Elections Archives - San Francisco Public Press

SF Residents’ Concerns Were All Over Ballot. What Did Voters Say?

Madison Alvarado — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Update 11/16/22: Since this piece was published, District Attorney candidate John Hamasaki has conceded to his opponent Brooke Jenkins. Proposition D was defeated and Proposition L passed. Figures in our graphics for the proposition and District Attorney race results have also been updated.

In a recent Public Press poll to gauge residents’ opinion of the city’s thorniest issues, San Franciscans made their top concerns crystal clear: housing affordability, homelessness and the cleanliness of city streets.

More than 200 people shared opinions with the Public Press when asked to identify the most pressing concerns in their supervisorial districts. Most participants completed the brief survey online early this fall, with about 15% replying in person to surveyors seeking diverse respondents in supervisorial districts with competitive races. A small number of respondents said they worked in the city but lived elsewhere.

While concerns varied by district, housing, homelessness and street hygiene emerged as key issues. Aggregated concerns about different kinds of crime came in as a close fourth. City residents were also able to weigh in on these thorny matters in the Nov. 8 general election.

Results are still rolling in that could decide several close contests. Based on the latest vote tally from the Department of Elections:

Neither of two competing efforts to streamline San Francisco’s building permitting process with stated goals of building more affordable housing has secured 50% of the vote. After hanging on for several days by a razor thin margin, over the weekend Proposition D drifted further away from victory, while E has lost.
Proposition M, a progressive empty homes tax meant to give owners incentive to rent out vacant units, passed and stands with almost 54% “yes” votes.
Proposition C’s proposed increased oversight of the city’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing was also voted into law.
Proposition B, which overturns a decision made by voters in 2020 to create a new Department of Sanitation and Streets, received strong support with about 75% “yes” votes, returning street-cleaning duties to the Department of Public Works.
Voters seem to have upheld Mayor London Breed’s choice for District Attorney in a closely-watched race after months of debates on the role of the DA in addressing crime. Brooke Jenkins declared victory in the race Nov. 9, though her closest challenger John Hamasaki has yet to concede.

With the potential failure of both D and E, survey respondents’ concerns regarding the new construction of affordable housing may not see much progress as a result of this election. Many respondents noted the lack of affordable housing as a major concern, oftentimes linking the housing crisis with high costs of living and homelessness.

In August, the California Department of Housing and Community Development announced an investigation into housing policies and practices in San Francisco to understand why the city’s permitting process is so lengthy. It is the first investigation of its kind in the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom also reported on Nov. 3 that he is pausing the distribution of $1 billion in funds meant to address the homelessness crisis. Money from the Homelessness Housing, Assistance and Prevention grant program was meant to go to jurisdictions across the state, but Newsom said he will hold onto funds until local leaders meet up in mid-November to identify more aggressive strategies to reduce homelessness.

The confusion of having two similarly worded competing measures may have undermined the ability for either to pass.

Jason McDaniel, associate professor in the department of political science at San Francisco State University, said he believes the dueling measures are a sign of polarization and dysfunction in the relationship between the Board of Supervisors and Breed.

“There’s not a lot of trust, there’s not a lot of signs of working together,” he said. “And so, when you see these dueling kinds of ballot measures, what you’re seeing is they don’t feel like they can govern and legislate — board and mayor together — on important decisions on housing policy.”

More broadly, McDaniel said he sees two competing ideologies in the city, noting their presence in mobilizing around the DA’s race as well as various housing measures.

“We have two kind of highly organized and competitive political factions in the city,” he said. These two factions are often referred to as progressives and moderate-liberals, though McDaniel “doesn’t love these terms.” As he sees it, the progressive faction is further left and usually positions itself in opposition to policies of political leaders such as Breed and state Sen. Scott Wiener. The moderate-liberal faction “mostly descends from the Willie Brown coalition, inherited by Gavin Newsom and Ed Lee.”

These two groups are also “really good at making connections with voters — they care about, they listen to voters, they want to represent them.” In this way, McDaniel said, voter concerns are an important driving factor in what issues are central to elections.

For voters, filling out ballots can already be time consuming even without the complexity of competing ballot measures.

Survey respondent James Aldrich, who listed bike and pedestrian safety as his main concern, said “I think of myself as politically progressive, and yet, it’s pretty confusing when you try to figure out what is the solution” to some of the city’s biggest issues, such as the housing crisis.

Transportation Priorities

Another hot issue for survey respondents that appeared on the ballot was the question of closed streets and car access. Much like the contentious split on the two affordable housing measures, voters and survey respondents had strong opinions regarding the potential re-opening of streets such as John F. Kennedy Drive and the Great Highway.

Proposition J, which affirms the Board of Supervisors’ decision to close a portion of JFK Drive permanently to cars, passed. Its counterpart, Proposition I, which would have overturned a previous Board of Supervisors’ decision and reversed the city’s eventual closure of a portion of the Great Highway, was trailing by close to 30%.

Richard Rothman, a native San Francisco resident who lives in District 1 and has followed local issues for several years sees the outcome of Propositions I, J, and L as reflective of a division between the eastern and western parts of the city. “I’ve never seen the city so divided,” he said. “Nobody wants to sit down and compromise; it’s either my way or no way.”

Transportation concerns weren’t limited to closed streets. For survey respondents, concerns around transportation revealed a vast array of perspectives regarding whose transit needs should be centered in city policy — pedestrians, bikers, drivers, seniors, people with disabilities and various combinations of those groups.

Some respondents called for improved Muni service and better traffic control. After a $400 million Muni bond failed in June, elected officials were hoping a different ballot measure could help tackle some of the city’s public transit woes.

Proposition L, a proposed extension to San Francisco’s existing 0.5% sales tax, is the only measure on the ballot requiring a two-thirds affirmative vote to pass and currently stands at 71% “yes.” If approved, L would fund programs ranging from basic transit maintenance to large-scale transportation projects, as well as increased paratransit services and pedestrian and bike safety measures.

The post SF Residents’ Concerns Were All Over Ballot. What Did Voters Say? appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

Need a Quick Ballot Review? Listen to Our Election Playlists

Public Press staff — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 23:18:08 +0000

Our San Francisco election playlists include audio summaries for the local propositions and citywide races featured in our November 2022 SF Election Guide.

We did not include playlists for district supervisor races — you can find audio responses from supervisor candidates here.

For more help navigating the ballot, check out our nonpartisan voter guide offering text and audio summaries, full descriptions of San Francisco ballot propositions, and profiles of 44 candidates running for various local and locally elected offices.

The post Need a Quick Ballot Review? Listen to Our Election Playlists appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

November 2022 SF Election Guide

Public Press staff — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:35:26 +0000

This is a nonpartisan analysis of the San Francisco ballot for the Nov. 8, 2022, election. It was created by Madison Alvarado, Liana Wilcox, Sylvie Sturm, Mel Baker, Camellia Burris, Yesica Prado, Lisa Rudman, Kurt Aguilar, Ambika Kandasamy and Lila LaHood.

If you appreciate our work, consider becoming a monthly member. To receive updates about this guide and other reporting from the San Francisco Public Press, sign up for our newsletter. Subscribe to “Civic,” our radio show and podcast, on Apple, Google, Spotify or Stitcher.

Election Guide Index

Need information on how and where to vote? This page from the San Francisco Department of Elections explains how to register to vote or update your registration, and gives details on your options for voting by mail and in person through early voting and on Election Day.

Jump to:

Want to focus on audio? Listen to our election playlists for the local propositions and select candidate races.

Learn how we chose the order for listing names in this guide and how we came up with questions for the candidates.

We are collaborating with KALW this election season. You’ll hear audio segments from our “Civic” team on our own KSFP 102.5 FM and on KALW 91.7 FM. You’ll see ballot summaries from our election guide on KALW.org. We are also partnering with CalMatters to bring you their statewide coverage of California ballot measures.

Proposition A — Retiree Supplemental Cost of Living Adjustment; Retirement Board Contract with Executive Director

This charter amendment would adjust supplemental cost-of-living benefits for people in the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System who retired before Nov. 6, 1996. It would eliminate a requirement that the retirement system be fully funded based on the prior year’s market value of its assets. Also, the system would adjust those retirees’ base allowance to account for the five years when they didn’t receive supplemental payments because of the full-funding requirement, and supporters say this change would affect approximately 4,400 retirees, in a system of 74,000 active and retired employees and their families. This measure includes a provision that would allow the system’s executive director to be hired with an individual employment contract —a departure from the city’s standard relationships with government employees. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition A.

