Vote YES on Prop B for Safer Roadways, Better Transit Access, and More Shelter for Vulnerable Populations
/
The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters (SFLCV) endorses a YES vote on Proposition B – Community Health and Medical Facilities, Street Safety, Public Spaces, and Shelter to Reduce Homelessness Bond. A YES vote will help secure critical funds for infrastructure upgrades that will improve biking and pedestrian safety, access to transit hubs on Market Street, and housing for unsheltered individuals and families. Together, these initiatives will make San Francisco a denser and more accessible city that is less reliant on carbon-emitting automobiles. Additionally, the proposition would provide funding that will improve a variety of health centers in the city.
If approved, Proposition B will allow San Francisco to borrow up to $390 million by issuing a general obligation bond. About 46% of the bond funds will be used for the following items:
Up to $63,900,000 to implement street safety projects citywide, which will include projects on the High Injury Network. These will involve improving pedestrian, biking, and traffic safety by repairing, constructing and improving transportation infrastructure and equipment, including traffic signal upgrades, constructing and redesigning streets and sidewalks, and multimodal streetscape projects.
Up to $41,000,000 to improve accessibility, transit access, and pedestrian experience near Powell and Market.
Up to $25,000,000 to improve accessibility, safety, and design at Harvey Milk Plaza (plaza outside of Castro Muni Station).
Up to $50,000,000 to acquire, construct, finance, or improve shelter or interim housing sites to reduce unsheltered homelessness, particularly for families.
The remainder of the bond will be reserved for public health centers across San Francisco that deliver a variety of services and activities that many residents rely on:
Up to $71,100,000 to seismically retrofit and renovate the Chinatown Public Health Center.
Up to $28,000,000 to acquire and improve property for the relocation of the City Clinic.
Up to $66,000,000 to make critical repairs and renovations to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and to Laguna Honda Hospital.
Up to $40,000,000 in seismic upgrades at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
Up to $5,000,000 to rehab and modernize park infrastructure and improve active recreational spaces.
The estimated average property tax rate for these bonds throughout the debt service period is $6.90 per $100,000 of assessed property value. Following San Francisco’s current debt management policy, the bond will be issued as older ones are retired and it is not expected to increase the overall property tax rate for SF residents above current levels.
The bond has unanimous support from the Mayor and Board of Supervisors, who put it on the ballot. Investing in road safety measures will bring San Francisco closer to meeting its Vision Zero safety goal to eliminate traffic deaths across the city. Road safety remains a barrier that discourages residents from walking and biking. The access improvements at transit hubs along Market Street will include enhancements for pedestrians and will make it easier for people to use public transit instead of driving. San Francisco is also in dire need of new shelter and housing, especially for our most economically vulnerable populations. Building interim housing for the unsheltered in a dense, transit-rich city like San Francisco helps avoid sprawl from building in other areas that have a higher carbon footprint.
For all these reasons and the other public health benefits included in this proposition, SFLCV urges you to vote YES on Prop B!