San Francisco Latino Democratic Club

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As a member-based organization, our members democratically elect our Executive Board and the SF Latino Democratic Club. Kevin Ortiz is no longer involved on the executive board and has stepped back. Discrediting the Latino community, and SFLDC Board, primarily led by women, is offensive and disrespectful. 

It is surprising that Senator Wiener would choose to litigate the SFLDC’s internal processes from a previous board’s tenure in lieu of discussing his campaign to represent San Francisco in a highly competitive race happening now.  

It’s unfortunate Senator Wiener is not willing to meet with the one of the most progressive clubs in the City.  It’s apparent that the last debate with progressive clubs did not fare well for the senator, evident through the senator’s newly adopted rules and regulations for a debate to control and silence any real discourse.  

Clearly, Senator Wiener is concerned about polling numbers dropping following his performance during the Milk/Working Families Party debate question about the genocide in Gaza, and his consistent flip flopping on well documented human rights violations in Gaza. Imagine how the senator would fare if faced with questions about the human rights violations happening to Latinos in the US present day. 

Also importantly, SFLDC’s internal processes were made public with our findings at the time of our special investigation and our committee members voted based on the facts and not emotions. Our investigative committee was comprised of women and highly qualified experts in the prevention of sexual violence, and the committee’s focus was on accountability and due process. Historically, Latinos have been dismissed and discredited, and your team is continuing that systemic racist pattern in order to avoid any further damage to your fast failing campaign.

It is extremely concerning that Senator Wiener wants to represent San Franciscans in the US Congress, yet is unable to demonstrate the commitment needed to defend due process of law as the Trump administration is attacking it daily.  Perhaps Senator Wiener is not the right candidate for the job if he is willing to ignore due process when convenient to avoid any real dialogue on tough issues. The San Francisco Latino community deserves the opportunity to discuss the issues our next member of Congress will take on.

Finally, the SFLDC’s decision to leave the Corporate Democratic Party in San Francisco followed the exit of the Rose Pak Democratic Club because it was not representative of Latinos, our community. It was not about any member, certainly not to shield anyone.  SFLDC Executive Board members participated with the creation and development of the SFDCCC policy on sexual harassment and assault for several months - and have adopted those policies in addition to our own. 

As a legacy democratic club in San Francisco, we reserve our right to decide what’s in the best interest of our members. Our club voted unanimously to decharter based on the lack of representation, and we stand by that decision.

Your refusal and disrespect to meet with the Latino community is noted. We will leave a seat open for you should you change your mind.

Regards,

SFLDC Executive Board

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Statement from the San Francisco Latino Democratic Club (SFLDC)

The San Francisco Latino Democratic Club is deeply concerned by reports that the San Francisco Arts Commission is moving to end the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts’ current funding arrangement and issue an RFP for outside management of the Center. The Mission Cultural Center is not just a building-: it is one of the epicentres and anchor institutions for Latino arts, community education, and political artivism in San Francisco.

Historically, The City and County of San Francisco has a troubling pattern of destabilizing cultural institutions rooted in communities of color, while failing to provide the real, sustained capacity-building support that would allow them to thrive. The prolonged crisis surrounding The Mexican Museum’s stalled relocation and public funding jeopardy is one visible example of how quickly cultural legacy can be put at risk when governance, resourcing, and accountability break down.

At the same time, City contracting and reimbursement practices have created serious structural harm across the arts ecosystem - especially for smaller and BIPOC-led nonprofits that cannot front months of costs while waiting to be paid. The Mission Cultural Center has also faced repeated uncertainty around relocation and construction timelines tied to seismic and facility work - timelines that have shifted over multiple years, undermining planning, fundraising, staffing, and program stability. 

We call for:

• A community-led governance and selection process through new board members that guarantee the Mission Cultural Center’s autonomy as an independent institution - not reduced to a program housed inside another agency. Fiscal sponsorship is welcomed and required as support, but the Mission Cultural Center must remain as its own agency.
• Stabilization funding and on-time payments (including timely advances, clear cashflow commitments, and bridge support) so the Center can operate during any transition.
• A binding “right to return” framework with transparent schedules and resources that match the real costs of moving, storage, and continuity of programming.
• Immediate accountability for cultural patrimony: all artworks, archives, and artifacts associated with the Mission Cultural Center must be safeguarded and returned to the Center as part of any transition, with proper handling and community oversight.

The Mission deserves a process that strengthens - not fragments - Latino cultural institutions.