Proposition B — Public Works Department and Commission, Sanitation and Streets Department and Commission

Proposition B would undo a charter amendment approved by voters in November 2020 to take responsibilities away from the Department of Public Works and form a Sanitation and Streets Department. The charter amendment was meant to address enduring complaints about the city’s dirty streets and overflowing garbage containers, and about how much is spent cleaning up. And, in the wake of numerous corruption charges within Public Works, it also established oversight commissions for both departments, and annual controller’s performance audits and cost and waste evaluations. The problem with the charter amendment, according to those who now want it gone, is that it boosts city costs by $6 million annually. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition B.

Proposition C — Homelessness Oversight Commission

Proposition C is a proposed charter amendment that creates the Homelessness Oversight Commission to oversee the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. In 2016, former Mayor Ed Lee established that department to manage all housing and social services for San Franciscans experiencing homelessness, including street outreach, homeless shelters, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing. The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing is the eighth largest city services department with a spending budget of approximately $672 million in FY 2022-23, and $636 million in FY 2023-24. The department is not subject to direct oversight by a city commission. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition C.

Proposition D — Affordable Housing – Initiative Petition

One of two proposals focused on streamlining affordable housing projects, Proposition D is backed by Mayor London Breed and YIMBY groups — those who say they support adding housing of all types, including market-rate housing. If the measure passes, 100% affordable projects, multi-family developments for educators and mixed-income projects with 15% more affordable units than currently mandated by the city, will receive expedited approvals. Proposition D exempts 100% affordable projects from discretionary approval by city commissioners and officials, allowing them to bypass the California Environmental Quality Act, which Proposition D’s backers say slows or endangers projects, and creates mandatory time frames within which the Planning Department must respond to project applications. Opponents criticize the measure’s changes to income requirements for 100% affordable developments, noting that the average income for an affordable building would be raised from 80% of area median income to 120%, and that some units could have rent higher than market-rate. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition D.

Proposition E — Affordable Housing – Board of Supervisors

Written by Supervisor Connie Chan and passed by the Board of Supervisors, Proposition E would amend the city’s charter to expedite affordable housing. As with the competing Proposition D, Chan’s policy streamlines approval for 100% affordable projects and teacher housing but has different requirements for mixed-income projects to qualify: 30% of the entire project must be affordable. Proposition E has mandates for two and three-bedroom units for families in addition to higher labor standards, requiring a “skilled and trained” workforce. The measure also requires the city to create an annual Affordable Housing Allocation report on the progress and funding of affordable housing. Opponents of the measure said that affordability requirements are so high that they would make projects infeasible, and criticized it for allowing the Board of Supervisors to maintain discretionary funding approval over 100% affordable projects. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition E.

Proposition F — Library Preservation Fund

Proposition F would extend the Library Preservation Fund for another 25 years. The fund draws 2.5 cents out of every $100 from existing property taxes and would continue at this rate if the extension is approved. The fund is designated to provide library services and materials, and to operate library facilities. The fund is in addition to the baseline amount allocated to the library calculated by the controller based on San Francisco’s discretionary revenues. The new measure also outlines temporary freezes to the baseline funding when the city’s budget experiences a deficit. The measure would also continue the practice of setting system-wide weekly hours and maintain the process of holding public hearings every five years to evaluate the possibility of adjusting service hours. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition F.

Proposition G — Student Success Fund – Grants to the San Francisco Unified School District

Proposition G is a charter amendment to establish a Student Success Fund that would be operated by the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families for 15 years. The purpose is to provide grants of up to $1 million to San Francisco Unified School District schools to improve academic achievement and social/emotional wellness of students. The fund is modeled on the community school framework and would be paid for using a designated amount from the city’s excess property tax revenue, which is separate from existing funding. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition G.

Proposition H — City Elections in Even-Numbered Years

Proposition H would move elections scheduled for odd-numbered years to even-numbered ones. Proponents argue that a much larger proportion of the electorate votes in presidential elections — which occur in even-numbered years — and say that consolidating elections would strengthen democracy. If approved, this measure would save the city $7 million every election cycle. Other cities, including Los Angeles and San Jose, have already made similar changes. Mayor London Breed, who would get an additional year in her tenure should this pass, opposed the measure. Proposition H requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition H.

Proposition I — Vehicles on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park and the Great Highway

Proposition I would overturn an ordinance that has closed John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park to most private motor vehicles seven days a week and closed the Great Highway along Ocean Beach to such traffic on weekends and holidays. The city would be forbidden from proceeding with plans to eventually close the Great Highway between Sloat and Skyline boulevards — a stretch that is subject to coastal erosion. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition I.

Proposition J — Recreational Use of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park

Proposition J would change the city’s park code to make permanent the closure of John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park to car traffic and closing the Great Highway at Ocean Beach on weekends and holidays. Supervisors approved those changes in April 2022. Some of those elected leaders put Proposition J on the ballot to combat Proposition I, which would overturn their spring decision and change the city charter to prevent similar legislation in the future. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition J.

Proposition L — Sales Tax for Transportation Projects

To help fund public transportation projects, Proposition L would continue a 0.5% city sales tax for 30 years and allow for the issuance of up to $1.91 billion in bonds to be repaid with proceeds from the tax. Revenue would be used for programs outlined in the 2022 Transportation Expenditure Plan, including public transit maintenance and station improvements, neighborhood-level investments in pedestrian and bike safety, support for paratransit services, the extension of Caltrain downtown, and funding for equity-focused projects. Proposition L would initially generate around $100 million per year, and increase to $326 million by 2052, giving a boost to San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency after a $400 million bond measure failed in June. Proponents say the tax will increase the city’s chances of getting state and federal funding for projects in the future. Opponents say voters showed their lack of interest in funding transportation when they rejected the Muni bond in June, and that spending by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, which oversees the use of transportation sales tax proceeds, is out of control. This measure requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition L.

Proposition M — Tax on Keeping Residential Units Vacant

Proposition M imposes a tax on owners of residential buildings with three or more units who have kept units vacant for more than 182 days in a year. While disincentivizing prolonged vacancies, authors of the Empty Homes Tax Ordinance aim to increase the number of housing units available in San Francisco,while also raising revenue for rent subsidies and affordable housing. Opponents say encouraging housing construction is a better way for addressing the city’s housing crisis than punishing owners of vacant units.This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition M.

Proposition N — Golden Gate Park Underground Parking Facility; Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority

Proposition N would give the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department control of the Music Concourse Garage in Golden Gate Park. The 800-space parking garage is managed by a nonprofit created by a ballot measure in 1998 that raised private donations to help finance the facility. Supporters of Proposition N cite a series of financial scandals and mismanagement of the garage and say the parking lot is underutilized because parking rates are set too high. They want to amend the earlier ballot measure to give control of the facility to Rec and Park. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition N.

Proposition O — Additional Parcel Tax for City College

This proposed parcel tax will generate funding for services at the City College of San Francisco, including skills-focused programs for residents (such as English tutoring), workforce development training, student support and academic enrichment for historically underrepresented students. The Controller’s Office estimates the tax will generate $37 million annually, a boost to City College’s funds after years of class cuts, faculty layoffs, shrinking enrollment and financial crises. The tax would be levied from 2023 to 2043, and would be based upon the size and type of property, with adjustments for inflation. In 2023, rates would range from $150 for single-family homes up to $4,000 for large commercial properties. City College must submit an annual spending plan to the mayor and Board of Supervisors to receive the revenue. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

— Read our full analysis of Proposition O.

Community Survey

In September, the San Francisco Public Press asked residents to identify issues that concern them. Those responses informed the questions we posed to candidates for this election guide, and we will use them in our ongoing reporting. Would you like to tell us about your concerns? We are continuing to gather responses.

Board of Supervisors, District 2

Question for the candidate:

Catherine Stefani

Running unopposed, Catherine Stefani is the District 2 Supervisor, a role she has filled since 2018. Before her current position, she worked as a senior aide to Supervisors Michela Alioto-Pier and Mark Farrell from 2007 to 2016 and as the San FranciscoCounty Clerk from 2016 to 2018. The top three issues she has focused on include ending gun violence, prioritizing public safety and supporting small businesses. In 2021, city leaders signed into law a bill authored by Stefani to ban the sale of ghost guns—untraceable firearms without serial numbers that are often made from kits ordered online. The following year, voters approved a ballot initiative she authored to create an Office of Victim and Witness Rights with the goal of offering free legal services and other assistance for victims of domestic violence.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn

Board of Supervisors, District 4

Question for the candidates:

We asked San Francisco residents to tell us about the most pressing issues in their districts. According to survey responses we received, homelessness and housing affordability are the top concerns citywide. If you are elected supervisor in District 4, what do you plan to do about homelessness and housing affordability? And how will you address the tension in your district between residents who want more access for cars and those advocating for preservation and expansion of slow streets, as well as the interests of neighbors asking for better public transit?

