Why rank me first

Where we differ.

Gary, Michael, and I share many views, so it’s not surprising that “How are you different?” is the #1 question we get asked. Here’s a table to help you out.

Last updated October 30, 2026

Issue	Darshini Darshini Patel	Gary Gary McCoy	Michael Michael Nguyen
A City Hall outsider.	Yes Never worked in City Hall or held a club office. Read more →	No Supervisors’ aide, Pelosi’s political director, led the Milk and Alice clubs.	No Elected to the county Democratic committee in 2024.
Public accountability on their own promises.	Yes A quarterly scorecard and a corrections log. In my principles →	No No accountability plan for his promises.	No No accountability plan for his promises.

Public safety and care

Issue	Darshini Darshini Patel	Gary Gary McCoy	Michael Michael Nguyen
Supports the RESET Center.	No On my platform →	Yes	No
A needle exchange in District 8.	No The need is greater elsewhere today. On the Research Desk →	Yes	Yes
Supports safe consumption sites.	Yes Where the need is greatest, which is not District 8 today. On the Research Desk →	Yes	Yes If the neighborhood agrees; won’t decide alone.
Expand conservatorship and involuntary treatment.	Yes Last resort, with a bed, a lawyer and a judge. On my platform →	Yes Once there are more beds.	No Only after every legal remedy is exhausted.
Supports CARE Court.	Yes If the treatment capacity exists. On my platform →	No	No
Decriminalize all drugs.	No Prosecute dealers; services for people using. On the Research Desk →	Yes Wrote it in 2022; says it was misread.	No
Renew Flock’s license-plate readers.	No I support traffic cameras and drones with guardrails. On my platform →	No End it on day one unless civil-liberties guardrails are added.	No “We need to deflock it now.”
Keep the police drone program.	Yes With additional guardrails. On my platform →	Yes “I do support drones.”	No “Against Flock, against drones, against this mass surveillance state.”
Will open an emergency shelter in District 8.	Yes The district has zero shelter beds. On my platform →	Yes An LGBTQ shelter as close to the Castro as possible.	Not found Wants one; won’t commit without the neighborhood.
Wants a navigation center in District 8.	Yes Along Market or Guerrero, sited with the community. On my platform →	No	Not found

Housing

Issue	Darshini Darshini Patel	Gary Gary McCoy	Michael Michael Nguyen
Supports the Family Zoning Plan.	Yes Now track every approved home to completion. On my platform →	Yes	No Opposed it as enacted.
Cut the inclusionary rate to 5%.	Yes The old rate wasn’t producing homes. On my platform →	Yes	No
Will publish a public housing pipeline tracker.	Yes Day one, updated weekly. On my platform →	No	No

Childcare

Issue	Darshini Darshini Patel	Gary Gary McCoy	Michael Michael Nguyen
Has a full childcare and family services platform.	Yes On my platform →	No	No

Muni

Issue	Darshini Darshini Patel	Gary Gary McCoy	Michael Michael Nguyen
A data-driven plan for Muni.	Yes On my platform →	No	No

Neighborhoods and small business

Issue	Darshini Darshini Patel	Gary Gary McCoy	Michael Michael Nguyen
Has a plan to improve 311.	Yes Measure whether cases come back, not just close. On my platform →	Not found	Not found
Expand Vacant to Vibrant to the neighborhoods.	Yes Bring it to District 8. On my platform →	Not found	Yes Two years instead of three months.
A public listing of every available storefront.	Yes A Zillow for commercial space, so merchants can negotiate. On my platform →	Not found	Not found

See my full platform →

Sources