Candidate for
Supervisor; County of San Francisco; District 5

Dear fellow San Franciscans,

My story is the quintessential American journey. I was born in St. Louis to a loving couple. Growing up, our household seemed humble but happy. That happiness wouldn't last, as soon after my sixth birthday, my father left my mother to raise four girls and two boys by her self.

My mother was a strong, proud woman who often worked two jobs to support us. Though we may not have been as fortunate as others economically, my mother always stressed that hard work and education were the keys to bettering oneself. To that end, she solicited the help of her brother, who was a prominent St. Louis banker. By claiming his address as where we lived, we were able to attend the schools of his affluent neighborhood, which were much better schools than those in our neighborhood.

Mom was a true Education Mama, making sure that we completed our homework, were on time, well fed, and looked presentable. Those values were instilled in me at a very young age, and I'd like to see them come to bear on our youth in District 5.

After completing high school, I was awarded the John J. Dyer Political Science Award, given by the City of St. Louis to the most outstanding student in the political and social sciences. The award included an internship with Senator Thomas Eagleton, as well as an academic scholarship which enabled me to attend Georgetown University, from which I graduated with a B.S. in Political Science. While attending Georgetown and working for Senator Eagleton, I served as the Chief Senate Intern, putting me in charge of the obligations of all Senate pages regardless of the political affiliation of their boss. I also was a dorm prefect for underclassmen during my time at G.U.

I returned home to St. Louis briefly to take a job teaching social sciences at two public schools, but soon found myself at the University of Chicago, where I took a curriculum of business and public policy classes. It was during this time that I received a business opportunity that I could not pass up: the Chicago-area branch of a French industrial chemical and adhesives manufacturer offered me their Director of the Midwest Region position. Through this job, I soon found myself living in San Francisco, working as their sole Western Field Director. Though I enjoyed this position, I decided to pursue a career change, which led me to join Bayview Federal Savings as a Mortgage Loan Officer in 1990.

My success in this new career allowed me to start pursuing more civic and political concerns. In 1997, I formed Adopt-A-Muni (now the Committee on Regional Empowerment, or CORE), to organize citizens in Laguna Honda, West Portal, St. Francis Wood, and all western SF communities that utilize the Forest Hill MUNI station. Prior to our efforts, that station was a rat and drug dealer infested slum that many people feared to use. One year later, due to our direct efforts in cleaning it up, and by pulling funds in from the city, businesses and individuals, Forest Hill became one of the cleanest, safest, and ADA compliant transportation facilities in the state. As a result of our efforts, we Adopt-A-Muni received an award from the MTC in 1998, and was named Best Transit-Related Organization in the State of California (MTA Grand Reward) by the MTA in 1999. We got a charter amendment put before the Board of Supervisors in 2000 to create a separate board of directors for MUNI, but political pressure lead them to quash it (something I plan to revisit the first minute of the first day of my tenure as District 5 Supervisor).

In 2001, largely due to my work with Adopt-A-Muni/CORE, I was appointed a Director of the Golden Gate Bridge, Transit, and Highway District by a unanimous vote of the Board of Supervisors. While there, I fought against wasteful spending and fare hikes, including the proposed charge for pedestrians and bicyclists, and the $2 fare increase that raised the toll price to a ridiculous $5. I also worked a great deal on issues of diversity and minority empowerment, helping many women and striving people to begin careers in transportation at the GGB District.

I returned to being a real estate loan consultant after leaving the GGB District in 2002. Since that time, I have continued to lead CORE to take efforts to tackle urban issues such as economic development and job creation, reducing crime in SF projects, and caring better for our seniors living in facilities such as Laguna Honda and throughout the Fillmore. I am committed to helping people find the inner strength and motivation to improve their lives and the lives of their neighbors. Until we start listening to each other and caring about the well being and opportunities for our fellow SF citizens, then San Francisco will never fulfill its promise of being a beautiful, diverse city that provides opportunity to all and presents obstacles to none.

My life journey has had many ups and downs, but with the strength of my mother and of the valuable lessons and values she gave me, I have continued to strive to better my own station as well as the lives of my fellow citizens. That is the strength, passion, and love I will bring to the job should you give me the honor of being your Supervisor in District 5.

Thank you,

Joseph Blue