Joel Engardio

Joel Engardio — who has run for District 7 supervisor three times (due to redistricting, he now resides in District 4) — previously worked as a columnist at the San Francisco Examiner and as a director and producer at PBS’ Independent Lens. Public safety and education are part of Engardio’s platform. He is a leader of the local organization Stop Crime SF. Engardio is gay and married to a Taiwanese immigrant, which he cites when discussing his desire to stop anti-Asian hate. On his website, he has expressed support for criminal justice reform, calling for the prosecution of serious crimes and repeat offenders while seeking police accountability, as well as ensuring funding for crime prevention programs. He was in favor of the recall of former District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Regarding education, Engardio has stated that he supports permanent merit-based admissions to Lowell High School and a return to a public school system rooted in neighborhood access as opposed to the current lottery system. He was a strong advocate for the San Francisco School Board recall.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn

Gordon Mar

Gordon Mar has served as the District 4 Supervisor since 2018. Previously, he worked as executive director of two local organizations: Jobs with Justice San Francisco and the Chinese Progressive Association. Mar, whose father immigrated from China, has focused on neighborhood safety and anti-Asian hate, creating a five-point community safety plan for his district and requiring police to report crime victim demographics. Housing affordability and education are among his other top issues. On his campaign website, he has cited his work on promoting the Sunset’s first two affordable housing projects solely for teachers and working families. He has also mentioned leading negotiations to guarantee free tuition for residents to attend City College classes for a decade and obtaining raises for public school teachers.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn

Board of Supervisors, District 6

Question for the candidates:

We asked San Francisco residents to tell us about the most pressing issues in their districts. According to survey responses we received, homelessness and housing affordability are the top concerns citywide. If you are elected supervisor in District 6, what do you plan to do about homelessness and housing affordability? And how will you address concerns in your district about public access to bathrooms and the need for more supportive services for people who don’t have permanent housing as well as for those living in supportive housing?

Matt Dorsey

Matt Dorsey is the District 6 Supervisor, a role he was tapped to fill by Mayor London Breed after former D6 Supervisor Matt Haney was elected to the state Assembly in April. Previously, Dorsey worked as the director of strategic communications for the San Francisco Police Department and as a senior adviser and communications director for the city’s Attorney’s Office. Dorsey, who has spoken about his recovery from addiction, has focused on the city’s drug crisis in his campaign. He has pushed for safe consumption sites and in June laid out a plan for “right to recovery zones” around treatment facilities with increased police presence and enforcement of drug laws. Dorsey has supported Breed’s Affordable Homes Now bill and was in favor of the Boudin and school board recalls. Dorsey is openly gay and HIV positive, both of which are part of his public persona.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn

We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Matt Dorsey.

Ms. Billie Cooper

Longtime Tenderloin resident and transgender LBGTQ+ activist Ms. Billie Cooper is an HIV/AIDS survivor and a veteran focused on equality, low-income housing and residential equity. Cooper is the founder of TransLife, a multiracial group for trans and nonbinary people to connect and receive support on issues related to gender-affirming care, sexual health, sex work and more. In a debate held in August, she spoke about the high rents of new construction in the Tenderloin as a barrier for most of the neighborhood’s residents. Regarding Boudin’s recall, she said in the debate that the “jury’s still out.”

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram

We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Ms. Billie Cooper.

Honey Mahogany

Honey Mahogany is the chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party. She was formerly the chief of staff to former Supervisor Matt Haney and co-president of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club. Mahogany has also supported Breed’s Affordable Homes Now bill, but she was not in favor of the school board and Boudin recalls. She has stated that the city’s police department is understaffed and has called for more police accountability and the expansion of street ambassadors. She has said she would prioritize mental health crises among people who are unhoused by expanding Mental Health SF, in addition to focusing on affordable housing. If elected, Mahogany would be the first queer, transgender and nonbinary city supervisor, and the first out Black board member, according to The Bay Area Reporter.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • TikTok

Cherelle Jackson

Cherelle Jackson is the co-chair of the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Workers with Disabilities Committee. She is an activist for a wide range of causes supporting marginalized groups, and has served as a delegate for the California Democratic Party. In her candidacy questionnaire, she expressed interest in investing in community ambassadors, supporting small businesses and working with local partners to build job skills, though she refrained from picking her top three issues, stating that it is important to tackle all issues impacting residents. In an August debate, she called for increased investment in harm reduction practices and workplace programs for people struggling with addiction.

Twitter • Facebook

Board of Supervisors, District 8

Question for the candidates:

We asked San Francisco residents to tell us about the most pressing issues in their districts. According to survey responses we received, homelessness and housing affordability are the top concerns citywide. If you are elected supervisor in District 8, what do you plan to do about homelessness and housing affordability? And how will you address concerns about the need for supportive services in your district and other help for people without permanent housing?

Kate Stoia

Kate Stoia, an attorney, has served on the boards of three nonprofits. On her campaign website, she has stated that she has a son and a daughter and became a foster parent in 2017. She has also detailed how the process of having five houses remodeled has given her insight into the “bureaucracy and corruption that is holding San Francisco back.” Stoia is a proponent of building more housing at all levels, including luxury housing, as a solution to the housing crisis. In addition to streamlining the permitting process for housing, Stoia has mentioned that she will push for ending local comment on new businesses that is currently required through the permitting process, adding that new businesses should be permitted by the city within 30 days. She is also pushing for more court-ordered treatment for those struggling with addiction and mental health crises.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • TikTok

Rafael Mandelman

District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman has been on the city’s Board of Supervisors since 2018. In his campaign, Mandelman has underscored his record on homelessness and mental health, highlighting legislation he has authored regarding conservatorships for unhoused people struggling with mental health and substance use disorders and preserving board-and-care facilities. Regarding public safety, Mandelman opposes reducing several items in the police department’s budget including training and overtime and told The San Francisco Bay Times that he believes that “public safety requires the detention and effective rehabilitation of serial offenders.” He has also said he supports the expansion of community policing efforts like neighborhood foot patrols. Affordable housing is another area Mandelman has spotlighted in his campaign, citing legislation he introduced to allow for more fourplexes though it was rejected by Breed. Mandelman is one of two current supervisors who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn

Board of Supervisors, District 10

Question for the candidates:

We asked San Francisco residents to tell us about the most pressing issues in their districts. According to survey responses we received, homelessness and housing affordability are the top concerns citywide. If you are elected supervisor in District 10, what do you plan to do about homelessness and housing affordability? And how will you address concerns about the condition of public infrastructure in your district, in particular, crumbling streets and trash on sidewalks and roadways?

Brian Sam Adam

Brian Sam Adam is a public information officer for San Francisco’s Department of Technology and became involved in politics after interning for Assemblymember Evan Low, who represents parts of Silicon Valley. Campaigning on a promise to represent “ALL of District 10,” Adam is spotlighting three key issues: housing, transit and public safety. He is a proponent of expediting approval of the Affordable Housing Element, reallocating more funding for constructing new housing, and streamlining permitting for properties with high levels of affordability. Regarding public safety and transit, Adam called for expanding camera usage and lighting throughout the city, redirecting low priority calls to entities like the Street Crisis Response Team, and expanding funding for San Francisco’s Municipal Transit Agency.

Website • LinkedIn

Shamann Walton

District 10 Supervisor and President of the Board of Supervisors, Shamann Walton previously served as the president of the Board of Education. Walton, who identifies as Black, underscored his equity-focused response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which hit Black communities and the Bayview especially hard. He launched the Bayview Essential Services hub to provide access to healthcare providers, vaccine and food distribution, among other things. He also met with community stakeholders when creating a District 10 Community Safety Plan to address violence, and set up the city’s first Sheriff’s Oversight Board to develop a use-of-force policy and other oversight measures. Walton is backing the Board of Supervisors’ affordable housing ballot measure and is against car-free JFK, a policy he called “segregationist.” Walton listed his top three issues as housing affordability, equitable distribution of law-enforcement resources, and local hiring and workforce training, especially in the Black community.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram

We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Shamann Walton.

Board of Education

Voters may select up to three candidates to sit on the San Francisco Board of Education.

Question for the candidates:

During the pandemic, the switch to remote learning revealed and exacerbated major disparities in access to education, especially for students of color and low-income students. In our survey of San Francisco residents, many respondents also reported that inequality and mental health were the most pressing issues in their districts. Given the lessons we learned from the pandemic, if elected, how do you plan to address mental health crises among students and inequalities across San Francisco Unified School District schools?

