YES > Prop D: Non-Citizen Voting in School Board Elections
This measure would allow noncitizens to vote in San Francisco Unified School District local school board elections, mostly by absentee ballot. It enables immigrant parents of the city’s students to have a say in issues impacting their children’s education and follows precedents set in other cities around the country.
YES > Prop E: Election Day Voter Registration
This measure would allow people to register to vote on any day up to and including election day for municipal elections. The project has been carried out successfully in other states and has increased voter turnout for municipal elections. This would increase turnout for elections that typically see lower voter turnout.
YES > Prop I: Saturday Voting
The measure would require the city to open around 400 satellite voting centers for the November 2011 Municipal elections on the Saturday preceding the elections. There would be fund set up to cover the cost of the centers so there would be no additional charge to the city. The performance of these centers would then be evaluated to determine future Saturday voting options. This measure makes it easier for working families to make it out to vote in elections.
YES > Prop J: Hotel Tax Clarification and Temporary Increase
This is a ballot measure to impose a 2 percent of rent surcharge on all hotel rooms in the city of San Francisco in order to generate money for the general fund. The surcharge is to be increased from the current 14 percent to 16 percent total. Many nonprofits around the city support the measure with the hope that creating more revenue in the general fund will prevent further cuts to social services, including housing and healthcare programs.
NO > Prop K: Hotel Tax Clarification and Definitions
Reading ballot measures can confuse voters. That is just what Prop K does. While it sounds initially like good policy, it would effectively block Prop J, the Hotel Tax Increase, from going into effect. El Tecolote mistakenly recommended to voters in its print edition to vote for Prop K but now urges voters to vote NO on Prop K.
NO > Prop L: Sitting or Lying on the Sidewalks
This ballot measure would make it illegal for any person to sit or lie down on a public sidewalk or object placed on a sidewalk between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., citations ranging from $50 to $100 for the first infraction will be issued; subsequent infractions will yield $300 to $500 citations of up to 10 days in jail. The proposition would effectively criminalize homeless people and target day laborers around the city and should be voted against as there are already laws on the books addressing public spaces.
YES > Prop M: Community Policing and Foot Patrols
This measure was proposed in response to Proposition L and is introduced as a counter-measure. It requires that police establish and maintain foot patrols to assure that public spaces are safe. A pilot program has already been tested to wide acclaim; this proposition mandates that police adopt a comprehensive community policing policy within 6 months of its passage.
YES > Prop N: Real Property Transfer Tax
This ballot measure increases the rates of property transfer taxes paid on properties throughout the city in order to create more revenue for the city’s general fund. The fees for any written document relating to a transfer of properties are to be increased. Rent-restricted affordable housing is exempted.