Get out and vote on Tuesday, June 8, 2010
It’s election time again! On the June 8 ballot we’ll see protections for renters in San Francisco, Gavin for Lieutenant Governor, and what might be utility juggernaut PG&E’s biggest and dirtiest proposition date. Above is our voter guide, filled with some of the most important recommendations we’ve ever passed along, and it’s more important that ever that you get out and vote. And for our undocumented brothers and sisters, encourage those who can vote—family, friends, co-workers—make themselves heard. Don’t let them take their most powerful tool for change for granted. English recommendations follow Spanish.
California Propositions
Prop 13: Limits on property tax assessments ~ Yes
This proposition would provide a property tax break by preventing reassessments of buildings that have had seismic upgrades. Boring stuff, but necessary for working-class home and business owners.
Prop 14: Primary Election Reform ~ No
Prop 14 would set up an open primary in California, meaning that you could vote for whomever you wanted in the June primary for all statewide offices, regardless of party affiliation. The two who receive the most votes would appear on November. And yes, it sounds good: more choices, but this prop would make it almost impossible for anyone but the richest two candidates (and especially difficult for any third party candidates) to even make it onto the general election ballot. Don’t believe me—then tell me who, aside from Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, is running for the Republican ticket for Governor?
Prop 15: California Fair Elections ~ Yes
Prop 15 would require public financing for political campaigns, effectively reducing (or at least we hope) the power of special interests, lobbyists and dirty money in politics. Qualified candidates receive limited public financing and are banned from raising or spending any beyond it. Should this initiative pass the “test run” would be a public financing system for Secretary of State candidates.
Prop 16: The PG&E Power Grab ~ Hell No!
Prop 16 would make it impossible for local governments to expand or start up new electricity service–it would require a two-thirds majority vote to do so. Really? Two-thirds majority, in some states you wouldn’t be able to get a two-thirds consensus on segregation. PG&E is way behind on meeting the state mandate for renewable energy. So instead of investing our ratepayer dollars on greener alternatives, they’re spending more than $40 million to prevent us from ever opting for more Earth-friendly, government-run alternatives.
Prop 17: Auto Insurance Initiative ~ No
Prop 17 is scam that would allow auto insurance companies hike rates on who allow their insurance to lapse. That lapse could be because they forget to renew their insurance or simply because they didn’t have a car for an extended period of time (90 days to be exact). This is Mercury Insurance’s $9-million attempt to deny coverage to those who need it most.
San Francisco Propositions
Prop A: Renew parcel tax for schools ~ Yes
Prop A renews a parcel tax to pay for school facilities that is about to expire. The money can only be used for capital improvement projects and nothing else—we like that. If anything this measure doesn’t go far enough. Ideally the tax should be increase to match inflation.
Prop B: Earthquake safety bond ~ Yes
Prop B is a bond to seismically retrofit City building for earthquake safety reasons. The emergency fire cistern system, as well as some firehouses and police stations are among the structures that would receive safety upgrades.
Prop C: Charter Amendment for Film Commission ~ Yes
Prop C would revamp the film commission by splitting the appointments to the Film Commission between the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors. Prop C would also diversify the commission by requiring representation from community groups, and film industry workers.
Prop D: Charter Amendment for Retirement Costs ~ Yes
Retirement costs are threatening to bankrupt the City. Prop D would make City employees (including police and fire) pay a larger share for their retirement benefits, requiring them to contribute 9 percent to their pension, a two-percent increase. It would also eliminate a practice that the SFPD and others have been using to bolster their retirement payouts. This is a first step on a long walk to fiscal solvency.
Prop E: Budget Line Item for Police Security ~ Yes
Honestly, can somebody tell us why this is even on the ballot? Prop E would require the police department disclose how much they spend on security for elected officials and visiting dignitaries. It calls for transparency, nothing more. City Hall should already have made this information available. Why would anyone oppose this, is Mayor Newsom and his security detail attending a wedding in Montana again?
Prop F: Renters Hardship ~ Yes
Times are tough. Prop F addresses that by letting tenants with financial difficulties apply for temporary protection from rent increases. Tenants who are unemployed, on social security or disability, or had their wages cut by 20 percent would be eligible for such protection.
Prop G: Transbay Terminal ~ Yes
Prop G would official designate the Transbay Terminal as the northern terminus for California’s High Speed Rail. But really, does this even matter? Construction probably won’t begin for another ten years.