November 11th, 2025

Purpose: The Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC) Policy Platform outlines our core values and priorities for civic engagement. It guides how we advocate for fair representation, accountable government, and policies that strengthen and empower the Chinese American and broader San Francisco communities.

About: As the oldest political club for Chinese Americans in the United States, Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC) has spent the past 66 years promoting upward mobility for families, small businesses, youth, seniors and working people in San Francisco. Our club has a proud history of advocating for civil rights, social justice, and equality. From advancing the Civil Rights movement to supporting the recent Stop Asian Hate campaign, we have always been on the frontlines of fighting for a more inclusive and just society.

Mission: The aim and purpose of this Club shall be to encourage the development of meaningful political awareness within our community and to thereby foster active participation in the democratic process of government by all citizens, to encourage Chinese American candidates to run for elective office, to encourage the appointment of Chinese Americans to appointive positions, to demand a high standard in government to seek justice and equality for all peoples and to study, develop, and advocate issues relevant to the empowerment and civil rights of Chinese Americans.

Approach:  CADC’s north star is the win-win strategy. We must build a better future by serving each and every resident and business in our city. We can’t back policies that pick and choose who is more worthy to stay and operate in the city. We must choose that everyone gets to live and do business in the city. 

Public Safety & Clean Street: We envision San Francisco to be safe, clean, and just for everyone, where ALL San Franciscans can thrive. 

We are particularly focused on public safety, ensuring that our neighborhoods are secure, and tackling issues related to homelessness and drug addiction with compassion and effectiveness. 

Our model is Smart Justice. While we support rehabilitation and second chances, we must also ensure accountability for those committing crimes including anti-Asian violence.

See CADC's Public Safety & Clean Street Policies.

Public Education: We are committed to improving public education. We have a long history of advocating for academic intervention for students who need more help, while championing excellent and rigorous curriculum for those who can do more. 

CADC is proud to be the cornerstone of the grassroots Chinese Parent Advisory Council (CPAC), which led to SFUSD’s establishment of the Asian Parent Advisory Committee (Asian PAC), a long overdue step in its 173-year history.

See CADC's Public Education Policies.

Housing: CADC advocates for housing at every price point to serve both seniors and young professionals. We must also create ownership opportunities for the missing middle - families and immigrants, who need two- to three-bedroom units with onsite parking. We also support infill housing and responsible growth, as well as preservation of multigenerational Housing. We seek to incentivize small property owners to create more privately owned affordable housing, in order to alleviate the pressure on new constructions. 

See CADC's Housing Policies.

Transportation: We advocate for all modes of transportation, from Vision Zero to transit first to safe bike lanes. We also believe it is imperative to support families who rely on cars as essential tools for taking their children to school, elders to shopping, and themselves to work.

See CADC's Transportation Policies.

Economy: Revitalizing the economy of San Francisco is imperative.  One crucial aspect of ensuring the viability of small businesses and merchants is to provide good access to storefronts including public transit and ample parking. We must also bring tourism back because it is a multiplier for our economy.

See CADC's Economy Policies.

Voter Education: We must raise political awareness by engaging Chinese Americans and immigrants in everyday civic life. In a democracy, elected officials and ballot measures directly shape our communities. Registering and voting in every election are essential to protecting our rights. When our community understands how government works, we can fully participate and make our voices heard.

See CADC's Voter Education Policies.

Leadership:  Some of CADC’s responsibilities are to encourage Chinese American candidates to run for elective office, to encourage the appointment of Chinese Americans to appointive positions. Representation matters because the elected officials and appointed commissioners who have the shared values and lived experiences with members of our community can make policies that align with our community. We must identify, cultivate and train leaders in our community to become representatives in all levels of the government. 

See CADC's Leadership Policies.

Conclusion: We must actively engage with Chinese American and Chinese immigrant communities with voter education and voter registration. We must cultivate leaders to run for office and seek appointments to committees and boards. We must choose win-win and all-win solutions to support all families, youth, seniors and small business owners. When we can treat every resident of our city like friends and families and every child like our own, we can unify to do great things.  When we all win, San Francisco wins!

 

CADC's Public Safety & Clean Street Policies

We envision San Francisco to be safe, clean, and just for everyone, where ALL San Franciscans can thrive. People need to have a feeling before they commit a crime that consequences exist. 

