MYRNA LIM – A Life of Public Service
Myrna Lim represents the values, character and spirit of District 11. She is a mirror image of the people in her district.
Myrna Lim’s father came to District 11 and settled in the Excelsior District in 1969. The former District Attorney from Manila worked as a janitor for two years so he could earn enough money to retrieve his family, who waited patiently in the Philippines until the day they would be reunited with their father. Because of her father’s hard work, Myrna’s entire family was able to relocate to District 11.
Her father’s sacrifice and strong work ethic allowed the Lim family to succeed in becoming one of the foundational business enterprise success stories of the then transforming Excelsior district. The Lim’s operated both the old Granada and Apollo neighborhood theaters, now the current sites of the Goodwill Store & Walgreens Drug Store.
Myrna and her siblings attended the public schools within District 11, proudly graduating from both Lowell and Balboa High Schools. Her family still attends religious services at Epiphany, St. Emydius and Corpus Christi parishes.
With the encouragement of her family, Myrna successfully earned degrees from both City College of San Francisco and the University of California at Berkeley, while working and supporting herself during this accomplishment.
While majoring in Social Welfare with a Business Emphasis, Myrna quickly grew a passion for helping the victims of civil rights discrimination. She was quickly swept to action in civil rights movements of that era. As a student activist, she became involved in the fight for preservation of senior housing in the International Hotel crisis and the struggle of the farm workers in Delano with Philip Vera Cruz.
Her passion continued on into her career, where she eventually worked for Asian, Inc., as a Vista Volunteer helping create affordable housing in the South of Market Area.
Through hard work, she attained a successful career in corporate real estate, working in major international banks. Then she hit the glass ceiling as an Assistant Vice President, so she started her own business in real estate management. She is also an independent television producer and journalist giving voice to the issues and concerns of San Franciscans and residents of District 11. She champions the rights of women and minorities for equality in the workplace and contracting opportunities.
Myrna believes in giving back to her community. She is the daughter of an elderly mother, so she knows what families go through, when dealing with the emotions and cost of caring for our aging love ones.
Myrna has always championed the rights of the elderly, including the rebuilding of Laguna Honda Hospital, and keeping St. Lukes Hospital open.
As a single mother, Myrna understands the obstacles our children face. She is a youth advocate helping develop programs to train them for success throughout their lives. She has supported the Library and Park Bond measures that financed the new and renovated library, parks and playgrounds in District 11.
Myrna has served on the Board of Directors of the I.T. Bookman Center for nearly 8 years, a community center serving the youth, elderly, and the immigrant community in District 11.
As a home owner, she believes every renter should have the opportunity to own their home. She believes that all homeowners should receive superior city services, without budgetary excuses claiming there are no funds to provide basic services.
Myrna has been active as a member of the Democratic Party since 1996. She has been a member of the State Central Committee of the California Democratic Party. She was president of the San Francisco Chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus, President of the Filipino American Democratic Club, and Board Member of the Chinese American Democratic Club.
She served on both the San Francisco Planning Commission and San Francisco Small Business Commission, fighting to protect the rights of private individuals and small businesses.
Throughout the years, Myrna Lim has dedicated herself to the betterment of people’s lives and her passion for public service will be her driving force as your representative for District 11 on the Board of Supervisors.
