District 4 forum: S.F. candidates confronted with most controversial positions

"Why should voters trust your ethics and ability to meet important deadlines in City Hall for grants, projects, and other legal obligations? KQED reporter Sydney Johnson asked Albert Chow, referring to the hardware store owner's missing tax returns for his nonprofit People of Parkside Sunset. The latter received at least $440,000 in city funding between 2018 and 2022."

"Chow said he had taken responsibility for that lapse, but also blamed COVID and having a child. He has since filed the returns, he said, and pointed to various activities that the nonprofit has organized such as outdoor movies at McCoppin Square."

"For the incumbent supervisor Alan Wong, who was appointed by Mayor Daniel Lurie in November, the tough question aimed at Wong's support for the controversial upzoning plan, which increases the height and density for housing development in the Sunset. Will Wong work to move the 1234 Great Highway affordable housing project forward?"

Five candidates running for San Francisco's Sunset District supervisor position participated in a public debate where each faced questions about previous controversies. Albert Chow, a hardware store owner, was questioned about missing tax returns for his nonprofit People of Parkside Sunset, which received at least $440,000 in city funding between 2018 and 2022. Chow acknowledged the lapse, citing COVID and personal circumstances, and stated he has since filed the returns, though they have not yet appeared on IRS databases. Incumbent supervisor Alan Wong, appointed by Mayor Daniel Lurie in November, was challenged on his support for a controversial upzoning plan and the stalled 1234 Great Highway affordable housing project for seniors, which lacks funding. Wong indicated he was still developing his policy perspective on the housing project.

Read at Mission Local