In a recent interview, Chakrabarti declared he's "in it to win" and committed to spending whatever it takes from his own wallet to secure the race. No cap. No limit. Just pure, unlimited personal spending aimed at winning over San Francisco voters.

Let's pause and appreciate the honesty, at least. Most candidates pretend they're humble servants of the people while quietly dialing mega-donors. Chakrabarti is just skipping the theater and telling you straight up: he'll outspend whoever he needs to.

But here's the thing — San Francisco doesn't need another big spender. The city has plenty of experience throwing money at problems without results. As one Bay Area resident put it bluntly: "What happened to the BILLIONS spent on solving the homeless issue? Where'd all that money go?" That's the question SF voters should be asking every candidate, including Chakrabarti.

The ability to write yourself a blank campaign check isn't a qualification. It's a warning sign. Self-funding candidates often feel accountable to exactly one person: themselves. And in a city where taxpayers already feel powerless watching their dollars vanish into bureaucratic black holes, the last thing we need is a representative who bought his way into office and answers to nobody.

What SF actually needs from its next congressional representative is someone willing to ask hard questions about fiscal accountability — someone who'll demand answers about where federal and state dollars are going when streets still look like dumping grounds and services remain chronically ineffective. Another resident captured the frustration perfectly, noting the "literal RV parks grown out of back alleys" around the city while billions in homelessness spending have produced negligible results.

Chakrabarti may well have good policy ideas. But leading with your wallet instead of your platform is a choice — and it tells voters exactly where your confidence lies. If your strongest pitch is "I can outspend everyone," you might want to workshop your message.

San Francisco deserves a representative who earns votes, not one who purchases them.