Randy's Guide 5-7-8: General Election

 

California's deadline for voter registration online or postmarked is October 19. Do it today at https://registertovote.ca.gov. You can also same-day register in person while voting at a polling location.

In San Francisco, early voting started in front of Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (99 Grove St). Polling center hours are 8am-5pm weekdays, as well as 10am-4pm for the two weekends prior to Election Day. You can check your polling location or wait time at https://sfelections.org/tools/map_poll_time.

Election Day is November 3... less than three weeks away! Polls will be open 7am-8pm. As long as you are in line at 8pm, you will be permitted to vote. You can drop off your mail-in ballot at any polling location within your registered county. A mailed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day for it to be countable.

The State ballot is long. The SF and CA election books are over 300 pages combined! Besides the presidential and House races, there are 12 California propositions, 1 Bay Area measure, and 12 SF propositions. Six of 11 SF Supervisor districts, half of State Senate districts, all State Assembly districts, and other local positions are up for a vote.

- 12 State Measures -

Proposition 14: Stem Cell Research

Authorize $5.5 billion in bonds to continue funding for stem cell research.

YES: CA Democratic Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom; Rep. Nancy Pelosi; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu; SF Mayor London Breed; Bay Area Reporter; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Equality CA; SF AIDS Foundation; SF Chamber of Commerce; United Auto Workers

NO: CA Republican Party; CA Green Party; CA Libertarian Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; SF Chronicle; LA Times; OC Register; SF Bay Guardian; CA Nurses; SPUR

Proposition 15: Commercial Property Tax Increase

Adjust most commercial property tax rates to current market value, instead of purchase price, to help fund education.

YES: CA Democratic Party; CA Green Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom; Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden; VT Sen. Bernie Sanders; Mayor London Breed; SF Chronicle; LA Times; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; CA Nurses; CA Teachers; Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative; SEIU CA; Sierra Club; SPUR

NO: CA Republican Party; CA Libertarian Party; former Gov. Pete Wilson; OC Register; CA American Legion; CA Chamber of Commerce; CA Craft Brewers Association; CA Farm Bureau Federation; Public Storage; SF Chinatown Merchants Association

Proposition 16: Affirmative Action

Repeal Proposition 209 (1996) to allow race, sex, and ethnicity as factors for public schools, employment, or contracts.

YES: CA Democratic Party; CA Green Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom; Sen. Kamala Harris; Sen. Dianne Feinstein; Rep. Nancy Pelosi; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu; SF Mayor London Breed; LA Mayor Eric Garcetti; former Presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg and Tom Steyer; SF Chronicle; LA Times; San Jose Mercury News; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; ACLU; CA Teachers; Equality CA; Golden State Warriors; Kaiser Permanente; Japanese American Citizens League; PG&E; SEIU CA; SF Chamber of Commerce; SPUR

NO: CA Republican Party; CA Libertarian Party; former UC Regent Ward Connerly; OC Register; Wall Street Journal; Asian-American Coalition for Education

Proposition 17: Voter Registration for Paroled

Amend State Constitution to permit those on state parole to register to vote.

YES: CA Democratic Party; CA Green Party; CA Libertarian Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom; SF Chronicle; LA Times; OC Register; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; ACLU; CA Nurses; Sierra Club; SPUR

NO: CA Republican Party; Crime Victims United

Proposition 18: 17-Year-Old Voters in Primary

Amend State Constitution to permit 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the general election to vote in the primary.

YES: CA Democratic Party; CA Green Party; CA Libertarian Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom; SF Chronicle; LA Times; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; CA Nurses; SF Bike Coalition; SPUR

NO: CA Republican Party; San Jose Mercury News; OC Register

Proposition 19: Homeowner Property Tax Adjustment

Permit certain homeowners to transfer their original home's property tax base value to a replacement home, and adjust tax benefits on property transfers.

YES: CA Democratic Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom; State Sen. Scott Wiener; Bay Area Reporter; San Diego Union-Tribune; CA Firefighters; CA Nurses; CA Realtors; SPUR

NO: CA Libertarian Party; SF Chronicle; LA Times; OC Register; San Jose Mercury News; SF Bay Guardian

Proposition 20: Tougher Criminal Penalties

Limit parole access, authorize felony charges for certain theft misdemeanors, and require DNA samples for certain misdemeanors.