Lisa Weissman-Ward

Lisa Weissman-Ward is the third temporary appointment to the school board by Mayor London Breed. She is an immigrants’ rights lawyer and educator at Stanford Law School. She highlighted the balancing of the SFUSD budget — from a projected $125 million shortfall — as a key achievement of the school board during her recent tenure, in addition to rescinding staff and teacher layoffs and hiring a new superintendent. Weissman-Ward, a half-Jamaican, half-Jewish parent to two SFUSD students, cited loss of trust as a major issue the school district is facing. To address this problem, she says she wants to focus on tools, staff and programs that are improving the leadership gap, use her listening skills as an educator to hear from all stakeholders, and have the school board be more transparent about financial decisions in the district. She is campaigning alongside fellow incumbent Lainie Motamedia, though the two have split from Ann Hsu.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram

Gabriela López

The former president of the SFUSD Board of Education, Gabriela López is an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco and previously taught at San Francisco’s Flynn Elementary. López was one of three school board members recalled by voters in February, in part due to the board’s push to rename schools while students struggled with remote learning, and her support of a lottery-based admissions system for Lowell High School. The only K-12 educator running for a seat, López spotlighted her experience teaching in public schools, volunteering at San Quentin State Prison and organizing educators as a union-building representative as hallmarks of her efforts to center social justice in her work. López lists values such as increasing school funding, improving special education and investing in college preparation.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn

Lainie Motamedi

Another Breed appointee, Lainie Motamedi served for four years as the co-chair of the Public Education Enrichment Fund Committee before her current role as a board member. Like other incumbent board members, she cited the hiring of a new superintendent, approval of a balanced budget and the restoration of merit-based admissions at Lowell High School as part of her efforts to improve SFUSD schools. Motamedi also critiqued the slow return to in-person schooling and decried its effects on her two children. The daughter of two Los Angeles Unified School District teachers, Motamedi listed student success, fiscal responsibility and engaging with the community as her top priorities. She is campaigning alongside fellow incumbent Lisa Weissman-Ward, though the two have split from Ann Hsu.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn

Ann Hsu

Ann Hsu holds a temporary appointment to the Board of Education made by Mayor London Breed following the recall of three former members in February. She is running for reelection and listed academic excellence for all students, safe schools and fiscal discipline as some of her top priorities. Hsu has come under fire for racist comments she made about Black and brown parents, causing several organizations and politicians to call for her to step down from her current role. Hsu, who is Chinese, was a vocal advocate for the recall of three former board members, citing frustration among Chinese/AAPI and other parents regarding slow school reopenings during the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of leadership from SFUSD. She supported the return to merit-based admissions at Lowell High School. Hsu is a parent to twins at Galileo Academy of Science and Technology.

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Alida Fisher

Alida Fisher in her campaign emphasizes her experience navigating schools as a parent — formerly a foster parent and now an adoptive parent to four African American children. She is the advocacy chair for San Francisco Unified School District’s Community Advisory Committee for Special Education. Fisher’s children have attended seven district schools. She says her journey to identifying their various learning differences “transformed me from active parent into parent activist,” and opened her eyes to her white privilege. Building on her emphasis on equity, Fisher wants to reinvest in restorative practices, mandate implicit bias training for all employees, and create more support systems in schools to improve outcomes for students, especially students of color. Her top three concerns are staffing shortages, lack of mental health support in schools and poor reading scores. Fisher is against merit-based admissions at Lowell High School, which recently returned to that system after two years of admitting students by lottery. She previously ran for a board seat in 2018.

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We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Alida Fisher.

Karen Fleshman

Karen Fleshman played on her identity as a white woman named Karen when starting her organization Racy Conversations, which facilitates workshops on racism, bias and sexual harassment in the workplace. In addition to being a parent to two children in SFUSD schools, Fleshman has also worked as a consultant for youth-serving nonprofits in San Francisco, which she said brought her to visit most SFUSD schools. If elected, her priorities include encouraging the adoption of practices across district school sites to address student mental health crises, advocating for more benefits and on-time pay for teachers, working to create more budget transparency, and creating a multi-year plan with community stakeholders to create consensus around priorities and equity in the school district.

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Community College Board, 4-year term

Voters may select up to three candidates to sit on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees for four years.

Question for the candidates:

City College has experienced declining enrollment and financial woes over the past several years, leading to the loss of courses meant to provide opportunities to students of diverse backgrounds, such as ESL or trade classes. In our survey of San Francisco residents regarding the most pressing issues in their districts, several respondents highlighted access to quality public education and economic opportunity in a city with an extremely high cost of living. If elected, how do you plan on balancing the realities of CCSF’s existing budget and smaller course catalog with its mission to serve a diverse community of students who have a wide array of educational needs?

Jill Yee

A former CCSF student, professor, department chair and academic dean, Jill Yee is banking on her decades of experience at City College to garner support. Yee helped establish the school’s Asian American Studies program and developed educational programs for incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated students. During massive budget cuts in 2019 that resulted in cancellation of classes across City College and jeopardized some students’ on-time completion of programs, Yee emphasized prioritizing classes for first generation students who will be affected by California’s new funding formula for community colleges over others, such as lifelong learners who want to take classes for fun. Her vision includes developing enrollment-based budgets, promoting classes that lead to careers, developing strong internship programs, and building student and faculty housing.

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Brigitte Davila

Brigitte Davila has served on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees since 2015 and has been a professor at San Francisco State University for 28 years. Davila, who is Latina, has worked closely with many Latinx organizations in her role as program director of the Raza Studies Community Service Learning Program. In May she voted to make cuts to faculty, including over 100 part-time teachers, stressing the importance of making “painful decisions” to be in good standing for the accreditation process. She points to convincing voters in 2020 to approve a $845 million bond for developing and maintaining City College facilities as a board success. Enrollment is a central focus for Davila, who said the board is launching a dual enrollment program for high schoolers who wish to take college courses, as well as a new enrollment plan to address pandemic losses. Davila is campaigning with candidates John Rizzo, Thea Selby, and Murrell Green, who is running for a two-year term.

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John Rizzo

John Rizzo has served on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees since 2006 and is the vice president and chair of the board’s facilities committee. He is also on the Standards Review Team of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. A longtime environmental activist, Rizzo said he used this experience to help create the City College’s first Sustainability Plan, which he plans to update if reelected. Rizzo voted to lay off 38 faculty members in May to balance the college’s budget following decreased enrollment and tax revenue during the pandemic. Through various “hard decisions” to end structural deficits, he contends the board has placed itself in a strong position for the accreditation process it will begin this year, including building up a fully-funded reserve two years in a row, replacing outdated equipment and repairing student facilities. Rizzo is campaigning with candidates Thea Selby, Brigitte Davila and Murrell Green, who is running for a two-year term.

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Vick Chung

Vick Chung, a former student trustee who sat on the board in 2021, is drawing on experiences as a student leader in programs such as Project SURVIVE in their campaign. Chung, who uses gender-neutral pronouns and identifies as queer and Asian, pointed to their experiences as the child of refugees as important groundwork for their ability to serve immigrant communities and people of color at CCSF. Building on a shared platform with Solomon and Martinez, Chung also trumpeted the trio’s collective vision of providing fully-funded support services for a diverse range of students, including hosting events with community-based organizations and providing more courses for lifelong learners, transfer students, cultural enrichment and civic engagement. Chung is campaigning with Anita Martinez and Susan Solomon.

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We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Vick Chung.

Susan Solomon

Born and raised in San Francisco, Susan Solomon is a former educator who recently retired from her role as president of the United Educators of San Francisco. She is vice president for political activities of the San Francisco Labor Council. Solomon led the school district’s union through the first 15 months of the pandemic, including a prolonged negotiation with the district over how to reopen schools with the city suing the school district to reopen in February 2021. Solomon cited City College layoffs, course cancellations and other austerity measures as key motivators for her decision to run for office. Her vision includes promoting and expanding Free City College, providing workforce training and transfer degrees, hiring more Black and brown faculty, rescinding layoffs and creating a budget through a transparent and inclusive process that listens to community stakeholders. Solomon is campaigning with Anita Martinez and Vick Chung.

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Thea Selby

Another incumbent, Thea Selby has been on the City College Board of Trustees for the past seven years and served as its president in 2017. Selby is a chair of the nonprofit advocacy organization San Francisco Transit Riders — experience that came in handy when she built on a student-driven campaign to negotiate $400,000 in funding for free transit passes for students. She plans on supporting the campaign further should she be re-elected. Selby voted to lay off faculty and cut courses in May when balancing the budget. Selby said she wants to focus on growing enrollment now that the budget has been balanced, in addition to stewarding the $845 million bond passed by voters in 2020 to build a new performing arts center. As chair of the Student Success and Policy Committee, she and committee members found $2 million to help students pay debt incurred during the pandemic. Selby is campaigning with candidates Brigitte Davila, John Rizzo and Murrell Green, who is running for a two-year term.

