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SF mayoral candidates face off for 3rd debate; Peskin skips out

By and
Updated  July 9, 2024 12:01am PDT
San Francisco
KTVU FOX 2

San Francisco mayoral candidates lay out plans to tackle the city's biggest problems

Candidates running for SF mayor met on the debate stage for the third and final time. Four of the five leading candidates joined. KTVU's Betty Yu reports.

SAN FRANCISCO - The top candidates for San Francisco mayor faced off Monday night for the third debate of this election cycle. It's the final planned debate, for now. Supervisor and candidate Aaron Peskin did not attend.  

The debate was the most recent opportunity for candidates to plead their case for the job. 

In the prior two meetings, candidates took shots at Mayor London Breed's leadership by addressing problems with housing, open air drug use and downtown recovery.  

The top five candidates, and those invited to the debate, are Mayor Breed, attorney Mark Farrell, Philanthropist Daniel Lurie and supervisors Ahsha Safai and Peskin.

Watch the full debate on KTVU's YouTube channel below:

Supervisor Peskin announced last month he would skip this debate.

In a letter published to X, he says the hosting organizations, Stop Crime SF, Stop Crime Action and ConnectedSF, are funded by a group called "Neighbors for a Better San Francisco."

Peskin says that group has already endorsed some of his opponents and called the debate "moot" if the sponsoring organizations follow suit.

"These published endorsements make it all but inevitable that Stop Crime SF/Stop Crime Action will make the same endorsements as its parent organization," said Peskin on his X post.

Stop Crime SF responded directly to Peskin's letter, also on X.

"We were under the impression that you were a candidate for the office of mayor for all San Franciscans," the letter said.

"We are so sorry to hear from your letter that is not the case, and that you wish to deny hundreds of voters the opportunity to engage with you in person and thousands of viewers from hearing from you when the debate is broadcast on television and social media."

"We will make no endorsements in the mayor’s race. We hope this corrects at least some of the misconceptions in your letter."

The debate began at 7 p.m. According to Stop Crime Action's website, it will take place from a "facility in Golden Gate Park."

KTVU is a media partner to the debate. Reporter Amber Lee served as moderator.