June 2018: Vote YES on Prop B - Charter Amendment

Proposition B - Charter Amendment: Appointed Board and Commission Members Seeking Elected Office

Summary of the Measure:

Proposition B will amend the San Francisco City Charter to provide that appointed members of City boards and commissions forfeit their offices upon filing a declaration of candidacy for state or local elected office. There are three exceptions to the forfeiture requirement. First, it does not apply to appointed members of a citizen advisory committee. Second, an official that is appointed to an otherwise elected position is not subject to the forfeiture requirement if they choose to run for the office to which they were appointed. And, third, the requirement does not apply to elected officials in general. Additional information can be found on the Department of Elections website. 

The measure is sponsored by Supervisors Peskin, Kim, Safai, and Yee.

SFLCV’s Position:

Prop B is meant to eliminate any possible conflicts of interest created when an appointed board or commission member runs for elected office. It has been a long-standing practice in San Francisco for appointed members of City boards or commissions to step down from their appointed position upon announcing their candidacy for an elected office. Prop B memorializes this tradition in the City Charter and advances good government.

Vote YES on Proposition B! 

June 2018: Vote YES on Regional Measure 3

Voters in each of the nine Bay Area counties will consider Regional Measure 3 (RM3) on June 5, 2018.  If approved by a majority of voters in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties, toll revenues would be used to finance a $4.45 billion slate of highway and transit improvements with the primary goal of reducing traffic congestion and improve transportation options throughout the San Francisco Bay Area’s state-owned toll bridge corridors. Voter approval of RM3 would raise tolls on the region's state-owned toll bridges by $1 beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Tolls would rise by another $1 in January 2022 with another $1 increase in January 2025.  Key Benefits:

• RM3 plans ahead and will make vital transportation improvements to address the impact of growth before it makes traffic worse.

• It will relieve traffic congestion by bringing the region’s public transit system into the 21st century - modernizing, connecting and expanding their existing rail, buses, and ferries.

• It will connect BART and other commuter rail services; increase ferry service; and improve connections between buses, trains, and bikes so that many can get to work, school and home more quickly.

• Emphasis on transit, bike and ped investments will help improve the region’s air quality.

Previous RM1 and RM2 helped fund major regional transit projects including eBART, Warm Spring Extension, Transbay Terminal, regional ferry vessels, and SMART Rail Extension.  This time, RM3 will allocate 75% of funding toward transportation/bike/ped projects, including:

• Purchasing new BART cars to run more frequent trains and reduce crowding.

• Improve transbay bus service and carpool access to improve commute times across bridges.

• Purchasing new San Francisco MUNI trains and buses to expand service, reduce crowding, and improve reliability.

• Developing and transitioning to the next generation of the Clipper transit card to support a universal, seamless public transit fare payment system.

• Planning and designing a second transbay rail crossing to provide additional capacity for BART and other rail service.

• Extending Caltrain to the Transbay Transit Center in downtown San Francisco.

• Building new ferry terminals, upgrading ferry facilities and buying more boats.

• Generate approx. $150M for regional bike/ped improvements.

RM3 will continue to mandate strong taxpayer safeguards, including independent financial audits with citizen oversight and setting performance standards that every transit agency must meet to ensure they get funding. It even creates a Transportation Inspector General to oversee audits and conduct investigations of how the money is spent. This will hold elected leaders accountable to spend funds as promised in the categories explicitly described in the measure.

Many of the projects in the RM3 program will serve EJ communities throughout the region. Opportunities for community input will be available at the regional level as part of the citizen’s oversight committee, and at the local level as part of each project as it goes from planning to implementation.

Finally, there is a strong nexus that increasing the cost of driving will shift more people to public and active transportation.  The toll increase will do just that, and the RM3 investments in transit, biking and walking will help accommodate this shift. As the region continues to grow, ongoing investments to transit, biking and walking are critical to keeping the region moving and thriving for everyone at all income levels.  For these reasons, the SFLCV endorses RM3.