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Anita Martinez

Union leader Anita Martinez is a retired CCSF teacher, administrator and former president of the American Federation of Teachers 2121. She also ran for the Community College Board in 2020. Martinez is championing a more inclusive and transparent budget, the passage of the San Francisco Workforce Education Reinvestment in Community Success Act and more user-friendly registration and counseling for those who need help navigating the system. She is also pushing for more eco-friendly policies at the school that respect staff as necessary upgrades are made. In May she decried the cutting of classes and firing of employees under the current incumbents, and said that CCSF’s shift from a community college to a junior college is “killing” the school. Martinez is campaigning with Susan Solomon and Vick Chung.

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Jason Zeng

Jason Zeng is a data engineer who works as a contract manager for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Zeng, who unsuccessfully ran for the San Francisco City College Board of Trustees in 2015 following the accreditation crisis, shared that he experienced severe financial hardship and homelessness during the pandemic, influencing his views on the importance of education as a route out of poverty. His vision includes building recruitment pipelines with local companies and investing in research facilities to increase enrollment and generate more revenue. His platform focuses on keeping education a free public good, streamlining coursework for graduation and ensuring ease of access to virtual and physical classrooms.

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Marie Hurabiell

Marie Hurabiell is a member of the Georgetown Board of Regents as well as the Board of Directors of Stop Crime SF, a group that heavily advocated for the recall of former District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Hurabiell came into hot water for a since-deleted 2021 tweet calling critical race theory “dangerous nonsense.” She has apologized for the tweet and said, “it was a really stupid thing that I said.” After her unsuccessful run in 2020, Hurabiell is running on a platform that includes balancing the City College of San Francisco budget, hiring a permanent chancellor (there have been nine in the past eight years), creating partnerships to increase student job placement and opportunities and engaging in initiatives to improve the wellbeing of students and faculty.

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William Walker

William Walker is no stranger to the City College Board of Trustees, having served on the board as a student representative. Since then, he has worked as a researcher on transportation issues and as a community organizer, focused on improving access and participation for Black, indigenous and people of color in spaces where they have been historically excluded. Walker, who identifies as Black and gay, has run for this position twice before, and on his third run is pushing for enrollment growth, which he says would combat the displacement of residents of color and LGBTQ+ individuals who can’t make living wages in the city. His plan to increase enrollment includes expanding concurrent high school enrollment and introducing courses in areas such as urban planning.

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Community College Board, 2-year term

Voters may select one candidate to sit on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees for two years.

Question for the candidates:

Daniel Landry

Daniel Landry is the founder and executive director of the San Francisco CATS Academy, a grassroots organization serving disenfranchised communities by promoting culture, arts, athletics and other talent through mentoring, scholarship and other programs. Landry is San Francisco born and raised, and unsuccessfully ran for District 5 Supervisor in 2020. He also sits on San Francisco’s African American Reparations Task Force. Billing himself as the only “independent candidate,” Landry cited balancing City College’s fiscal budget, supporting students and teachers, increasing enrollment and ensuring the school maintains its accreditation as key issues. He lauded the passage of Free City College in 2019, a program that guarantees eligible residents free tuition through 2029. Landry wants to extend this partnership between the school and the city, and lobby for more funding “on all governmental levels.”

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We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Daniel Landry.

Murrell Green

Murrell Green, dean of academic counseling and student services at West Valley College, was appointed to the City College Board of Trustees by Mayor London Breed in May after previous board member Tom Temprano stepped down. Raised in San Francisco, Green touts his many years of experience in higher education as a department chair, financial aid academic counselor and administrator at various institutions. Green also volunteers for several organizations focused on the advancement of underserved communities in higher education, especially Black communities. In his campaign, Green says key concerns for City College are shrinking enrollment, retention and social justice, as well as faculty layoffs and underutilized facilities. He also emphasized lack of customer service as a key place for improvements when it comes to increasing enrollment. Green is campaigning with candidates Thea Selby, John Rizzo and Brigitte Davila, who are running for four-year terms.

Website • LinkedIn • Shared Campaign Link

We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Murrell Green.

Adolfo Velasquez

Adolfo Velasquez, a retired academic counselor and former chair of the Department of Education Opportunity Program & Services at City College, is drawing on his years at the college to boost his candidacy. Velasquez first became acquainted with City College as a student 30 years ago, and is campaigning with a focus to “Keep CCSFF a Community College!” by bringing back classes that serve lifelong learners, working adults and English language learners. He also wants to expand New Directions, a program that assists formerly incarcerated students transitioning to the college. Another central part of his platform is no more layoffs of faculty and classified workers, a plan he hopes to accomplish through more financial oversight and transparency, especially if Proposition O passes, which would significantly boost the City College budget.

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Assessor-Recorder

Question for the candidate:

A great many people who used to commute to offices downtown are still working remotely. Are you expecting a higher rate of requests for reassessment of commercial property? How will this affect the city’s tax base and its ability to provide services and maintain infrastructure?

Joaquín Torres

Initially appointed to this role by Mayor Breed in February 2021, Joaquín Torres is seeking reelection in a fast turnaround from his February 2022 election. He is also president of the San Francisco Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. Previously, Torres worked as director of the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, leading efforts to alleviate the pandemic’s impact on businesses and workers. Torres cited closing the Assessor-Recorder Office’s roll on time, modernizing its systems to increase ease of access to the public, continuing a financial education series for families and focusing on the Transfer Tax Audit as top priorities. The grandson of Mexican immigrants, Torres’s plan to further racial equity goals in the office includes diversifying staff, advancing the conversation regarding racially-restrictive covenants, and executing programming with nonprofits to expand estate planning resources for communities of color.

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District Attorney

Question for the candidates:

We asked San Francisco residents to tell us about the most pressing issues in their districts. According to survey responses we received, crime is a top concern. What are your priorities when it comes to addressing crime? Where would you focus your efforts in combating crime?

John Hamasaki

Former San Francisco Police Commissioner John Hamasaki is a criminal defense attorney who helped write commission policies on investigations of domestic violence, and police interactions with LGBTQ+ and deaf individuals. Hamasaki, who is Asian, said being the victim of a hate crime prompted him to reconsider his relationship with policing and criminal justice. He is campaigning on the promise to be an independent DA who holds City Hall accountable and who addresses the root causes of crime instead of “war on drugs” and “tough on crime” policies. His priorities include promoting a universal income program to prevent crime, reducing drug sales while dismantling large-scale organizations, ending cash bail, tracking and prosecuting anti-Asian hate crimes, and cracking down on wage theft. Hamasaki was a vocal critic of the Boudin recall but hasn’t voted since the November 2020 election. He says he wants to bring back the restorative justice referrals program, and supports diversion programs for caregivers and misdemeanors. Hamasaki faced criticism in March 2021 for controversial tweets about teenagers and firearms that veered into the personal when discussing other supervisors. He has since apologized.

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Brooke Jenkins

Current District Attorney Brooke Jenkins was appointed to the role by Mayor London Breed following the recall of Chesa Boudin. Jenkins, who left the attorney’s office in October 2021 to volunteer for the Boudin recall campaign, caused controversy when records revealed that she was paid over $100,000 to consult for several non-profits closely linked to the recall effort. One of several candidates pushing for stringent punishments for repeat offenders, Jenkins also supports enhanced penalties for drug dealers and increased use of the Community Justice Center court for those struggling with addiction. She has also expressed desire to work closely with police and said she will consider prosecuting some 16 and 17-year-olds as adults. Jenkins, who identifies as Black and Latina, decided in September to establish a vulnerable victims unit and new post-conviction review unit that differs from Boudin’s former unit and his separate innocence commission.

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We invited candidates to share audio responses to questions that we formed using survey responses from the San Francisco community. Brooke Jenkins submitted a text response but did not provide an audio segment. Read Jenkins’s response.

Joe Alioto Veronese

Joe Alioto Veronese is a civil rights attorney of 22 years who has also served on San Francisco’s police and fire commissions, as a state criminal justice commissioner, and as a police officer and investigator under former San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan Veronese supports some criminal justice reforms, such as eliminating cash bail and opposes no-knock warrants, but also said he is open to gang enhancements, which are additional punishments tacked onto felony sentences due to alleged gang ties. These have been criticized for being racially-biased and criminalizing relationships between members of low-income Black and brown communities, and were largely eliminated under DA Boudin. Veronese stated that he would seek a City Charter amendment that would allow the District Attorney to appoint the Chief of Police instead of the Mayor. His top priorities include ending “the revolving door for violent criminals,” prosecuting property crimes and arresting fentanyl dealers.

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We invited candidates to share audio responses to questions that we formed using survey responses from the San Francisco community. Joe Alioto Veronese submitted a text response but did not provide an audio segment. Read Alioto Veronese’s response.