YES: CA Republican Party; State Asm. Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove); San Diego Union-Tribune; Albertsons Safeway; CA Correctional Peace Officers

NO: CA Democratic Party; CA Green Party; CA Libertarian Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; SF Chronicle; LA Times; OC Register; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; ACLU; CA Nurses; CA Teachers; Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative; SEIU CA; SPUR

Proposition 21: Rent Control Expansion

Permit local governments to establish rent control on older properties.

YES: CA Democratic Party; CA Green Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; VT Sen. Bernie Sanders; Rep. Barbara Lee; State Asm. David Chiu; LA Times; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; ACLU; AIDS Healthcare Foundation; CA Nurses; SEIU CA; Sierra Club

NO: CA Republican Party; CA Libertarian Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom; SF Chronicle; OC Register; San Jose Mercury News; Avalonbay Communities; CA Builders Alliance; CA Chamber of Commerce; CA Electrical Workers; CA Veterans of Foreign Wars; NAACP; SPUR

Proposition 22: Exemption for App-Based Transportation Companies

Overturn State law to classify drivers for app-based rideshare and delivery companies as independent contractors with certain benefits.

YES: CA Republican Party; CA Libertarian Party; SF Chronicle; OC Register; San Jose Mercury News; CA Chamber of Commerce; CA Police Officers; DoorDash; Lyft; Postmates; Uber; Mothers Against Drunk Driving; NAACP; Nisei Farmers League

NO: CA Democratic Party; CA Green Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; former Vice President Joe Biden; Sen. Kamala Harris; MA Sen. Elizabeth Warren; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu; LA Times; NY Times; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; CA Nurses; CA Teachers; SEIU; Sierra Club; SF Bike Coalition; SPUR

Proposition 23: Kidney Dialysis Regulation

Add regulations to the operation of outpatient kidney dialysis clinics.

YES: CA Democratic Party; CA Green Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; SEIU

NO: CA Republican Party; CA Libertarian Party; SF Chronicle; LA Times; OC Register; San Jose Mercury News; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; CA Chamber of Commerce; CA Medical Association; CA Veterans of Foreign Wars; DaVita; SPUR

Proposition 24: Consumer Privacy Laws

Change the regulation of consumer personal information.

YES: CA Peace and Freedom Party; State Controller Betty Yee; State Asm. David Chiu; former Presidential candidate Andrew Yang; LA Times; CA Firefighters; NAACP

NO: CA Republican Party; CA Green Party; CA Libertarian Party; SF Chronicle; OC Register; San Jose Mercury News; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; ACLU; CA Nurses; LA Chamber of Commerce

Proposition 25: Replacement of Money Bail System

Replace money bail system with one based on flight risk and public safety.

YES: CA Democratic Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom; Rep. Barbara Lee; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Assm. David Chiu; Clippers' owner Steve Ballmer; SF Chronicle; LA Times; OC Register; San Jose Mercury News; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; CA Federation of Teachers; CA Nurses; SEIU CA; Sierra Club; SPUR

NO: CA Republican Party; CA Green Party; Aladdin Bail Bonds; CA Peace Officers; NAACP

1 Regional Measure:

Measure RR: Caltrain Sales Tax

Increase sales taxes in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties by 0.125% to preserve and expand Caltrain service. Requires 2/3 vote to pass.

YES: SF Democratic Party; Sen. Dianne Feinstein; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; Mayor London Breed; San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo; SF Chronicle; San Jose Mercury News; Bay Area Reporter; SF Chamber of Commerce; SF Bike Coalition; SF Giants; Sierra Club; SPUR

NO: SF Green Party

12 Local Measures:

Proposition A: Quality of Life

Issue $487.5 billion in bonds to fund mental health facilities, supportive housing, parks, streets, and plazas. Requires 2/3 vote to pass.

YES: SF Democratic Party; Sen. Dianne Feinstein; Rep. Nancy Pelosi; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; Mayor London Breed; all 11 Board of Supervisors; SF Chronicle; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; Sing Tao Daily; Boys & Girls Clubs SF; SF Bike Coalition; SF Chamber of Commerce; Sierra Club; SPUR; Walk SF

NO: SF Republican Party; SF Green Party; SF Libertarian Party

Proposition B: Department of Sanitation and Streets

Shift some Department of Public Works duties, such as cleaning sidewalks and maintaining public restrooms, to a new Department of Sanitation and Streets. Create two new commissions to oversee both departments.