June 2018 Mayoral Endorsement: #1 Mark Leno #2 Jane Kim #3 London Breed

As environmentalists, we at the San Francisco League of Conservation Voters are appalled by the Trump administration’s continued assault on the environment. However, California's leading role in confronting and countering disastrous federal policies is a bright spot in dark times.

At the local level, in the fast-approaching mayoral election, we find San Francisco in a strong position, as all three front-runners in the race have real environmental credentials. We can honestly say we would look forward to working with any of their administrations to advance the causes of climate protection, sustainable transportation, dense and affordable housing, clean energy, water conservation, and natural resource protection.

In that light, the San Francisco League of Conservation Voters is pleased to endorse, in ranked-choice order, 1. Mark Leno, 2. Jane Kim, and 3. London Breed.

#1 Mark Leno

We are proud to endorse Senator Mark Leno as our first choice for mayor of San Francisco. He is the strongest environmental leader on the ballot as well as the most proven administrator and politician, excelling in each office he has held, from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, to the State Assembly, and most recently, the State Senate.

The sheer breadth of Leno’s environmental work over the past decades has been remarkable, from sponsoring the 2001 resolution for the first permanent bike lane on Valencia Street and authoring San Francisco’s first inclusionary housing ordinance in 2002, to getting SB350 passed in 2015. SB 350 set the nation’s highest standards for fighting climate change with state  goals to increase electricity production from renewables to 50% by 2050 and to double energy efficiency in buildings by 2030. He also co-authored the Complete Streets Act in 2007 to build streets for walking and biking as well as driving. He has a nuanced understanding of sustainable transportation policy and a commitment to freedom from fossil fuels. His work on a wide range of environmental issues including toxic flame-retardant chemical reform, pesticide ingredient disclosure, fracking moratoriums, clean water, renewable energy, methane gas emission reduction, community-choice power, and combating ocean acidification have been exemplary.

While other Sacramento stalwarts have returned home and been capable mayors (whether we agreed with them or not), our greatest questions regarding a Leno administration are whether he is prepared for the changes in San Francisco politics since his tenure on the Board of Supervisors and for the contentious melee of City Hall. We are counting on his experience and his energy, and we believe he is up to the challenge.

#2 Jane Kim

Supervisor Jane Kim, our second choice, has championed a number of important environmental causes and is notable as the only candidate in the race (so far) who has shared a detailed transportation plan. Her leadership on Vision Zero, the ongoing effort to reduce vehicle-related deaths on city streets to zero, has been critical. She is the only candidate who has publicly backed congestion pricing for San Francisco, demonstrating her ability for authoring bold new initiatives. This type of innovative transportation policy is perhaps the most important area where San Francisco can lead the nation in cutting-edge environmental action. Additionally, Kim has been a tireless champion for building affordable housing, a cornerstone in maintaining thriving, dense urban centers as a primary means to combat suburban sprawl and climate change.

While Kim brings a keen intelligence and a passion for progressive causes, she remains unproven in managing a bureaucracy as large and cumbersome as San Francisco’s. Because Kim has proven herself in every office she’s held to date, we believe she can do the job as mayor.

#3 London Breed

Board of Supervisors President London Breed, our third choice, has impressed us most with her championing CleanPowerSF*, San Francisco’s clean energy program. After the program languished for 12 years, Breed took it upon herself to get CleanPowerSF off the ground, despite a significant effort by PG&E to prevent it, and she has continued to defend and advance this critical clean-energy program. President Breed has also worked on a pharmaceutical take-back program, which helps our wildlife and waterways, and she passed the most far-reaching styrofoam ban in the country, an important step to protect San Francisco Bay and oceans from plastic pollution. We appreciate that she intends to build more homes, including much-needed affordable homes, and is raising funds to do it with initiatives like Proposition D, though we are unhappy about the “poison pill” in that measure. She also passed legislation to purchase new Muni trains and helped establish the popular 5 Rapid line.

