and on front porches. I’ve heard from seniors struggling with mobility issues, parents worried about school safety, and small business owners weighed down by confusing city rules. The message is consistent: People want a government that shows up. They want safe, clean streets, responsive service, and a representative who picks up the phone.
The Mayor’s Family Housing zoning reforms were recently enacted to allow more multi-family and “missing middle” housing in traditionally single-family Westside neighborhoods. What additional changes would you support to ensure these new zoning allowances actually translate into timely, feasible housing production?
There are very few condos or affordable units in District 4. Elsewhere, there are plenty of other neighborhoods in the more dense parts of the city. But I always want to stay on the west side and in the Sunset
And homes cost nearly $2 million. We need more housing options for our community, so the next generation of Sunset families and young people like myself who have grown up in intergenerational households and in-laws are able to have opportunities for homes.
What changes would you make to make it easier for homeowners to expand their homes (adding bedrooms, backyard units, new floors, etc) or convert their homes to apartment buildings that create new family housing?
I will cut red tape, streamline permits, and dedicate half of my staff to constituent services. I will advocate for increased neighborhood parking, make it easier to build ADUs and new housing, and help small businesses navigate City Hall so they can focus on serving our community.
Do you support closing Sunset Dunes park and reopening the Great Highway to vehicle traffic seven days a week, adopting a hybrid model (e.g., weekends closed, weekdays open), or keeping it closed to cars? Why?
I support a compromise that allows the Great Highway to be closed to cars on weekends but not on weekdays. The Great Highway is an important artery of traffic, and closing it has led to traffic being rerouted through our neighborhoods.
Data suggests that along Lower Great Highway, Sunset, Sloat, and 19th, there has been an uptick in traffic congestion during peak commute times. Residents are increasingly concerned about pedestrian safety. What would you do to address traffic flow and safety concerns along these corridors?
From March 14th through November, Sunset Boulevard went from three traffic injuries in 2024, to 12 in 2025, a 300 percent increase. That’s not a minor fluctuation. It is a clear sign that this corridor is already under strain. Last year had the highest number of injuries along 19th Avenue, 20th Avenue, Crossover Drive, and Judah Street. There have definitely been consequences to the closure.
I am currently advocating to reopen the Great Highway on weekdays when traffic is most impacted.
How should the City improve east-west transit connectivity from the Outer Sunset to downtown or the many UCSF campuses?
We need to improve public transit by making it safer, more efficient, and accessible. We need to support bicycling to work and reduce congestion on city streets. We need to make it easier for pedestrians to walk through street safety improvements. Finally, we should look into how to increase parking without affecting other modes of transit.
What specific policies would you propose to help the retail corridors of Noriega, Taraval, and Irving Streets thrive?
I support cutting red tape and reducing bureaucratic barriers that make it hard for small businesses to thrive. I support increasing corridor accessibility by increasing opportunities for all modes of transit to travel through and visit the merchant corridors.
How would you ensure that the residents of District 4 feel heard and well represented?
I want every Sunset resident to have a real voice at City Hall, especially seniors, working families, small business owners, and longtime residents who don’t always have time to organize but whose lives are deeply affected by city decisions. That’s why I’ve committed to dedicating half of my office staff to constituent services. If you have a problem – a broken streetlight, a safety concern, a permit issue, or you’ve hit a wall with a city agency – my office is here to help. We will make sure the right people are listening, and the right agencies follow through.
Personal
Tell us a bit about yourself!
How long have you lived in San Francisco? What brought you here and what keeps you here?
My parents immigrated from Hong Kong to San Francisco in search of opportunity. My father enrolled in City College’s culinary and ESL programs, which opened the door for him to become a union hotel cook at the Grand Hyatt on Stockton Street. Because of those union wages, our family was able to build a life here—living in in-law units throughout the Sunset and investing in our future.
I am a born-and-raised Sunset native, and serving this community as District 4 Supervisor is one of the greatest honors of my life. My commitment to the Sunset is lifelong and enduring.
What do you love most about San Francisco?
The fog, the culture, and the people.
There is nowhere in San Francisco quite like the Sunset District. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean, Stern Grove and Golden Gate Park, it’s the kind of place where fog softens the mornings, small businesses know their customers by name and neighbors look out for one another. This is a community built by working families – immigrants and longtime San Franciscans alike – who put down roots and stay.
I am one of those kids. The fog is my natural habitat. My parents immigrated from Hong Kong with very little, and they built a life here through hard work, perseverance and the kindness of neighbors. I grew up strolling down Irving Street with my mom after school, shopping for groceries, meeting local shop owners and eating at the old Irving Street Kentucky Fried Chicken.
What do you dislike the most about San Francisco?
The inability to be nimble and fix problems.
Tell us about your current involvement in the community (e.g., volunteer groups, neighborhood associations, civic and professional organizations, etc.)
I served with the American Red Cross, the Army National Guard, and as a union organizer. I later had the honor of serving as a Legislative Aide for District 4, as an elected City College Trustee, and as policy director at Children’s Council of San Francisco.
Why do you want to run for public office?
The Sunset is the community I love and the only home I’ve ever known. Serving as Supervisor is the greatest honor of my life. I will approach this work with a public servant’s heart. As a veteran, I will always put my community and my country first—above partisanship or ideology.
I will be a true neighborhood Supervisor, focused on improving the day-to-day lives of Sunset residents. My core priorities are restoring trust in government, reducing its burdens, ensuring public safety, and improving education.
Thank you
Thank you for giving us your time and answering our questionnaire. We look forward to reading your answers and considering your candidacy!
If you see any errors on this page, please let us know at contact@growsf.org.