YES: SF Democratic Party; SF Green Party; District Attorney Chesa Boudin; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021; SF Bike Coalition; Sierra Club

NO: SF Republican Party; SF Libertarian Party; SF Chronicle; SPUR

Proposition C: Removal of Citizenship Requirement for City Commissions

Remove requirement for citizenship and voter registration to serve on SF commissions, boards, and advisory bodies.

YES: SF Democratic Party; SF Green Party; SF Libertarian Party; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; La Raza Community Resource Center; SF Bike Coalition; SPUR

NO: SF Republican Party; SF Chronicle

Proposition D: Sheriff Oversight

Create new Office of Inspector General and Oversight Board to monitor, investigate, and provide recommendations for changes in the Sheriff's Department.

YES: SF Democratic Party; SF Green Party; SF Libertarian Party; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu; District Attorney Chesa Boudin; SF Chronicle; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021; SF Bike Coalition; SPUR

NO: SF Republican Party

Proposition E: Police Staffing

Remove minimum SFPD staffing requirements in place since 1994.

YES: SF Democratic Party; SF Libertarian Party; SF Chronicle; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021; SF Bike Coalition; Sierra Club; SPUR

NO: SF Republican Party; SF Green Party

Proposition F: Business Tax Overhaul

Alter business taxes, including the elimination of the payroll expense tax and an increase in the gross receipts tax rate for larger businesses.

YES: SF Democratic Party; SF Green Party; Mayor London Breed; all 11 Board of Supervisors; SF Chronicle; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; Glide Foundation; SEIU 1021; SF Bike Coalition; Sierra Club; SPUR

NO: SF Libertarian Party; SF Chamber of Commerce

Proposition G: Youth Voting in Local Elections

Lower the age for U.S. citizens voting on local candidates and ballot measures to 16.

YES: SF Democratic Party; SF Green Party; Mayor London Breed; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021; SF Bike Coalition; SPUR

NO: SF Republican Party; SF Chronicle

Proposition H: Neighborhood Commercial Districts

Increase and speed up implementation of permissible uses in Planning Code.

YES: SF Democratic Party; SF Republican Party; SF Libertarian Party; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; Mayor London Breed; SF Chronicle; Bay Area Reporter; Sing Tao Daily; Golden Gate Restaurant Association; SF Bike Coalition; SF Chamber of Commerce; SPUR

NO: SF Green Party; SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021

Proposition I: Real Estate Transfer Tax

Increase transfer taxes on the sale or lease of long-term real estate valued at least $10 million.

YES: SF Democratic Party; SF Green Party; State Asm. Phil Ting; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021; Sierra Club; SF Bike Coalition; SF Tenants Union

NO: SF Republican Party; SF Libertarian Party; SF Chronicle; Golden Gate Restaurant Association; SF Chamber of Commerce; SF Firefighters; SPUR; Vanguard Property Management

Proposition J: Parcel Tax

Lower annual parcel tax, but expand to include those aged 65 or older, for spending on SFUSD. Requires 2/3 vote to pass.

YES: SF Democratic Party; Sen. Dianne Feinstein; State Sen. Scott Wiener; Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; Mayor London Breed; all 11 Board of Supervisors; Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff; SF Chronicle; Bay Area Reporter; SEIU 1021; SF Bay Guardian; Sierra Club; SPUR

NO: SF Republican Party; SF Green Party; SF Libertarian Party

Proposition K: Affordable Housing Authorization

Permit SF to own, acquire, and develop up to 10,000 units of affordable rental housing.

YES: SF Democratic Party; SF Green Party; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting;  all 11 Board of Supervisors; SF Chronicle; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; Sing Tao Daily; Coalition on Homelessness; SEIU 1021; SF Bike Coalition; Sierra Club; SPUR

NO: SF Republican Party; SF Libertarian Party

Proposition L: Business Tax Increase for Companies with Unequal Pay

Pay additional tax if top executive's pay is more than 100 times the median compensation paid to employees.

YES: SF Democratic Party; SF Green Party; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; District Attorney Chesa Boudin; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021; Sierra Club

NO: SF Republican Party; SF Libertarian Party; SF Chronicle; SF Chamber of Commerce