We are concerned that President Breed’s coalition remains cozy with many of the businesses interests that have slowed environmental progress over the past three administrations. That said, her track record is strong enough to earn an endorsement.

With these three candidates leading the race for mayor of San Francisco, the San Francisco League of Conservation Voters is optimistic for the next mayoral administration and for our city.

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters is  proud to endorse Senator Mark Leno #1 for Mayor of San Francisco, and endorse Supervisor Jane Kim as #2, and Board of Supervisors President London Breed as #3.

*We regret failing to recognize her environmental leadership on this issue in particular during her 2015 Board of Supervisors campaign when we instead endorsed her opponent.

Thank you for a great Earth Day Celebration!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our 2018 Earth Day Celebration on Wednesday, April 18. It was great fun, and we are thrilled to build on this momentum. Do you feel good about having done something for the environment? We hope so!

For photos from the event, go to this Google album or this album on our SFLCV Facebook page.

We are working on our June election endorsements right now, so stay tuned for the formal announcement. Our research and interviews are designed to help you in the voting booth.

And yes, voting is right around the corner. Please make sure you are registered to vote. Mark your calendar for Election Day on on June 5!

We're working hard on voter education by that deadline — and here's how you can help:

1. Make a donation to support our advocacy and voter education
2. Like us on Facebook and share our posts when they matter to you
3. Join our email list — we promise our emails will be infrequent and important! (Signup is at the bottom of the page)

Thank you again for supporting the all-volunteer efforts of the San Francisco League of Conservation Voters. We support champions of sustainability and smart, effective environmental policy — for everything from the climate, to transportation, housing, energy, waste, public health, and biodiversity.

Thank you to our sponsors:
Amandeep Jawa
BART Board Director Nick Josefowitz
Yin L. Yin & Wilbert Sequeira Sandoval
Tim Chan
Eliet Henderson
Tony Kelly
Lawyers for Clean Water, Inc.
Kristina Pappas & Phillip Davis
Leah Pimentel for School Board
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
Assemblymember Phil Ting
Senator Scott Wiener

Earth Day Celebration April 18

You’re Invited

Join the San Francisco League of Conservation Voters
for a reception to celebrate Earth Day 2018

Wednesday, April 18, 6:00-8:30pm

Remarks by California State Senator Scott Wiener

Covo, 981 Mission Street, between 5th and 6th, near Powell
Refreshments by La Cocina

Click HERE to Purchase Tickets ($35)

Thank you to our sponsors:
Amandeep Jawa
BART Board Director Nick Josefowitz
Yin L. Yin & Wilbert Sequeira Sandoval
Tim Chan
Eliet Henderson
Tony Kelly
Lawyers for Clean Water, Inc.
Kristina Pappas & Phillip Davis
Leah Pimentel for School Board
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
Assemblymember Phil Ting
Senator Scott Wiener

Support the SF League of Conservation Voters at El Rio, 7/21

Hi friends -

We hope you can join us at El Rio for early Happy Hour drinks this Friday July 21st, 2017!  El Rio will donate the proceeds to the SFLCV & we’ll use it to keep fighting the good fight - outreach, our next endorsement slate, and voter education!

Hope to see you then!

RSVP:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/649629675230262

or:
Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sf-league-of-conservation-voters-bar-night-fundraiser-tickets-36017040939

DONATE:
Can’t come? Show your support by sending $5, $10, or $20
via PayPal to sfconvo@gmail.com or by just clicking this link:  http://paypal.me/sflcv

Nov 2016: YES on Prop J and K - Funding to Fix Transit and Fight Homelessness

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters urges you to vote YES on Propositions J & K.  Proposition K will increase our sales tax* to 9.25% & Proposition J would allocate those funds to go to a Homeless Housing and Services Fund and a Transportation Improvement Fund.

