Northside voters tend to be politically engaged, and 2018 is shaping up to be a year of greater-than-normal activity. It is good that voter interest and enthusiasm are high in this election. From money to data to housing to animal welfare, San Francisco (and California) voters are being asked to make law on a broad range of topics. When we go to bed on Nov. 6 or wake up on Nov. 7, we will know the results of some significant questions that were put before voters this fall.
We assume that includes you, the Northside voter and Marina Times reader. Have you voted? Will you vote? Or will you magnify someone else’s vote by not participating?
Due to the high level of interest and the great importance of this fall election, we offer here our recommendations for various propositions. There are a lot of important ballot measures — some good, some bad — and we urge you to make sure the Northside has its say on these matters.
SAN FRANCISCO BALLOT MEASURES
Proposition A: San Francisco Embarcadero Seawall Improvement Bonds
If passed, San Francisco would issue up to $425 million in bonds to fund badly needed repairs and improvements to the Embarcadero Seawall and Embarcadero infrastructure for flood and earthquake safety.
We recommend: Yes
Proposition B: San Francisco Personal Information Protection Policy Charter Amendment
This proposition would amend the city charter to include guidelines for San Francisco to create policies for businesses to protect personal data of residents.
We recommend: Yes
Proposition C: San Francisco Gross Receipts Tax for Homelessness Services Initiative
This would add a new tax on businesses in the city that have more than $50 million in revenue (or a percent of payroll expenses for businesses with more than $1 billion in revenue) and use the money to fund housing and homeless services.
We recommend: No
Proposition D: San Francisco Marijuana Business Tax Increase
This proposition would impose a tax from 1–5 percent on marijuana businesses with revenue of more than $500,000, with exemptions for retail sales of medical marijuana.
We recommend: Yes
Proposition E: San Francisco Partial Allocation of Hotel Tax for Arts and Culture
This measure would reallocate a small portion of the city’s hotel tax from the general fund to arts and culture services.
We recommend: Yes
STATE BALLOT MEASURES
Proposition 1: Housing Programs and Veterans’ Loan Bond
If passed, the state would issue $4 billion in bonds for housing programs and veterans’ home loans.
We recommend: Yes
Proposition 2: Use Millionaire’s Tax Revenue for Homelessness Prevention Housing Bonds Measure
This proposition would authorize the state to pay for $2 billion in bonds for homelessness prevention by tapping revenue from a tax on millionaires (which comes from 2004’s Proposition 63).
We recommend: Yes
Proposition 3: Water Infrastructure and Watershed Conservation Bond Initiative
This would issue bonds worth $1.5 billion to pay for water-related infrastructure and environmental projects.
We recommend: Yes
Proposition 4: Children’s Hospital Bonds Initiative
Children’s hospitals would receive proceeds of $1.5 billion in bonds.
We recommend: No
Proposition 5: Property Tax Transfer Initiative
This proposition would make it easier for homebuyers at least 55 years old or with severe disabilities to transfer their tax assessments, potentially freeing up a lot of larger homes sellers were afraid to sell due to tax consequences.
We recommend: Yes
Proposition 6: Voter Approval for Future Gas and Vehicle Taxes and 2017 Tax Repeal Initiative
This attempt to repeal the 2017 increases in the fuel tax and vehicle fee would also require that the public vote on future increases. This would needlessly tie the hands of lawmakers, it would leave our critically underfunded infrastructure (already some of the worst in the nation, see News Briefs, page 2) in worse shape, and it is in reality only a cynical attempt to get Republican voters to the polls. If the GOP wants its voters to turn out, it should turn out better candidates.
We recommend: No
Proposition 7: Permanent Daylight Saving Time Measure
With cooperation from the federal government, this proposition would tell the state legislature to put California on permanent daylight savings time and free us up from the unnecessary twice-yearly time switch.
We recommend: Yes
Proposition 8: Limits on Dialysis Clinics’ Revenue and Required Refunds Initiative
Dialysis clinics would be required to issue refunds if their revenue is above a certain amount.
We recommend: No
Proposition 10: Local Rent Control Initiative
Local governments would be freed of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act’s restrictions on imposing new rent control.
We recommend: No
Proposition 11: Ambulance Employees Paid On-Call Breaks, Training, and Mental Health Services Initiative
Ambulance companies would be able to require that their workers remain on-call during paid breaks; employers would also be required to provide additional training for EMTs and paramedics and give them some paid mental health services.
We recommend: No
Proposition 12: Farm Animal Confinement Initiative
This would ban the sale in the state of meat from animals that were confined in spaces smaller than specified amounts.
We recommend: Yes
Note: Proposition 9, billionaire Tim Draper’s latest attempt to divide-and-conquer California, was removed from the ballot by the California Supreme Court.
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE
The deadline for registering to vote in the Nov. 6 election was Oct. 22. You can vote by mail or in-person at City Hall ahead of Election Day or at your local polling place on Election Day.
Vote by mail: Ballots were sent to permanent vote-by-mail voters one month before the election. They can be requested seven days before Election Day. Your returned mail ballot must be postmarked on or before Nov. 6 and must be received no later than Nov. 9. You can return your mail ballot in person by 8 p.m. on Nov. 6.
Vote at your polling place: On Election Day, polling places will be open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. You can also drop off your sealed and signed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place on Election Day. Find your local polling place at sfelections.org/tools/pollsite/index.php.
Vote at City Hall: Voting in City Hall (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 48) started 29 days before Election Day: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday the two weekends before Nov. 6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; and Tuesday, Nov. 6, 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
Details at sfelections.sfgov.org.