Maurice Chenier

Maurice Chenier has been practicing civil defense law since 1993 and once took out nomination papers to run against one of San Francisco’s most famous former district attorneys — Vice President Kamala Harris. Chenier, whose nephew was shot and killed in 2005, said he wants to focus on homelessness, petty thefts and break ins, as well as victims of homicides if elected. Though he has a sparse campaign presence, Chenier has made his position for tough-on-crimes policies clear, saying he is the “the most pro-police candidate there is,” and that “We need a definite commitment to punish crimes. And then rehabilitation, which I’m all for, can be applied by other agencies.” Though he said one’s voting history should be personal, he said, “in general, I vote for conservative measures, especially with respect to crime.”

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Public Defender

Question for the candidates:

What will you do to ensure that clients of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office receive equitable and timely defense?

Rebecca Susan Feng Young

Rebecca Susan Feng Young is challenging her former boss for the first contested public defender race in San Francisco in 20 years. Young quit her role as deputy public defender last year and went to work as assistant district attorney for former DA Chesa Boudin. She was later fired by Brooke Jenkins. Critiquing the current office with “losing sight of its mission,” Young cited frustration with increased managerial staff and the promotion of inexperienced attorneys, which she said has led to skyrocketing caseloads for felony rotation attorneys. If elected, she said she will establish minimum experience qualifications for attorneys assuming leadership positions, institute requirements for carrying out serious or violent felony cases, balance caseloads for felony line attorneys, and train women of color for leadership roles, among other goals. Daughter of an immigrant from China, Young said that she would commit to increasing office diversity with trainings, and work with justice partners to eliminate racial inequality in outcomes. She said clients are being assigned burnt out, unprepared attorneys, and staff is becoming demoralized. She also highlighted her work under former Public Defender Jeff Adachi.

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Mano Raju

Mano Raju has served as San Francisco’s Public Defender since 2019 and previously worked in the office as a deputy public defender. As public defender, Raju has spearheaded several efforts to further racial and economic equity, including a pilot program that increases jury diversity by compensating low-income jurors who otherwise would not be able to serve, a paid internship program for youth to invest in empowerment instead of incarceration, and an integrity unit to curb police, prosecutorial and judicial misconduct through access to public records. The son of Indian immigrants, Raju emphasized community care as an onus for running, and said if reelected he will continue to push for decarceration and the protection of those he serves from “cruel & ineffective tough-on-crime policies.” Raju sued San Francisco Superior Court during the COVID-19 pandemic due to delays that left people in jails awaiting trial for dozens and sometimes hundreds of days. Critics of Raju, including his opponent Rebecca Young, have said that policy efforts in the office have led to overworked, under-resourced attorneys who are distracted from their heavy caseloads.

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BART Director, District 8

Question for the candidate:

In our survey of San Francisco residents, many respondents reported safety, access to public transit, and homelessness as the most pressing issues they face. If reelected, how do you plan on addressing these concerns as they fall under BART’s purview, especially given pandemic losses in revenue?

Janice Li

Having served on the board since 2018, Janice Li is seeking reelection for District 8 director for the multi-county Bay Area Rapid Transit system. Li, who was the first Asian American woman and first queer woman of color on BART’s board, also works at Chinese for Affirmative Action directing a coalition that advances the rights of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Throughout massive declines in BART ridership during the pandemic, Li advocated for federal financial assistance to balance BART’s budget, introduced the agency’s first low-income fare program and created an ambassador program that hired social workers to assist unarmed police officers in calls related to homelessness, mental health and drug addiction. Li has supported the development of affordable housing development on BART land.

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We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Janice Li.

State Assembly, District 17

Question for the candidates:

David Campos

David Campos stopped his campaign for this seat in April, though his name appears on the ballot.

Matt Haney

Matt Haney is the current District 17 assemblymember, a role he took over in May following former Assemblymember David Chiu’s departure to serve as San Francisco’s city attorney. Before his current position, Haney was the supervisor in District 6, where he focused on policy related to mental health, affordable housing and homelessness. Haney’s goals include ending exclusionary zoning, building 100,000 units in San Francisco in the next 10 years, investing in mental health services to address the root causes of homelessness, and developing a state-level Overpaid Executive Tax modeled after a proposition he authored in San Francisco that levies a tax on companies with significant gaps between executives and lower-paid workers.

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We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Matt Haney.

State Assembly, District 19

Question for the candidates:

Phil Ting

Incumbent Assemblymember Phil Ting was first elected to this role in 2012, and currently sits as Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. Prior to his election, Ting served as San Francisco’s Assessor-Record, where he helped clear a five-year assessment backlog that recovered $290 million in unpaid taxes. In his time in the Assembly, Ting has authored bills to increase access to CalGrant scholarships, strengthen handgun laws, and restore wetlands. As budget chair, he has also worked with Gov. Gavin Newsom and other legislators to distribute money from budget surpluses to Californians in the form of COVID-19 and inflation relief checks.

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We invited candidates to share audio responses to questions that we formed using survey responses from the San Francisco community. Phil Ting submitted a text response but did not provide an audio segment. Read Ting’s response.

Karsten Weide

Karsten Weide is an industry analyst at IDC, a market research firm for information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets. Weide is an immigrant from Germany who said that his experiences with relatives in East Germany have turned him against socialism. If elected, Weidie wants to increase charges for repeat offenders and drug dealers, expand police department funding, and make other tough-on-crime policy changes. This includes his position that people struggling with homelessness and addiction should have to choose between rehabilitation and jail. To address the homelessness crisis, he also said that the emphasis should be on adding 4,000 more shelter beds instead of building more affordable housing.

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We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Karsten Weide.

Board of Equalization, District 2

Question for the candidates:

How will you help county assessors’ offices that may be facing challenging assessment puzzles in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Sally J. Lieber

Former California Assemblymember Sally J. Lieber is branding herself as the “corporate-free candidate” in the race. During her time in the state Assembly, Lieber focused on issues related to economic opportunity, such as authoring legislation to increase California’s minimum wage and advocating for mortgage protections. She also worked on legislation to increase environmental protections and protections for survivors of sexual assault or other crimes. Lieber is pushing for a fair and equitable tax system that treats the diverse range of taxpayers with respect, offers increased transparency from the board, and ensures larger entities “pay their fair share” to provide the state with critical revenue for other departments.

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We were unable to reach or did not receive either an audio or text response from Sally J. Lieber.

Peter Coe Verbica

Peter Coe Verbica is the managing director at Silicon Private Wealth and Viant Capital, and has served as president of the California Congress of Republicans, as well as president of the South Peninsula Area Republican Coalition. If elected, Verbica said he will prioritize lowering taxes, encouraging the growth of Taxpayers’ Rights Advocates offices, and assisting the California County Tax Assessors with addressing backlogs as well as applying Proposition 19 in the most tax-friendly way possible. That bill was passed by voters in November, changing property tax benefits related to family inheritances as well as benefits for seniors, people with disabilities and people affected by natural disasters.

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Order of Candidate Names Within Races

Wondering why we listed candidates’ names this way? California has been using the “randomized alphabet” to determine how candidates’ names appear on the ballot since 1975, a practice that began after placing names in alphabetical order on ballots was deemed unconstitutional. San Francisco has 31 versions of the ballot for this year’s elections — if you’re a resident and registered to vote, you’ll see a different assortment of races depending on where you live, and the placement of names within a particular race may appear in various orders. For races with multiple orderings, we chose to list candidate names as they appear on Ballot Type No. 1. You can learn more about this process here.

For the statewide ballot measures, we are sharing one-minute video summaries from our friends at CalMatters. We recommend the full CalMatters voter guide for information on statewide candidate races.

Proposition 1 — Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom — Legislative Constitutional Amendment

Proposition 26 — Allows In-Person Roulette, Dice Games, Sports Wagering on Tribal Lands — Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute

Proposition 27 — Allows Online and Mobile Sports Wagering Outside Tribal Lands — Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute

Proposition 28 — Provides Additional Funding for Arts and Music Education in Public Schools — Initiative Statute

Proposition 29 — Requires On-Site Licensed Medical Professional at Kidney Dialysis Clinics and Establishes Other State Requirements — Initiative Statute

Proposition 30 — Provides Funding for Programs to Reduce Air Pollution and Prevent Wildfires by Increasing Tax on Personal Income Over $2 Million — Initiative Statute

Proposition 31 — Referendum on 2020 Law That Would Prohibit the Retail Sale of Certain Flavored Tobacco Products

All California Propositions in One Video

CORRECTION (10/21/22): Supervisors Rafael Mandelman and Matt Dorsey both identify at LGBTQ+. An earlier version of Mandelman’s biography that appeared in this election guide incorrectly described him as the only current supervisor who identifies as LGBTQ+.