Under these proposals, of the 0.75 cent sales tax increase, a quarter-cent will go toward homeless services and a half-cent will go toward transportation system improvements. In the first full year, those amounts are expected to be $47.75 million and $95.5 million, respectively.

In addition to needed homeless services improvements, these measures represent an important investment in our transportation services including MUNI fleet and facilities repair, new BART cars, more complete (pedestrian & bike friendly) streets, and programs like Free Muni for youth.

That said, these measures are far from perfect. Our biggest criticism is that, as this is a sales tax, Prop K is inherently regressive: poorer San Franciscans are impacted more than more affluent ones by raising the cost of everything. A far better way to fund transportation improvements is with a Vehicle License Fee (VLF) which much more fairly taxes the heaviest users of our streets and roadways with their repair and upkeep, especially because the largest portion of these measures' increased funding will go to street repair. The SFLCV will continue to advocate for a VLF.

Housing and transit are two of the most serious issues our community faces. The SFLCV urges you to vote YES on Propositions J & K.

* Proposition K would increase San Francisco’s sales tax by three-quarters of a cent. Because a quarter-cent of the state sales tax will expire January 1, 2017 the actual sales tax rate would change from 8.75 percent currently to 9.25 percent under this proposal – on par with Oakland.

Nov 2016: YES on Prop V: Tax Sugary Soda to Reduce Plastic Pollution, to Reduce GHG Emissions and to Save Water

In 2014, 56% of San Franciscans voted in favor of Prop E, a tax on sugary-sweetened beverages. Although the tax did not meet the 2/3 threshold to pass that was required at that time, garnering the support of 56% of the voting population was a significant achievement, considering the opposition spent over $10 million to defeat it.

Then as now, the San Francisco League of Conservation Voters endorsed the tax on sugary beverages because in addition to the dramatic benefits for human health*, there are also significant benefits for the environment:

1. The manufacture of plastic bottles, glass bottles, and aluminum cans consumes resources, produces pollution, and the containers often enter the waste stream instead of being recycled. According to the EPA, only about 55% of aluminum cans and 34% of glass bottles are recycled.
2. A reduction in the consumption of these beverages, combined with a switch to refillable water bottles, can lower the greenhouse gas emissions that result from the production and distribution of these beverages.
3. A reduction in the consumption of these beverages would also reduce the demand for numerous sugar and sweetening crops, including corn, sugar cane and beet sugar. This has the potential to preserve natural habitat, reduce fertilizer and pesticide use, and to reduce transportation related impacts.
4. In addition, the proponents of this measure intend that the funds raised by this tax also be used to encourage more public water fountains. Public water fountains are a significant way to address the water mining / equity problems that are created by shipping water-based products such as soda and bottled water from one part of the world to another.

Taken together, these reasons are enough to convince us that the Soda Tax is not just good for health, but also good for the environment. Please vote YES on Proposition V.

*A recent study of Berkeley’s soda tax found that consumption of sugary beverages fell 26% (soda) and 36% (sports drinks) while consumption of tap or bottled water rose 63% since the tax took effect in March 2015.

Nov 2016: NO on Prop X - Replacement Space Requirement for Development Projects

If you’re wondering why is the ballot so long this year, you could blame propositions such as this, which considers a planning ordinance that could have passed through the legislative process, but was instead punted to the voters by the Board of Supervisors. We support the intent of Prop X, which aims to protect industrial and arts spaces in the most rapidly changing parts of the City, but would prefer a legislative fix, along with the requisite outreach to impacted groups.

This proposed ordinance would impose requirements for certain developments in the Mission and SOMA, through use of conditional use authorizations from the Planning Commission. Within these areas, developers would be required to replace certain uses (e.g. light industrial and crafts, arts activities or non-profit community space), based on the size of the proposed development and the current zoning designation.

