2016 State Senate District 11 Candidate Jane Kim

Candidate Facts

S11JK    Name: Jane Kim
   Campaign Website: www.janekim.org

Candidate Questionnaire

All official candidates were contacted and given the opportunity to answer our Candidate Questionnaire. Any candidate responses edited for length and clarity have been marked as such.

1. Do you ride a bicycle in the city or in Sacramento?

Yes

If “Yes,” how often do you ride and for what purpose(s)?

I bike and walk as part of my personal commitment to be one fewer car on the road. As a beginning cyclist, I have become comfortable biking to work and short distances around SoMa and the Tenderloin. I am the cyclist I consider when advocating for bike lanes–I am more likely to bike if there are separated bike lanes and available bike racks to ensure I can park my bike when I reach my destination. As our city grows in density, we must build infrastructure and a culture that encourages and incentivizes our residents/workers to bike.

2. One of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s top state legislative priorities is Automated Speed Enforcement, recognizing that speed is the top factor in traffic collision fatalities in San Francisco. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution in support of ASE and it is the SF Municipal Transportation Agency’s top legislative priority in Sacramento. Do you support legislation that would authorize the use of ASE as a pilot in San Francisco?

Yes

If “Yes,” would you sponsor this bill and why? If “No,” what change would make you consider supporting such legislation?

I absolutely support this initiative and would sponsor this bill and have advocated to our local delegation to take up this legislation. Engineering, education, and enforcement are important components of Vision Zero, but we will not decrease fatalities and injuries if we do not reduce speed. Speed is the number one factor in determining the safety of all individuals involved in the case of a collision. I also support decreasing speed limits.

3. What have you learned as District Supervisor in San Francisco that will help inform you if elected State Senator?

My experience as a Community Organizer and Supervisor representing a very diverse community–low-income SRO tenants, immigrants, a growing senior population, at-risk youth, and homeless adults and families–as well as the district with the highest rate of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, has greatly influenced me as a legislator. I work to include a diverse array of community members when drafting legislation, negotiating housing development deals, and developing priorities for initiatives like Vision Zero. Because close to 80% of all of San Francisco’s development takes place in my district, I have gained substantive expertise in the land use process. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

4. What are your legislative priorities in Sacramento to support San Francisco’s Transit-First policy?

The safety of people biking will continue to be one of my priorities at the local and State level. If elected to the Senate, I will also prioritize housing affordability, tenant protections, higher education, and reforming our broken criminal justice system. Part of supporting a more affordable Bay Area means making smart, equitable, and data-driven investments in housing, education, and an affordable regional public transportation system, including high speed rail, a second BART tube, increased regional ferry and bus service, the downtown extension of Caltrain along with electrification, and further encouraging Caltrans’ to adopt innovative street designs that promote biking.

5. Our City has embraced and adopted Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2024. Do you support Vision Zero?

Yes

If “Yes,” the city has yet to make significant progress since the introduction of Vision Zero in 2014. In fact, fatalities are on the rise. What would you do as State Senator to help the city achieve Vision Zero?

As the primary author and most vocal champion of Vision Zero, I know we must prioritize re-engineering and design of our streets to prevent conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and large vehicle drivers. Funding is no longer the issue–it’s become a matter of leadership and will. The near-time pilots on Folsom and Howard are great, but we need to push through separated bike lanes on these corridors and more. I will be holding a hearing on bike safety in September to request clear deliverables and timelines for protected bike lanes. As Senator, I will implement ASE. [RESPONSE TRUNCATED]

6. The draft California Transportation Plan 2040 calls for a doubling of bicycling statewide. Caltrans has committed to tripling bicycle mode share from 1.5% to 4.5% by 2020. As State Senator, would you support increasing bicycle trips in California? 

Yes

If “Yes,” what would you do as State Senator to help grow the number of people biking statewide?

We are focusing on building livable urban neighborhoods with housing near public transportation hubs that prioritize and plan for walking, bicycling, and carpool options. I have worked closely with the Planning Department and developers to plan for and invest in biking infrastructure. When negotiating large developments, I collaborate with SFBC to ensure that developers consider bicycling in the project and invests in the neighborhood’s streets. I have made certain developers agree to reduce parking spots and to strategically place garage entrances and exits to best prevent conflict with cyclists by working with statewide advocacy organizations like Cal Walks and Calbikes.

7. California’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund has been used to fund bicycle projects with the goal of reducing state greenhouse gas emissions. Do you support increased allocation and funding for bike projects? 

Yes

If “Yes,” what funding opportunities do you see at the state level to get bicycle projects on the ground?

We cannot close the income/opportunity gap if we don’t have access to safe, reliable, and affordable transportation, which is the second biggest expense in a family budget. I am committed to examining the State’s budget and working closely with SFBC and other bicycle advocates to invest in bikeable cities, reduce vehicle congestion, and improve regional public transit systems. I have supported a variety of revenue measures dedicated to funding public transit and Vision Zero, including the GO Bond for Transportation and the Population Growth Charter Amendment, and I support forwarding the VLF increase in San Francisco and statewide.

8. The California Air Resources Board recently included bike share in its Car Sharing and Mobility Options pilot program, opening up funding opportunities to expand bike share in low-income areas. Do you support the expansion of bike share and other bicycle infrastructure into low-income areas?

Yes

If “Yes,” how would you address low-income areas’ transportation needs as State Senator?

I have intentionally organized a diverse pedestrian and bike safety coalition, which includes low-income families, seniors, SRO residents, young professionals, and condo homeowners in our Vision Zero Work Group Meetings. I worked to develop Vision Zero resident leaders in the Tenderloin. I pushed for a pedestrian and bike redesign study of 6th Street and bike lanes on Golden Gate and Polk, and I’m a strong supporter of open street programs like Sunday Streets and Yellow Bike. I will continue this work in Sacramento and explore ways to allow low-income individuals access to Bike Share programs.

Return to November 2016 Candidate Summaries

Become a member and you'll improve your commute and get discounts at shops across the city.