As the city of San Francisco prepares for significant changes following the November 5, 2024, election, District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen reflects on her eight-year tenure in office, marking the end of an era in local politics. In an extensive exit interview with Mission Local, Ronen, who has been a prominent figure in San Francisco’s political landscape, shared her insights on a variety of topics ranging from housing policy to street conditions, as well as her views on the shifting landscape of technology and its effects on vulnerable populations.
Hillary Ronen, a southern California native, originally entered public service as an attorney with La Raza Centro Legal before serving as a legislative aide to former District 9 Supervisor David Campos. In 2016, she secured her position as supervisor and was re-elected unopposed in 2020. During her time in office, Ronen has championed numerous pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the district's most vulnerable residents, including the establishment of cultural districts and protections for tenants against exorbitant rent increases amid the pressures of gentrification.
In her discussion about her accomplishments, Ronen noted, "I've given everything I had to District 9, to the people of San Francisco and to the changes I wanted to create. And now it’s time for me to focus my energy somewhere else." This marks a transition as Ronen plans to engage with the burgeoning issues surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), a subject she feels deeply passionate about.
Reflecting on her initial priorities when she entered office, Ronen revealed the challenges she faced during her tenure, particularly concerning street conditions and homelessness in the Mission District. When asked about the increase in visible street encampments, she recounted a pivotal moment when Mayor Ed Lee relocated homeless individuals to the Mission, drastically changing the landscape of the neighbourhood. Ronen stated, “I had to strike this balance of working on the root causes of why there were such horrible street conditions, while simultaneously trying to fix them.”
One of her more contentious legislative efforts was the implementation of a street-vending ban, initially intended to control what she described as chaos in the streets. As this policy evolved, Ronen acknowledged its complex reception among vendors. “At first, I didn’t want there to be a ban. I was like, ‘These are poor folks who are selling stolen goods to survive,’ but I want them gone.” Despite some initial pushback, she suggested that over time, the ban helped improve conditions significantly.
As she prepares to step away from her role, Ronen's focus shifts to the implications of AI on low-income communities. “I feel very proud of [affordable housing initiatives in the Mission], but I’m so excited to dive into this new challenge,” she stated, asserting the need for a justice-oriented movement that understands how technological advancements can shape societal structures.
Ronen’s approach highlights her intent to channel her experiences and insights from City Hall into advocating for those she believes may be adversely affected by the technological divide. She aims to engage with regulatory policies concerning AI at a time when, as she observed, “the feds aren’t regulating AI at all,” leaving room for potentially disproportionate impacts on the socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Ronen expressed a sense of nostalgia for her time at City Hall, remarking, “I had my daughter while I was there... so there’s just so many places in that gorgeous, amazing building that mean so much to me.” Yet, she acknowledges the need for new energy and new perspectives in a role that requires constant engagement with urgent community issues.
As her tenure draws to a close, Ronen is set to navigate her next steps in advocating for equitable policy in the evolving technological landscape, a transition that reflects both the challenges of her past and the potential for future advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations in the face of rapid technological change.
Source: Noah Wire Services