This measure does not consider whether the replacement effort would actually achieve the desired effect of retaining well paying jobs for lower skilled residents or keeping non-profits operating in the City. For instance, would the closure of a refrigerator repair shop in the Mission be replaced by a similar business or something like a drone prototyping facility able to pay market-rate rent? More likely the latter under this one-size fits all scheme. Similarly, there are few guarantees the displaced non-profits and arts centers would be able to return.

Sponsors of this proposition seemed to recognize some issues with this proposed measure and allow changes by a super-majority of the Board of Supervisors. We would prefer they make this call in the first instance, after gauging effectiveness, feasibility and desires of the local communities most affected.

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters recommends NO on Prop X.

Nov 2016: Vote NO on O: No Fast-Tracking Bayview Office Project with Insufficient Housing & Transportation Plans

Proposition O is a response to a measure limiting office development, Prop M, passed by San Francisco voters in 1986. Prop O would grant a waiver to development projects in Candlestick Point and Hunters Point, exempting them from the current citywide limit on office development (950,000 square feet per year). Prop O has been put on the ballot by Lennar, the company leading the redevelopment of the Hunters Point Shipyard. In the current economic climate, citywide, the number of office development proposals far exceeds the Prop M limit, and this would allow more development at the Shipyard, which is currently slated for 5 million square feet of office space.

Some advocates for investment in the Bayview support the measure, and we generally support investment in this under-served neighborhood that benefits existing residents.

However, part of the goal of Prop M in 1986, and a continuing goal for the city, is to make sure new development is supported with sustainable transportation infrastructure, as well as affordable homes for the people who do the jobs it generates. Prop O would fast-track office development in a place where public transit is woefully inadequate.

New jobs -- and homes -- should be built close to public transit in order to reduce car use and ensure the city grows sustainably. But Prop O takes limits off development with no good plan for improving transportation services for the thousands of new workers and residents in the area. There are also additional concerns around delays in community benefit payments and affordable housing development on the site, important components of sustainable development. Prop O is ballot-box planning, not a good government practice, and could set a precedent for more of the same.

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters urges you to vote NO on Measure O.

Nov 2016: YES on Prop T: Ban Gifts from Lobbyists Seeking to Influence Elections

Proposition T would restrict contributions from lobbyists to decision-makers. It bans three things:

1. Lobbyist contributions to those they lobby, modeled on California state law;
2. Lobbyist bundling contributions for those they lobby ("bundling" is the practice of collecting contributions from others & passing them along to a decision-maker); and
3. Gifts, including (to close a loophole) paying for travel through a third party.

Lobbyists would also have to disclose which agency, commission, or official they’re targeting.

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters supports good governance, and this is a measure that will help create a more transparent and democratic process for our city. Vote YES on Measure T.

Nov 2016: NO on Prop U - Affordable Housing Requirements for Market-Rate Projects

The City’s Charter generally requires developers of market-rate housing to provide affordable housing. A developer can meet this requirement in one of three ways:  

1. Pay a fee equal to 17% - 20% of the total units being developed;
2. Make at least 12% of the on-site housing units affordable; or
3. Build new affordable units off-site, equal to 17% - 20% of the total units.

A unit for sale counts toward the on-site requirement if it is affordable to households earning up to 90% of the area median income. A rental unit counts toward the on-site requirement if it is affordable to households earning up to 55% of the area median income.

The City uses federal income standards to determine the maximum allowable rent levels for the affordable units. Generally, a household living in an affordable housing unit pays no more than 30% of its total income on rent. Currently, the monthly rent for a one-bedroom affordable housing unit is $1,121, and the monthly rent for a two-bedroom affordable housing unit is $1,261.

Under Proposition U, a rental unit would count toward the affordable housing requirement if it is affordable to households earning up to 110% of the area median income, double the current cutoff. This means, a household could pay up to $2,241 for a one-bedroom affordable rental unit and up to $2,521 for a two-bedroom affordable rental unit.