1. Strong Public Safety

CADC believes in strong public safety measures that ensure the city's neighborhoods are secure and that all residents can live without fear. 

2. Anti-Asian Hate Crimes

A critical concern for CADC is the rise in anti-Asian hate. Since the Pandemic, incidents of hate have escalated, particularly affecting API elders and small business owners, who are often disproportionately targeted. We recognize the fear and anxiety these incidents create within the community and demand that law enforcement must take decisive action to combat these crimes.

3. Smart Justice Model

CADC champions a Smart Justice approach that prioritizes rehabilitation but also enforces accountability for criminal acts, especially those tied to hate or violence. We insist that those committing crimes, particularly those directed at vulnerable communities, must face consequences.

4. Leadership in Law Enforcement

CADC stresses that the leaders of law enforcement agencies in San Francisco should have not only the technical expertise to handle complex public safety issues but also the cultural understanding, linguistic skills and empathy needed to reassure marginalized communities. The leaders must possess the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders and show a proven record of effective crime prevention.

5. A Safe, Inclusive, and Vibrant San Francisco

CADC demands a safe, inclusive, and vibrant city that caters to the needs of all its residents. This means protecting both public safety and the rights of marginalized groups, ensuring that no one feels excluded or unsafe in their own city.

 

CADC's Public Education Policies:

CADC has a strong and dedicated commitment to improving public education in San Francisco, focusing on creating opportunities for all students to succeed. Our approach combines advocacy for academic intervention for students who need additional support, as well as championing a rigorous curriculum for those who are ready for more challenging material. 

1. Commitment to Academic Intervention and Rigorous Curriculum

CADC advocates for academic intervention to support students who require more help, ensuring that no child is left behind. This involves providing targeted resources, extra learning opportunities, and personalized support to help struggling students catch up. At the same time, CADC emphasizes the importance of offering an excellent and rigorous curriculum for students who can thrive with advanced learning opportunities. This dual approach ensures that all students—regardless of their starting point—have the resources and challenges they need to succeed.

2. Founding the Chinese Parent Advisory Council (CPAC)

CADC takes great pride in being the cornerstone of the Chinese Parent Advisory Council (CPAC), a grassroots organization that played a crucial role in advocating for better representation and support for the Chinese American community within San Francisco's public schools. CPAC has been instrumental in ensuring that the educational needs of Chinese American students are addressed, particularly in a city as diverse as San Francisco.

3. Creation of the Asian Parent Advisory Committee (Asian PAC)

One of CADC's significant achievements is its leadership in advocating for the creation of the Asian Parent Advisory Committee (Asian PAC) within the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). This was a long overdue step in the district's 173-year history, and CADC played a key role in this historic moment. The Asian PAC serves as an important platform for Asian American parents to have a voice in shaping the educational policies and practices that affect their children.

The creation of the Asian PAC acknowledges the unique challenges and needs of the Asian American community within the SFUSD and ensures that their perspectives are included in decision-making processes.

 

CADC's Housing Policies:

CADC's housing policies emphasize affordable, inclusive, and diverse housing solutions to meet the needs of all San Franciscans, from seniors to young professionals. We advocate for a variety of housing types and strategies that address the full spectrum of housing needs across different income levels, family sizes, and community backgrounds. 

1. Housing at Every Price Point

CADC believes that San Francisco must offer housing options at every price point to ensure that residents of all income levels, including seniors and young professionals, can find suitable living spaces. They recognize that both the elderly and the younger, often early-career professionals, have unique housing needs—seniors may seek affordable, accessible units, while young professionals may require more flexible housing options in vibrant, central locations.

Permit streamlining to reduce time and cost of building housing.

2. Creating Ownership Opportunities for the "Missing Middle"

A key focus of CADC's housing policy is addressing the needs of the "missing middle"—a demographic of immigrants and families who struggle to find homes that meet their needs and budget. This group often falls between low-income housing and high-end market-rate units. CADC advocates for the creation of two- to three-bedroom units with onsite parking that cater to families, especially those who are working-class but not necessarily eligible for affordable housing programs.

By increasing ownership opportunities for this group, CADC aims to reduce the growing housing disparity and promote homeownership as a path to financial stability for families who are often left out of the housing market.

