Two new faces and an incumbent tried to win over South San Francisco District 3 voters on Thursday, with candidates speaking on residents’ biggest concerns.
Melanie Olson, a Woodside city planner; Sophia Cyris, a former Youth commissioner; and Councilwoman Flor Nicolas all identified affordability as the city’s biggest issue.
Olson, 33, has worked as a city planner for four years and has served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission for five months. In an interview, Olson said her master’s in urban planning and experience in Woodside distinguish her from her opponents.
Olson said on Thursday that the lack of affordability has led to displacement, and the city needs to prioritize the people who work and live in South San Francisco by ensuring available housing remains affordable.
“How can we enjoy the resources that we have if we can’t afford to be here comfortably?” Cyris said at the forum moderated by Margie Gator, a board member of the League of Women Voters of North and Central San Mateo County.
Cyris, 19, a senior at San Francisco State University studying political science, said South San Francisco has many vacant spaces, but the cost of buying or renting remains a problem.
Nicolas, who has been on council since 2018 and became the first Filipino mayor in 2023, said affordability is a personal issue for her, as she also calls South San Francisco home.
“We want this to be the home for everybody. Not just for the ones who are here but also our children,” Nicolas said.
She said there needs to be economic mobility and a balanced housing supply.
When asked about the Municipal Services Building at 33 Arroyo Drive, a location listed as a potential site for affordable housing in the city’s housing plan, Nicolas said it’s important to know the results of a study being made to determine the best way to renovate the building.
But Olson said the building would best serve as senior housing because it’s close to public transportation and the library.
“We could include personalized senior services for our people to retain what residents are concerned about,” Olson said.
The Municipal Services Building formally served as a community hub and housed city services and departments until all the programs were moved to the Library and Parks and Recreation Center.
Cyris said the building should partially serve as a senior center, as residents wanted the site to remain a community center.
“The advocacy from residents and the organization from our residents needs to be heard and rewarded. I think the city should be organizing better talks with those residents because they are truly fighting for a better South City,” Cyris said.
Cyris served as a youth commissioner in middle school and recently worked for a local congressional office. She said she wants to help the city refocus on its long-time residents amid concerns about growth.
When asked how council would make sure residents can afford to live and work in South San Francisco, Nicolas said there sources and rules are already in place, such as density bonuses and inclusionary zoning, that allow for balanced housing.
Cyris said the city should consider rent stabilization and that a board could be created so residents could be heard more.
But there is a way to balance housing projects while also bringing jobs closer to people, according to Olson. If the city were to change the zoning in certain areas, more housing could be built with lower storefronts creating both housing and jobs, she said.
Another candidate who asked residents to vote for her was Aysha Pamukcu. She is running for the District 1 seat, currently held by Mayor Mark Addiego, who will retire at the end of his term. Pamukcu is running unopposed, along with Councilman Eddie Flores, who represents District 5.