As a result, developers would be tempted to rent only to households approaching 110% of the area median income to maximize their income, leaving out lower income households who need affordable housing the most.

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters suggests NO on Prop U.

Nov 2016: NO on Prop P - Competitive Bidding for Affordable Housing Projects on City-Owned Property

The City provides financing to developers to build new affordable housing and rehabilitate existing affordable housing on City-owned property. The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) administers most of these programs. MOHCD posts a description of the proposed project on its website and invites developers to submit proposals. Because building and managing affordable housing projects offer lower potential profits than market-rate projects, these projects attract proposals from fewer developers.

MOHCD describes the criteria they will use to select a proposal, which generally include the anticipated cost to the City, how much experience the developer has with similar projects, the feasibility of the developer’s proposal, the quality of the developer’s design, and the extent to which the proposal meets community needs. After the deadline for submissions, MOHCD applies the evaluation criteria to select a proposal.

Proposition P would require MOHCD to receive at least three proposals for the project and accept the proposal with the “best value.” Currently, MOHCD may select a qualified developer to proceed with an affordable housing project, even if it receives fewer than three proposals. If Prop P passes, the City could not proceed with an affordable housing project if MOHCD receives fewer than three proposals.

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters believes that this requirement would reduce the development of affordable housing and make the city’s housing crisis worse. Please vote NO on Prop P.

Nov 2016: NO on Prop L - Charter amendment changing appointments to the MTA Board and MTA Budget approval

Currently, the Mayor appoints all 7 members of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) Board and the Supervisors confirm these appointments. Proposition L amends the process such that 4 of the 7 members of the MTA Board would nominated by the Mayor and the remaining 3 by the Board of Supervisors, all of whom would still be confirmed by the Supervisors.

In addition, the amendment allows the Supervisors to reject but not modify the MTA's budget by simple majority, rather than by 7 of the 11, as now. If the Supervisors reject the budget, it would have to fund MTA sufficiently to maintain all operations at the level of June 30 of the prior fiscal year. The amendment does not otherwise change the budgetary or financial responsibilities or authority of the MTA Board. 

SFLCV has two major concerns about Prop L:

1. The MTA is constrained by many who do not want to give up lanes and parking spots for street changes that improve pedestrian, cyclist and motorist safety. Such improvements include sidewalk widening and curb extensions, Muni boarding platforms and protected bike lanes, which would contribute towards achieving Vision Zero reductions in deaths from collisions. District Supervisors represent local interests and are more likely to appoint those from their districts who rate parking places over safety changes. The Mayor reports to all San Franciscans and is more likely to appoint strong Board members.
2. Prop L would reduce the current requirement of a supermajority (7 of 11 Supervisors) to reject the MTA budget to a simple majority, thus making it easier for Supervisors to hold the MTA budget hostage to local interests.

Prop L would make transit planning more vulnerable to political meddling. The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters urges you to vote NO on Prop L.

Nov 2016: YES on Prop C - Loans to Finance Acquisition and Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing

A sustainable community provides a healthy environment for its residents, and this includes safe, affordable housing. On November 3, 1992, voters of the City and County of San Francisco approved the issuance of up to $350 M of General Obligation Bonds for a Seismic Safety Loan Program to provide loans for the seismic strengthening of unreinforced masonry buildings. Since then, the City has issued approximately $95.3 M in loans, and there remains approximately $254.7 M of unused bond capacity under this loan program.

Proposition C amends the authorized use of these bond funds, by:

1. Providing loans to finance the costs to acquire, improve, and rehabilitate and convert at-risk multi-unit residential buildings to permanent affordable housing.
2. Performing needed seismic, fire, health, and safety upgrades and other major rehabilitation for habitability.

It comes as no surprise that Prop C has received broad support from all 11 of the District Supervisors. The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters agrees: Please vote Yes on Proposition C.