— You have reached the end of the election guide. —

The post November 2022 SF Election Guide appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

Proposition O — Additional Parcel Tax for City College

Madison Alvarado — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:46:54 +0000

See our November 2022 SF Election Guide for a nonpartisan analysis of measures and contests on the ballot in San Francisco for the election occurring Nov. 8, 2022. Voters will consider the following proposition in that election.

Proposition O, also called the San Francisco Workforce Education and Reinvestment in Community Success Act, is a proposed parcel tax to generate funding for a variety of services and programs at the City College of San Francisco. This proposed tax would begin in 2023 and continue through 2043, generating an estimated $37 million annually — though that number would increase over time as the tax is adjusted for inflation. Beyond the cost of administering the tax, revenue from the tax will be put into a special fund to be split four ways for the following purposes:

25% for services that support basic student needs, enrollment, retention and job placement
25% for skills-focused programs such as English tutoring or technological proficiency
25% for workforce development programs
25% for equity programs that support the success and leadership development of historically underrepresented students

City College must also submit an annual spending plan to the mayor and Board of Supervisors to receive revenue from the tax, in addition to undergoing annual audits for the first five years of the tax and periodic audits after that. An oversight committee will be created to make sure investments are being used properly. This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

Individuals aged 65 and over who own and reside in their properties will not be taxed. Neither will certain nonprofits that are already exempt from property taxes.

Rates for the first year of the tax would be based upon the size and type of property. Single-family residential units would pay $150, while residential properties with two or more units would be taxed $75 per unit. Non-residential properties would be charged based upon square footage, ranging from $150 for those under 5,000 square feet up $4,000 for those greater than 100,000 square feet. Mixed-use parcels will have a separate calculation depending on their uses.

The cost to maintain a database to correctly tax each property and apply exemptions would be around $6 million on a one-time basis and an additional $3 million annually according to the city controller, exceeding a rule in the measure that allows for only 1% of funds to go toward administrative costs.

San Francisco property owners already pay an annual flat tax of $99 per parcel to help pay for teachers, counselors and libraries at City College, which is set to expire in 2032. The college has struggled financially in recent years after losing tens of thousands of students in the wake of an accreditation crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, along with a decline in funds that comes with lower student enrollment.

The college was declared at risk of financial insolvency and a state takeover in 2021 after the state’s Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team said the school has not cut expenditures on pace with declining enrollment. In order to balance a $7 million budget shortfall, the City College Board of Trustees made the controversial decision to lay off 38 full-time faculty members and dozens of part-time teachers, in addition to considering the elimination of an estimated 300 courses.

Today, the school says it has balanced its budget, eliminated structural deficits, and created a projected 5% increase in cash reserves for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 budgets in preparation for the next accreditation cycle, which starts this spring.

Though state law limits the amount of revenue that can be spent each year, San Francisco voters can approve increases to the limit for up to four years. If passed, this measure would increase the spending limit for four years.

Proponents of Proposition O argue that class cuts and losses in enrollment beginning in 2019 and compounded by the pandemic are denying education to the city’s most vulnerable, and that the tax is needed “to guarantee San Franciscans aren’t left behind.” They also pointed to the free classes offered to San Francisco residents through Free City and workforce training courses as evidence of the school’s utility for the city’s diverse communities. Supporters include City College’s faculty and staff unions (AFT 2121 and SEIU 2021), the San Francisco Democratic Party, Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, United Educators of San Francisco, the San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club and Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth.

Opponents of the tax such as the San Francisco Apartment Association and the San Francisco Taxpayers Association argue that the city needs to “stop approving blank check funding for a failing organization.” Mayor London Breed, District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin and District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani pointed to the college’s turnover in chancellors (CCSF has had nine chancellors in the past eight years), the $1.3 billion in public bonds that voters have already approved in the past 20 years, and the high administrative cost of the tax, calling on voters to “hold [trustees and administrators] accountable” by not passing another bond.

The post Proposition O — Additional Parcel Tax for City College appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

Proposition N — Golden Gate Park Underground Parking Facility; Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority

Mel Baker — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:44:34 +0000

This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

Proposition N would overturn part of a ballot measure (then-Proposition J) passed by voters in June 1998 that placed construction of the Music Concourse Garage in Golden Gate Park in the hands of a nonprofit called the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority.

The authority took over management of the garage from the Music Concourse Community Partnership, another nonprofit created to raise tax deductible donations to build the 800-space garage. Organizers raised $36 million of the $55 million needed to build the garage. Ongoing profits from the garage were supposed to pay off loans taken out to cover the balance.

The original measure also called for any excess parking funds to be returned to the operation, maintenance, improvement or enhancement of Golden Gate Park. No such funds have been distributed.

In 2008, a $4 million embezzlement scandal by a former chief financial officer rocked the original fundraising nonprofit. Since then, the concourse authority has struggled to pay rent to the city.

Critics of the nonprofit said that the parking spaces are overpriced, with many of the 800 parking spaces often going unused. They also criticize the authority for not providing discounts to park employees who work in the De Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences and other attractions near the garage.

No opponents to the measure have placed a counter argument for maintaining the current system in the official ballot pamphlet.

Mayor London Breed issued the “Official Proponent Argument.” She said that the passage of Proposition N would allow the city “to spend public dollars on the garage, which creates flexibility over the management and parking rates.” She said the change would make it possible for the city to offer discounts to low-income and disabled visitors who drive to the park. The mayor said that “flexible pricing” will also allow the city to pay down the debt incurred from building the garage.

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Proposition M — Tax on Keeping Residential Units Vacant

Camellia Burris — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:42:12 +0000

Designed to combat San Francisco’s long-standing housing shortage, an empty homes tax on the November ballot, Proposition M, would apply to multi-unit residential buildings with prolonged vacancies. Voters will decide the fate of the measure that has garnered support and criticism for its exemptions and low tax amount. Read our full analysis of Proposition M by Camellia Burris: “Would Tax on Vacant Homes Be Enough to Push Owners to Lease Empty SF Units?”

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Proposition L — Sales Tax for Transportation Projects

Lila LaHood — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:40:15 +0000

Proposition L is a proposed extension of the city’s current 0.5% sales tax until 2053 to help fund public transportation projects. The measure also allows the city to issue up to $1.91 billion in bonds to be repaid with proceeds from the tax, which the city controller estimated will generate $100 million per year in its early years, increasing to about $236 million by 2052. Revenue from the tax would be used to fund the 2022 Transportation Expenditure Plan, which includes a variety of programs focused on basic transit maintenance, major transportation improvements, paratransit services, congestion reduction, pedestrian and bike safety, and community-based equity planning. This measure requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

San Franciscans first voted to approve this tax in 1989 and elected to extend it once again in 2003. The current tax isn’t set to expire until 2034. However, advocates say that passing the tax now will unlock the potential to qualify for billions in matching funds in state and federal grants, and note that all but one of the major capital projects under the current plan have been completed.

Local transportation agencies like San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency and Bay Area Rapid Transit have struggled since the start of the pandemic with decreased ridership and thus funding. A $400 million Muni bond measure narrowly failed in June. Supporters of Proposition L say the proposed improvements funded by the measure will be a key part of luring back riders, especially in the absence of other investments.

Supporters include Mayor London Breed, District 8 Supervisor and Chair of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority Rafael Mandelman, the San Francisco Democratic Party, San Francisco Transit Riders, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Walk San Francisco, Senior and Disability Action, the Sierra Club, the San Francisco Labor Council and others.

Opponents of the measure include Larry Marso, who also opposed the failed June Muni bond, and the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods. They argue that the current tax will not expire for another 10 years and that San Francisco County Transportation Authority’s spending is out of control. Opponents also say that the amount of federal funding available is “false marketing” because it does not adjust for inflation. Instead, they are pushing to “retool” the transit system for reduced commutes in the current climate with increased work-from-home.

The process for creating the new transit plan included six months of public advisory committee meetings composed of neighborhood, business, advocacy and community representatives, in addition to partnerships with community-based organizations to conduct outreach with communities of color, low-income households and monolingual communities. More detailed aspects of the 2022 Expenditure Plan include:

Muni reliability and efficiency improvements through transit-only lanes and other street design changes
Improving Muni and BART core capacity through more frequent and longer trains, upgrades to control systems
Extending Caltrain downtown and other Caltrain system capacity investments, which may be used in future light-speed rail services
Routine maintenance and rehabilitation on Muni, BART, Caltrain and ferry transit
Addition of zero-emission vehicles and other measures to reduce the impacts of climate change
Creation of a Bayview Caltrain station and Mission Bay Ferry landing
Investments in paratransit for seniors and people with disabilities
Street resurfacing and maintenance
Pedestrian and bicycle facilities maintenance
Improvements to traffic signs and signals
Investments in safe streets, such as curb ramps and tree planting
Creation of express bus lanes on freeways and other changes to encourage carpooling
Other measures to increase freeway safety and to repair the harm caused by former freeway and street projects
Creating and implementing neighborhood and equity priority transportation plans

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Proposition J — Recreational Use of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park

Lila LaHood — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:38:53 +0000

Proposition J is primarily designed to counter another measure on the ballot — Proposition I — which would overturn a Board of Supervisors ordinance passed in April 2022 closing off John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park to motorized vehicles. It requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

Proposition J would add those changes to the park code. The goal is to shift park access away from car traffic and toward pedestrian and bicycle use.