Lift moratorium on condo conversion.

3. Advocacy for Infill Housing and Responsible Growth

CADC supports the development of additional units built on residential properties. These units are an efficient way to increase housing stock without requiring significant new development. They also offer homeowners an opportunity to create rental income, which can make housing more affordable for a wider range of people. This strategy is seen as a practical way to alleviate housing shortages and expand the availability of affordable living spaces in San Francisco's dense urban environment.

4. Incentivizing Small Property Owners

Another important part of CADC's housing strategy is to incentivize small property owners to create more affordable private housing. Many smaller landlords and property owners may not have the resources or motivation to build new housing on their own. By providing incentives such as financial assistance, tax credits, or regulatory relief, CADC aims to encourage these property owners to add more units to the rental market, helping to alleviate the pressure on the city's housing supply.

This strategy not only decentralizes housing production, but also relieves the pressure on large-scale new housing development. These strategies can provide immediate relief and fill gaps in the market, especially in neighborhoods that are already well-established.

5. Preserve Multigenerational Housing

About 37% of San Francisco’s population are Asian Americans or Asian immigrants. Many in this community live in single-family homes (SFHs), often with three or more generations under one roof, supporting one another across generations. Parents care for grandparents, and grandparents help raise the children—creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that reduces the burden on government services.

These families typically own their homes and rely on cars to carpool and transport family members. It is important to preserve the infrastructure that’s prevalent in the western and the southern parts of the city in order to maintain the social fabric of our neighborhoods.

CADC Priorities for Family Zoning Plan (FZP) Amendments

1. Coastal Zone Protection — Remove all parcels proposed for upzoning within the coastal zone to preserve coastal integrity, ensure compliance with coastal protection policies, and avoid complex Coastal Commission approvals.
2. Height and Density Adjustments — Reduce proposed high-rise zoning (up to 14 stories) at 19th Avenue intersections (Lincoln, Irving, Judah, Noriega, Taraval, Eucalyptus, Holloway to mid-rise levels of 6–8 stories.
3. Sloat Corridor Preservation — Maintain the current maximum height limit of 100 feet along Sloat Boulevard between the Upper Great Highway and 44th Avenue, with no variances permitted above this height.
4. Transit-Oriented Redistribution — Reallocate the reduced housing units to areas within a quarter mile of major transit stops, consistent with SB 79.
5. Parking Improvements — Increase both on-street and on-site parking capacity. Encourage family-appropriate parking ratios, such as one space for each 2- or 3-bedroom unit, to maintain access and neighborhood vitality as density increases.

 

CADC's Transportation Policies:

Support a Balanced Transportation System

We urge the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to not only support public transit, bicycles, and pedestrian safety but also to recognize the full spectrum of transportation needs—including those of car users. For many multi-generational Chinese American families, a car is not just a convenience—it is essential for daily life, caregiving, and household logistics.

A Win-Win Approach to Transportation Policy

We advocate for a balanced, inclusive approach to transportation planning. All modes—pedestrian safety, reliable and efficient public transit, safe bike lanes, and personal or rideshare vehicles—must be considered together. Without this comprehensive view, policies are likely to fall short.

Take for example the pedestrian safety crisis: fatalities in San Francisco recently reached their second-highest level since the launch of the “Vision Zero” initiative nearly a decade ago. This tragic trend shows that current infrastructure policies are not working as intended.

Grade Separation: A Proven Solution

We strongly advocate for Grade Separation—also known as mode separation—a proven principle widely implemented in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. In these systems, each mode of travel operates safely and efficiently in its own corridor. Unfortunately, San Francisco is moving in the opposite direction.

We propose designing transportation corridors around specific functions in order to reduce conflict and inefficiency. 

• Merchant corridors for businesses
• Public transit corridors for Muni and buses
• CommuterWays - corridors that prioritize vehicles
• NeighborWays - corridors that prioritize bikes, e-scooter, and pedestrians
  
  

Practical Implementation in the Sunset District

There is a de facto model in the Sunset District, for example:

• Irving Street as a merchant corridor
• Judah Street as a transit corridor
• Lincoln Avenue as a car corridor
• Kirkham Street as a Neighborway

We cosponsored the creation of the Neighborways, like Kirkham and 20th Ave, because they offer a safer, more balanced solution to prioritize slow moving mode with features to support car traffic, such as stop signs at every corner and speed bumps mid-block. 