Nov 2016: YES on Prop E: Support Healthy Trees and Safe Sidewalks

San Francisco has one of the smallest tree canopies of any major US city. Not only do trees help fight climate change globally by taking up carbon, they help us manage climate change with shade and insulation. Trees also make for a more walkable, livable and sustainable city.

Current city policy exacerbates our lack of trees by requiring property owners to maintain most street trees, and fix sidewalks buckled by trees, whether or not they have the resources to do it. Existing trees are harmed because of this policy, which also discourages people from planting new trees.

Proposition E fixes these problems in two ways:

1. Prop E transfers responsibility for street and sidewalk maintenance back to the City.
2. Prop E dedicates funds for tree care by setting aside $19 million per year from the City’s General Fund.

These dedicated funds include a specific allocation of $500,000 per year toward San Francisco Unified for tree maintenance at public schools. Until now, there has been little or no funding to support such efforts to create a safe, green, and pleasant environment for children, teachers, and staff.

It also includes enough funding to maintain 50,000 new trees. Prop E does not put money toward planting new trees, but there are many sources for that funding. Maintenance is the missing piece.

Though budget set-asides are not always a good government practice, there are times when they are an effective way to fund important city priorities that often lose out in budget battles.

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters strongly supports Prop E for a greener, healthier city. Vote Yes on Proposition E.

Nov 2016: YES on Prop RR - BART Safety, Reliability and Traffic Relief

It is no secret that BART is struggling.  An aging system, coupled with enormous ridership surges, is contributing to capacity challenges and system delays. BART has identified $5B of capital investments to bring the systems into the 21st century and to meet future growth and demand.

Proposition RR will go a long way toward addressing these problems. The $3.5B bond will focus on replacing or upgrading core operational components of BART’s existing system that include new train control and signals, electrical system, track replacement and tunnel repair. Additional funds will go toward improving crowding and accessibility, such as escalator upgrades.

Currently, BART moves on average 450,000 people throughout the region every single day. When BART experiences major systemwide delays and shutdowns, that impact is felt by everyone. It is also a major contributor to the economic vitality and quality of life for the City of San Francisco and the Bay Area region. A safe, reliable transit system that is able to serve a growing population is fundamental to a healthy environment and its residents.

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters endorses YES on Prop RR.

June 2016: Vote Yes on Prop B for Better, Sustainable Parks

SFLCV’s Position

In San Francisco, we love our parks, and in this dense city, we depend on them to act as our backyards and living rooms too. Excellent parks are a critical part of a sustainable city. But San Francisco’s parks are suffering after years of shrinking funding. The SF League of Conservation Voters supports Proposition B, which would renew the city’s Open Space Fund to bring in an estimated $1 billion over 30 years for city parks, without raising taxes.

Vote YES on Prop B on June 7, 2016.

Summary of the Measure

The Sustainable Parks Funding measure, or Proposition B, is a city charter amendment that would renew the Open Space Fund first passed by San Francisco voters in 2000. That fund is set to expire in 15 years; this measure would extend it through 2045-46 and would gradually increase over time from the current level.

Measure B was placed on the ballot by Supervisor Mark Farrell and supported by Supervisors Avalos, Breed, Campos, Cohen, Farrell, Kim, Mar, Wiener, and Yee. The measure enjoys broad support.

Reasons to support Prop B

A crisis in funding

Over time, park maintenance funding in San Francisco has dwindled. In lean years, the City cut the park budget; in good years, that funding has not been restored. This has led to a crisis situation: today, according to the SF Parks Alliance, the vast majority of park maintenance funds are going to emergency repairs. That’s unsustainable, both economically and environmentally.

Though San Francisco voters have generously approved bond measures for parks in 2012 and 2008, these are only for capital improvements. By state law, bond funds cannot go toward maintenance, the day-in day-out attention that keeps our parks clean, green, and safe for everyone.

