Candidate Name:Aliya Chist
Phone Number:415-805-6881
Web site:www.aliyachisti.com
E-mail:aliyachisti2024@gmail.com
Name of Campaign Manager:Olusola Akanni
How much do you expect to spend in this contest:$70,000
Major Endorsements:Working Families Party, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, San Francisco Women's Political Committee, Congressman Kevin Mullin, California Controller Malia Cohen, Supervisor Hillary Ronen, Supervisor Shamann Walton, Former Supervisor Jane Kim, Former Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, Former Supervisor John Avalos. Bevan Dufty BART Board Director, Mano Raju Public Defender
Incumbent whose votes are most similar to the way you would vote:
Incumbent who votes least similarly to the way you would vote:
I have worked with current Trustees on a wide variety of issues facing the Board today and we are generlly in alignment on several issues. However, there are times when disagreement do not necessarily relate to policies but rather the specifics of a policy to help advance CCSF, especially in relations to our budget, accreditation issue, and serving students.
1. Do you have practical ideas on how CCSF can be adequately funded?
Historically, per-student resources for California community colleges have been lower compared to other public education systems due to inadequate state funding, making it difficult for institutions like City College of San Francisco to maintain and grow existing programs. The fundamental shift in the state's funding formula to a “performance-based model” further exacerbated years of state disinvestment in higher education. Given these constraints, we must grow City College sustainably, which requires time and consistent effort. I believe we can increase revenue through a multifaceted approach.
As trustees, we must advocate at the local, state, and federal levels for additional resources. This area has consistently been inadequate for our college and must be strengthened. I have called for a committee to identify future revenue measures to financially support CCSF. I have also advocated for restructuring City College's Foundation to enhance alumni relations and fundraising efforts. I plan to continue these initiatives in my next term.
2. Why are you running for College Board?
I was born and raised in San Francisco, and my personal experience growing up in a low-income household has deeply informed my commitment to public education. My career includes over a decade of experience in education, both in the classroom and in policy making roles. I hold a Master's degree in Education Policy from Columbia University, where I specialized in higher education policy. I also served as a researcher for New York University and identified interventions to address racial school segregation in schools in NYC. I also have experience researching predatory practices of for profit institutions for the U.S. Senate Health Education, Labor, Pensions Committee. As a former Lead Analyst for the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families, I was instrumental in implementing the revised Free City College Program and drafting key elements of the ten-year MOU, which provided free tuition to thousands of San Franciscans. In 2020, I became the first Muslim elected in SF.
I have a proven track record of advancing educational equity and social justice at City College of San Francisco (CCSF). Since coming to office in 2021, I have focused on eliminating barriers to education by addressing student debt, supporting basic needs such as housing and food, and increased wages for faculty and staff. Specifically, I led the process to eliminate $2.1 million in student debt for over 14,000 students, resulting in hundreds of students are-enrolling. As Chair of Student Success and Policy at City College, I've fought to close the opportunity gap by closely monitoring our Student Equity Achievement Plan and for advocating additional support for our wraparound programs. I have ensured that City College passed balanced budgets, resulting in the first clean audit in 25 years. Community colleges are the “people's college” which embraces the idea that higher education should be available to everyone. City College has a central role in expanding educational opportunities for our community. Community colleges serve multiple missions, which include providing academic, vocational, noncredit, enrichment courses to their community and also support local economic development. City College is more important today than ever in the process of achieving social justice and economic equity.
3. How are you currently involved in the Community College -- or how were you involved in the past?
My entire family and I have taken classes at City College. My career includes over a decade of experience in education, both in the classroom and in policy making roles.I hold a Master's degree in Education Policy from Columbia University, where I specialized in higher education policy. My work at the Board of Supervisors as a legislative aide included drafting the “Ban the Box” legislation to prohibit the use of criminal-justice information on applications for private colleges in SF. As a Fulbright Scholar, I drafted a policy paper analyzing the failure of top-down approaches in advancing higher education reform.
As a former Lead Analyst for the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families, I was instrumental in implementing the Free City College Program, which provided free tuition to thousands of San Franciscans.
4. What is your stance on public and private partnerships within the
college?
City College is a unionized college and will always remain that way. I will not support privatization of our college and will not support any contracts that take away union jobs. I support exploring public and private partnerships where it makes sense within CCSF, such as those that help to expand our outreach across all aspects and neighborhoods of San Francisco, and partnerships and career opportunities for students. I would collaborate with our faculty and staff to review the potential of these strategic partnership
5. What is your position on Free City College? How should it
be changed, if at all?
As the former Free City Analyst at the Department of Children Youth and Their Families, I have an extensive understanding of this program and if re-elected I will use my expertise to lead the negotiation process to protect the Free City program for our community.
Free City has improved enrollment at CCSF, and has pushed us to think critically about how we ensure access to higher education for our entire community.
Opportunity cost is a significant consideration for students deciding whether to pursue higher education. Many community colleges across California, including CCSF, have seen declining enrollment in recent years. This trend has been influenced by several factors, including disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, demographic shifts, and challenges related to access, affordability, and perceptions of value further affect enrollment.Free City only covers $46 per unit for students that are SF residents and meet the California 1 year and 1 day residency requirements per ed. code for in-state tuition fees. We must continue to address basic needs for students and total cost of attendance, such as expenses for books, transportation, food, and housing. I will fight to increase grants for low-income Free City students, expand access to undocumented and refugee students that do not meet residency requirements, include students that are experiencing housing insecurity, and explore other expansions of eligibility requirements. There is also an opportunity to partner with SFUSD and SFSU to create stronger pathways for Free City students. Evaluating the program is important and continuing to ensure Free City increases access to education, while integrating an equity lens is crucial.