The measure would also protect the weekend closure of the Great Highway along Ocean Beach and plans to turn part of that roadway between Sloat and Skyline boulevards into nature trails and parking. City planners say that erosion from sea level rise makes the maintenance of the entire Great Highway unfeasible in the long term. Changes to the Great Highway and wastewater treatment facilities are outlined in the Ocean Beach Climate Adaptation Project.

The Yes on J campaign claims that public use of the park has increased by 35% since the closure of JFK and the Great Highway and that 70% of people surveyed support the closure. No details were given on how the survey was conducted. They also cite traffic data that found JFK Drive was among the top 13% of most dangerous San Francisco streets when it was open to car traffic. The campaign also said that the city has added 29 new ADA parking spaces behind the Music Bandshell, exceeding the number of spaces that were eliminated when JFK Drive was turned into the JFK Promenade.

A paid ballot statement from the Prop. J Hurts Seniors campaign asserts that “without access to JFK Drive, it is impossible for many seniors to visit Golden Gate Park, its museums and attractions,” and adding that “many seniors do not have access to reliable public transit and cannot walk long distances and rely on cars to get around.”

Proposition J would pass on a simple majority vote. The Board of Supervisors can amend the ordinance by a majority vote. If Proposition J passes with more votes than Proposition I. then the latter would have no legal effect.

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Proposition I — Vehicles on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park and the Great Highway

Lila LaHood — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:35:58 +0000

This ballot measure would amend the park code to override a Board of Supervisors decision from May 2022 that turned JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park into the JFK Promenade and closed the Great Highway on weekends.

JFK Drive between Kezar Drive and the Great Highway was closed to motor vehicles seven days a week in April 2020. The then-temporary plan was to create “social distancing” space for people to walk, run, jog or bicycle during the COVID-19 pandemic. A similar section of the Great Highway at Ocean Beach was closed for the same purposes on weekends and holidays.

Under Proposition I, JFK Drive would be completely open on weekdays, but still closed to private cars on weekends from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. between April and September and on holidays. The Great Highway would be open to vehicle traffic seven days a week, except for special city approved events.

Proposition I would also forbid the city from moving forward with a plan to eventually close the Great Highway between Sloat Boulevard and Skyline Boulevard to private vehicles. Under the current plan, traffic would be diverted to the other side of the San Francisco Zoo along Skyline and Sloat boulevards. The change is part of a larger effort called the Ocean Beach Climate Adaptation Project. Work could begin as soon as late 2023 and last four years.

The Great Highway is subject to erosion due to sea level rise, and city planners believe it is only a matter of time before it will be impossible to maintain the entire roadway for use by motor vehicles. Instead, the area would be turned into a series of nature paths and a parking lot.

The idea is similar to what was done with a dangerous and erosion-prone section of Highway 1 in San Mateo County called the Devil’s Side, which was closed upon completion of the Tom Lantos Tunnel, which routes traffic through San Bruno Mountain. The Devil’s Slide section remains open to pedestrians and bicycles, but no major repair work is done on the roadbed, which is eventually expected to fall into the ocean.

The San Francisco Controller’s Office estimates that maintaining the entire Great Highway would cost at least $80 million over the next 20 years.

Proposition I would also take JFK Drive and the Great Highway out of the jurisdiction of the Recreation and Parks Department and place the roadways under the purview of the Department of Public Works, which manages most of the city’s roadways.

Supporters of Proposition I, including disability rights advocate Howard Chabner, argued that closing JFK Drive and the Great Highway “hurts people with disabilities, seniors and families” by limiting their access to areas in the park. Supporters also contend that Proposition I will “move cars back to major roadways and off local streets that aren’t designed for high volume traffic.”

In a paid ballot argument, the group Seniors for Inclusion said that nearly 1,000 free parking spaces and a dozen ADA parking spaces near major attractions such as the Conservatory of Flowers, DeYoung Museum and California Academy of Sciences can no longer be accessed.

Opponents of Proposition I include Supervisors Matt Dorsey, Gordon Mar, Merna Melgar, Dean Preson and Hilary Ronen. Supervisor Ronen said the decision to close JFK Drive was “a consensus introduced by Mayor London Breed and passed by seven board members.” She believes it provides “a protected, safe open space for recreational use.” Ronen is especially critical of the section of Proposition I that would disrupt the Ocean Beach Climate Adaptation Project, which includes the eventual closure of part of the Great Highway, but she said it would also force a halt to plans to “protect the Westside’s Sewage Treatment facilities that are at risk of falling into the sea.”

Proposition I prompted some members of the Board of Supervisors to put Proposition J on the ballot, which would make the changes a permanent part of the park code.

If Proposition I passes, the board may later amend the ordinance by a two-thirds vote, but only if the amendments are either consistent with the measure’s purposes or required by a court. If Proposition I passes with more votes than Proposition J, then Proposition J would have no legal effect.

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Proposition H — City Elections in Even-Numbered Years

Sylvie Sturm — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:33:28 +0000

Proposition H would move elections scheduled for odd-numbered years to even-numbered ones. Proponents argue that the measure is a boon for democracy since it could lead to double the number of voters casting ballots. San Francisco election participation data indicates that in even-numbered years, nearly twice as many voters turn out than in odd-numbered years.

Supervisor Dean Preston put forward the ballot measure, arguing that aligning city elections with federal elections would strengthen a democratic electoral process. He pointed to other cities, including Los Angeles and San Jose, that have already made similar changes.

Those cities made the change following a state law passed in 2015 called the California Voter Participation Rights Act or Senate Bill 415. It was supported by a range of voting rights organizations, which cited the importance of encouraging voter participation in municipal elections. The state law prohibits cities from holding off-cycle elections if doing so would result in a significant decline in voter turnout, defined under state law as 25% or more.

San Francisco and other cities became exempt from the law after the city of Redondo Beach won a lawsuit claiming that the law should not apply to charter cities. San Francisco filed an amicus brief in support of the city’s home rule argument. An appellate court agreed and ruled that charter cities like San Francisco were free to change their election cycle but were not compelled to follow the change in state law mandated by SB 415. Preston said it was high time San Francisco made the change during a rules committee meeting on July 6.

“On voter rights and voting rights — we’ve actually fallen significantly behind on this issue,” he said. “The state law passed in 2015, and San Francisco still has not consolidated our elections. So, I think this charter amendment is an opportunity to get us back on track and ensure that more San Franciscans participate in our local democracy.”

A Controller’s Office analysis stated that for every odd-numbered-year election that doesn’t happen, the city would save just under $7 million.

An opponent who called into a Board of Supervisors hearing on the issue argued that consolidating elections means adding significant numbers of items to the ballot, and that could dilute the impact of down ballot measures since voters would be less willing to inform themselves on so many topics.

Moving odd-numbered-year elections to even-numbered years would affect the offices of the mayor, sheriff, district attorney, city attorney and treasurer. Breed could end up serving more than 10 years as mayor; a special election brought her into office in July 2018 after the death of former Mayor Ed Lee, and she was elected to her first full four-year term in 2019. If this charter amendment passes and Breed is re-elected in 2024, her second term would end in early 2029.

In the official opponent argument filed with the Department of Elections, former Republican mayoral candidate Richie Greenberg frames the measure as “cancelling” the 2023 elections.

“Failing politicians around the world scheme to extend their hold on power by challenging, canceling, nullifying or postponing elections,” he wrote. “It’s one of the most jaw-dropping hallmarks of a tyrannical, undemocratic regime.”

However, Breed, who would get an additional year in her tenure should Proposition H pass, opposed the measure. In an interview on KCBS Radio, she said the changes were being pushed by “a group of democratic socialists” who want to “have more control and power of being able to get more of their people elected.”

Proponent arguments filed with the Department of Elections were signed by former Mayor Art Agnos, the San Francisco Democratic Party, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, the San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club, the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee, the San Francisco Labor Council, and the Sierra Club. They pushed back against the opposition, writing: “Opponents of Proposition H want you to believe that it is better for San Francisco if FEWER people vote. Prop H ensures more voters, especially those from marginalized communities, make their voices heard in our political process.”

This measure requires more than 50% affirmative votes to pass.

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