Each year I prepare a slate card for my friends so we can debate how to vote here in San Francisco (and beyond). Here’s what I have so far… I’d love your input (I’ll post comments people submit to me below)–
San Francisco Offices
Board of Supervisors, District 3: Aaron Peskin
(most important race on the ballot, please vote if you’re in this district!)
Mayor: NOT Ed Lee (rank 1: Francisco Herrera, rank 2: Amy Farah Weiss)
Sheriff: Ross Mirkarimi (rank 1)
City Attorney: Dennis Herrera (only candidate)
District Attorney: George Gascon (only candidate)
Treasurer: Jose Cisneros (only candidate)
Community College Board: Wendy Aragon
San Francisco Propositions
Proposition A: Yes (affordable housing)
Proposition B: Yes (city employee parental leave)
Proposition C: No (remove grassroots organization requirement)
Proposition D: Yes (good compromise with commitment to 40% affordable housing, more than any other private project in SF history)
Proposition E: Yes (broadcast city meetings on Internet, permit comment by Internet)
Proposition F: Yes (regulate short-term rentals to protect SF rental housing stock)
Proposition G: No (even PGE doesn’t want this anymore)
Proposition H: Yes (local clean energy whenever possible)
Proposition I: Yes (temporarily halt non-affordable-housing development projects to create housing stabilization plan for the Mission)
Proposition J: Yes (preserve legacy businesses and non-profits)
Proposition K: Yes (expands affordable housing)
I agree with almost everything here, but not on prop F. We need regulation to be enforced on short term rentals – this proposition does that, sort of, but mostly is just a punitive measure written to harm short term hosts and by association the platforms they use. And we would have to wait for another election and another proposition to make any changes to it. Voting no.
Generally, I agree, as always. I do have a few concerns to express:
Board of Supervisors, District 3: Aaron Peskin has proven himself to be a real pain in the neck and not worthy of your vote. I realize some people think he’s more progressive, but I still don’t think that makes him a good law maker. Please read about why people think Aaron Peskin is a bad choice.
Mayor: NOT Ed Lee (rank 1: Francisco Herrera, rank 2: Amy Farah Weiss) Agree we need to tell the Mayor NO! (And I’m glad you recommended who to rank.)
Sheriff: Ross Mirkarimi (rank 1): I’m very concerned about Mirkarimi’s track record, and he does not deserve to be re-elected. Anyone else better? I’m not sure, but I have trouble supporting him. Why do you feel he’s good?
Community College Board: Wendy Aragon; I don’t know Wendy but there’s a gay candidate as well, so you might want to look into that.
San Francisco Propositions: I mostly appreciate your perspective, but for a minority report on a few issues…
Proposition E: is opposed by most groups who are concerned that anyone can send prerecorded videos and flood a hearing. My understanding is all of those videos would need to be played before anyone who shows up for the hearing gets to speak, making it even more difficult to be heard and making hearings last longer into the night. Nothing prevents recorded videos, letters, messages from getting to decision makers today, but to require they all be played at the meeting seems like an invitation to abuse the privilege and make it difficult for others to be heard.
Proposition I: Yes (temporarily halt non-affordable-housing development projects to create housing stabilization plan for the Mission): I’m not sure this will do any good, and in general if we stop building housing and expect prices to come down, it seems unlikely. However, if you really think the Mission is going to take this time to come up with plans to support its culture and increase lower and middle income housing, it’s worth a try. Is anyone serious about the planning process though? Has anyone started this discussion instead of just band standing for or against the moratorium?
I will not vote for Mirkarimi. It would be an endorsement of domestic violence.
Corey, through some bug, I didn’t get this comment and two others until just now. I apologize for the delay in posting, especially since it’s now after the election. 🙁
Seth, through some bug, I didn’t get this comment and two others until just now. I apologize for the delay in posting, especially since it’s now after the election. 🙁
Kristy, through some bug, I didn’t get this comment and two others until just now. I apologize for the delay in posting, especially since it’s now after the election. 🙁