6. If elected to the Board, how would you ensure that you and the
public would receive the college's draft budget with sufficient
time to review it thoroughly before adopting it?
Trustees set the stage for effective shared governance and holding institutional leaders accountable for fostering a system of shared governance. The Participatory Governance Committee, which is composed of faculty, staff, administrators, and students, is an important part of the budget development process at CCSF. To ensure transparency, I have called for study sessions and town halls on the budget so that college community members can also develop an in-depth understanding of the budget before it is adopted. The Board has also provided feedback to the administration to present budgets that are easy to understand and display longitudinal trends over time and provide scenario analysis.
7. What is your position on selling campus properties?
We must keep City College properties public and I do not support selling campus properties or downsizing our college. As a trustee, I will work with our labor partners, faculty, and student leadership to develop an extensive community engagement process to ensure that our campuses are most welcoming, responsive and relevant to what the community and neighborhood need. I have called for student and educator housing and I will continue to ensure that these spaces are not underutilized and serve CCSF's open-access mission.
8. Do you feel there is enough transparency or public disclosure of the Board and the college? How would you change things?
A lack of transparency in decision-making processes is a serious issue at CCSF. I successfully advocated that the Board restructure its meetings in order to improve governing processes and to improve transparency. The additional Board meetings has led to multiple discussions on topic areas so that members of the Board and the public can better understand issues before any decisions are made and that trustees can more closely monitor issues that are presented by the administration in closed session.
9. Have you attended the Community College Board meeting? Would you change public comment policy at the meetings? If so, how?
Yes, I have attended several Board meetings. I think the college should do a better job of promoting the Board meetings and ensuring language access and different needs are met.
10. How will you increase quality child care at ALL campuses?
This is an area that I would like to continue to work on. I drafted the resolution to bring a greater focus on pregnant and parenting students and for increased data collection. We have roughly 3,000 student parents at CCSF. I have also strongly advocated for improvements to our lactation spaces. I am currently collaborating with Former President Norman Yee to explore how to increase classes for early childhood educators and to also explore how some of CCSF spaces can address child care needs. We are also discussing how funds through Baby Prop C can support these efforts. I also strongly support our Family Resource Center and have advocated for additional support for them.
Flexible child care hours aligned with students' class schedules would address varying needs and ensure access during critical times. Enhanced outreach efforts would inform students about available child care resources, and feedback systems would be established to continuously gather input and identify areas for improvement. Additionally, collaborating with local child care organizations and community groups to share best practices and resources.
11. How will you work to counter and prevent profiling and police
harassment on campus? What is your position on police firearms on
campus?
Our campus police do not have firearms and I do not support armed police on CCSF campus. I support the social emotional needs of students and investing in people. Specifically, investing in social workers, counselors, and restorative justice programming will reduce the need to criminalize students. Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations requires community college districts to adopt policies consistent with community policing principles, which includes anti-bias, cultural responsibility, conflict avoidance, and de-escalation techniques. They are also required to attend and participate in campus activities not involving a “police response” or other formal public safety-related activities, such as participating in student events.
The SFCC District Police Department (DPD) plays a key role in maintaining security at CCSF. The current Chief and campus police actively participate in community events, collaborate with the Dean of Student Engagement and Wellness to bridge the gap between students and law enforcement. DPD works closely with San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to ensure that any serious incidents or threats are managed effectively, with SFPD providing additional resources and support when necessary. Fiscal concerns must always be considered regardless of department, but a safe and inclusive campus is a priority.
This past year, the Board pushed to institute a Behavioral Intervention Team for any campus incidents. I will work to continue to increase investments to improve alert systems, enhance faculty capacity for de-escalating classroom disagreements, strengthen the student grievance/ombudsman process, and ensure thorough follow-ups to provide additional resources after campus incidents.
12. What is your position on allowing noncitizens the right to vote for
College Board and other local elections? Did you take a public
position on previous ballot initiatives on the subject?
In 2016, I supported Proposition N, which allowed non-citizens the right to vote in San Francisco school board elections. I support expansion of voting rights to all San Franciscans for College Board and other local elections. All residents of San Francisco should have a say in our democracy, regardless of their legal status.
13. What are your views of transportation and pedestrian safety to,
from and around City College campuses? What, if anything, would
you change, and how would you go about making those changes?
Moving towards a car-free future is important for our environment and overall public safety, and will help our city move closer to the Vision Zero goals. I have strongly supported our student leaders in their advocacy for student transit passes. I also take into account transportation justice measures. It is important that marginalized students coming from different parts of the city are able to access the campus using public transportation, since the K and M lines close to the Ocean campus usually have significant delays. I will also make sure that seniors and those with disabilities are able to access the campus easily.
14. What is your position of military recruiting on campus?
I am concerned about military recruiting on campus. However, when it comes to military recruiters on campus, we must have strict oversight and accountability. We should limit visits and have access to demographic breakdowns of recruits, and create a mechanism for students to file complaints against inappropriate or misleading practices.
Due Date: Friday, August 23, 11:59 pm
Please submit by email to cc@sfgreens.org. For more information, call
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The SF Green Party will invite selected candidates who return
completed questionnaires on time to speak and answer questions at our
candidate forum and endorsement meeting. To be given time on our
agenda, each candidate needs at least two active Green Party members
to request their invitation. This will be a hybrid meeting, so
invited candidates may also speak with us via Zoom.
Our endorsement meeting is scheduled for Wed, August 28 from 6:30-9:30
pm at our office, 2973 16th St, #300, SF - note that this is across
the street from our old office in the Redstone Building. The first
two hours will be for interviews of selected candidates, and the last
hour will be for decision making.
Completed questionnaires will be posted on our website,
https://sfgreenparty.org.