Bites & Ballots

The Food and Agriculture Action Coalition Toward Sovereignty (FAACTS) asked every Mayoral and Supervisor candidate to respond to a list of questions about how they plan to address the root causes of food insecurity in San Francisco. Come hear what they have to say about food sovereignty, food justice, and the future of food access in our city.

At this event, we will discuss:

• The candidates’ responses to key questions about current issues exacerbating food insecurity in the city and how they can uplift community-driven solutions
• What their visions are for a food secure city
• How community members can stay informed and engaged in shaping food-related policies in San Francisco

Light appetizers and drinks will be provided!

Why this is important: In 2013, the Board of Supervisors set a goal to make San Francisco “food secure and hunger free” by 2020. We are four years past that deadline and food insecurity is at an all time high, with over 1 in 4 San Franciscans at risk of food insecurity and no end in sight as food prices continue to rise. This crisis is further exacerbated by the City’s high cost of living and grocery store closures, making it increasingly difficult for residents to survive, let alone thrive.

Questions from the FAACTS 2024 SF Candidate Questionnaire

1. How will you ensure San Francisco is effectively addressing food insecurity, promoting food sovereignty, and coordinating efforts across various stakeholders, including City Departments, community-based organizations, and food businesses?
2. What do you identify as the key hotspots or challenges related to food security and food access in your district? What are the top barriers preventing residents from accessing the food they need, when they need it, with dignity, and in a manner that respects their health and cultural preferences?
3. Food insecurity often stems from systemic issues like inflation, poverty, structural racism, housing insecurity, and food apartheid. What two or three strategies do you propose to address these root causes and ensure that all SF residents have consistent access to nutritious and culturally appropriate food?
4. SF passed a historic tax on sugary drinks in 2016 despite record breaking lobbying by the soda industry. These funds were intended to be invested in the communities most targeted by the soda industry, and this investment was promised to the voters. The legislation called for a representative body called the Sugary Drink Distributors Tax Advisory Committee (SDDTAC) to make recommendations to the Mayor on how to invest the tax revenue. As an elected official, would you accept the recommendations made by the SDDTAC?
5. Please rank the following strategies in order of importance: Supporting urban agriculture, Protecting local farmers markets, Ensuring the sustainability of small food businesses, Cash-first interventions such as grocery vouchers, Investing in regional food systems and local producers, Implementing better food procurement standards in institutions, such as hospitals, schools, and the justice system , Food as Medicine initiatives, Free meal and grocery distribution , Livable wages and stable income, Supporting cooperative economies, Addressing systemic inequities that contribute to food insecurity, Others?
6. How do you define food justice and food sovereignty? Can you provide an example of a policy or initiative you have supported to promote food justice and sovereignty? What plans do you have to support food justice and sovereignty like community-based food programs, urban agriculture, or local farmers?

Please note: FAACTS is a non-partisan coalition and does not, and will not, endorse any specific candidate. The purpose of this event is to inform the community about the candidates’ positions on food sovereignty, helping voters make informed decisions.

About FAACTS

In May 2022, more than a dozen representatives from community organizations sprang into action when they learned $45 million was to be cut from the budget of the City and County of San Francisco, essentially all of the food security funding provided by the Human Services Agency (HSA). These funding cuts would affect the nutrition needs of at least 70,000 families across the city. Through the direct advocacy of this ad hoc coalition of HSA grantees and food justice groups, funding was restored to the city budget through the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Since its inception, FAACTS has achieved significant milestones, including:

• Preserving $75 million in funding for citywide food access programming
• Organizing the first-ever SF Food Action Summit where over 225 people started on a path to create a good food system
• Empowered hospitality industry workers through a Worker’s Rights Training co-hosted with The Women’s Building and Trabajadores Unidos
• Administered training to community members on how to give effective public comment
• Organized experiential learning opportunities to food system institutions, like Pie Ranch and Cascade Ranch, who are leaders in establishing community-based farm models

About The Women's Building

The Women’s Building is a women-led community space that advocates self-determination, gender equality and social justice.

Since 1971, San Francisco Women’s Centers has represented and been guided by the belief that all women and girls have the right to safe, joyous and creative lives.

Every day at The Women’s Building:

• Women can take care of themselves and their families by using their social services.
• The well-being of women and girls is improved by their social justice advocacy.
• Community groups in their Nonprofit Hub strengthen their community work by interacting and partnering with each other in a vibrant, socially progressive and affordable space.

Each year they welcome over 25,000 women and their families, connecting them with social services, community involvement opportunities, the arts, wellness and educational events.

Host or Publisher FAACTS