Addressing Congestion with CommuterWays

A network of Neighborways doesn't work without its companion network of CommuterWays. The closure of the Great Highway and implementation of Neighborways—without providing alternate vehicular routes—has led to increased congestion on remaining major arteries like 19th Avenue.

We propose CommuterWays, safe corridors to prioritize vehicles, incorporating:

• On-demand crossing lights on side streets
• Traffic-calming paint and signage
• Fewer disruptions, while maintaining safe speed limits

We recommend a 1:1 ratio of CommuterWays to Neighborways. This balanced model should be piloted in the Sunset District, then expanded to the west side, south side, and southeast communities of the city.

The Great Highway and Proposition K: A Cautionary Tale

Proposition K, which proposed closing the Great Highway without community input, provoked strong backlash—especially in the western and southern neighborhoods, where many Chinese American families reside. The failure to consult these communities before advancing the policy has created lasting resentment and distrust. Future planning must center community engagement and equity.

 

CADC's Economy Policies

Economy: Revitalizing the economy of San Francisco is imperative.  One crucial aspect of ensuring the viability of small businesses and merchants is to provide good access to storefronts including public transit and ample parking, as well as preservation for small businesses during redevelopment. We advocate for equal opportunities for all businesses, and not to greenlight certain non-family friendly businesses such as cannabis retails and cultivation. We must also bring tourism back because it is a multiplier for our economy.

 

Our Key Concerns:

• No Mandated Protections for Existing Businesses: Legacy and long-standing businesses have no guaranteed right to remain or to be considered in redevelopment plans. Existing zoning changes allow demolition and redevelopment without community input or conditional use authorization in many cases.
• Rising Rents and Redevelopment Pressure: The upzoning of older mixed-use buildings will drive up land values and rents, making it financially untenable for small businesses to remain — whether they are tenants or property owners.
• Lack of Incentives for Preservation: Developers have no meaningful incentive to preserve or integrate small businesses into new development, despite their community-serving nature.
• Inadequate Relocation Support: While the ordinance allows some legacy businesses to relocate without a conditional use permit and waives impact fees, this is not a substitute for keeping businesses in place. Relocation costs, customer loss, and diminished visibility cannot be solved with permitting exemptions alone. 

We Propose the Following Solutions:

1. Mandatory Community Engagement for Redevelopment Projects: Any project that results in the displacement of small businesses — especially legacy businesses — should require a conditional use authorization and robust public outreach, not just administrative approval.
2. Right of First Refusal or Lease Preference: Require developers to offer displaced legacy businesses a right of return or preferential lease terms in the new development at comparable commercial rates.
3. Stronger Preservation Incentives: Provide height or density bonuses only if the developer preserves an existing legacy business on-site or offers a dedicated space for a community-serving commercial use such as a cultural, culinary, or artisanal business.
4. Commercial Anti-Displacement Fund: Create a dedicated fund to support small business stabilization, relocation assistance, and legal aid for businesses affected by redevelopment.

Overlay Zone or Special Use District for Legacy Corridors: Establish a zoning overlay or Special Use District (SUD) to protect legacy business corridors, with added review processes and preservation incentives.

 

CADC's Voter Education Policies

We must raise political awareness within our community by engaging Chinese Americans and Chinese immigrants in their everyday life.  Contrary to the countries that many of our communities come from, democracy is the keystone in America. Elected Officials make policies that affect every aspect of our lives. Propositions and city measures, once passed, become laws that we must follow. Therefore, registering to vote and voting in every election are crucial for preserving the rights of our community. Only when our community understands the nuts and bolts of civics and politics, can we foster active participation in the democratic process of government.

 

CADC's Leadership Policies

Some of CADC’s responsibilities are to encourage Chinese American candidates to run for elective office, to encourage the appointment of Chinese Americans to appointive positions. Representation matters because the elected officials and appointed commissioners who have the shared values and lived experiences with members of our community can make policies that align with our community. We must identify, cultivate and train leaders in our community to become representatives in all levels of the government.