A sustainable solution

Proposition B builds upon the Open Space Fund passed by voters in 2000, which aimed to provide a sustainable funding source for parks. Proposition B will ensure the City’s General Fund set-aside for the Recreation and Parks Department cannot fall below 2015-16 funding levels, gradually increases over time, and ensures stable funding for the next 30 years through 2045-46.

Clear plans, and more equitable investment

The measure would require the Recreation and Parks Department to set goals and measures, develop a five-year strategic plan, and set annual operation and capital spending plans. These plans would also have to include a new equity analysis, comparing existing Recreation and Park services and resources in under-served communities with those in the City as a whole. The plans would have to include strategies to address the findings of the analysis. These annual plans, including the equity report, would be presented to the Recreation and Parks Commission and Board of Supervisors.

This should bring more accountability to the Recreation and Parks Department and make its spending decisions more transparent to the public. It should also make sure that public spaces in the city’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods—where parks are most needed—stay safe and clean for all.

Concerns about Prop B

Set-asides

The primary argument against Prop B is that it is a set-aside, which on good government principles is not something that the SFLCV generally supports. Set-asides restrict the ability of public agencies and elected leaders to allocate resources based on changing needs—based on more information than voters generally have. This is why Supervisors Tang and Peskin did not vote for Prop B.

However, set-asides allow voters to set general priorities for their leaders, and there are examples that work well, most notably the Library Preservation Fund. Parks, like libraries, are broadly important but easily ignored in the budgeting process; we believe that the history of chronic underfunding makes this measure worth it. Parks, like libraries, are heavily used by San Francisco residents, who will all benefit from better maintenance of public spaces.

The measure has some safety valves, too: it is based on revenue (rather than requiring a certain amount of spending), and its growth can be suspended in years where a major budget deficit is forecast.

Management

Prop B has also been opposed based on questions about the Recreation and Parks Department's management of funds and about privatization. We would have liked to see a plan for how additional funds will be spent. However, the reporting requirements should help address these concerns by bringing more accountability and transparency.  

Conclusion: Vote Yes on Prop B

Overall, the San Francisco League of Conservation Voters strongly supports Prop B to provide funds to maintain our parks, giving all San Franciscans access to the pleasant outdoor spaces that help make life enjoyable in our dense, sustainable city.

June 2016: Vote YES on Measure AA for a Clean and Healthy Bay!!!

SFLCV’s Position

Funding is desperately needed to restore San Francisco Bay’s wetlands and help protect the region from the effects of rising seas. This  modest $12 annual parcel tax would be evenly distributed among all parcels in the nine-county Bay Area. Over 20 years, it would raise $500 million to restore wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and create a buffer against storms and sea level rise. VOTE YES ON MEASURE AA on June 7th, 2016!

Summary of the Measure:

The Clean and Healthy Bay ballot measure, or Measure AA, is a region-wide $12 parcel tax that is expected to raise to $500 million dollars for wetland restoration during its 20-year lifetime. Revenue from the tax would be earmarked to restoring wetlands along San Francisco Bay (until the tax expires in 2037). Measure AA requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

Measure AA was placed on the ballot of all nine Bay Area counties by the the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, a regional agency formed in 2008 to support the restoration, enhancement, protection, and enjoyment of Bay wetlands and wildlife habitat. The parcel tax is being championed by a broad array of supporters, including both environmental and business groups, such as Save the Bay and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. The funds raised will help meet regional wetland restoration goals, which have stalled for lack of funds, and address long-term needs to protect infrastructure and homes from sea level rise.

Arguments in favor

Scientists estimate as much as 90% of the historic wetlands around San Francisco Bay have been lost to development and agriculture. A decade-long goal to restore 100,000 acres of wetlands--to maintain vital bird habitat, enhance water quality, and protect our cities from tidal surges--has stalled in recent years, as funding has dried up. Lands are already available for restoration, particularly in the North and South Bay, but funding is needed to actually do the restoration.

Measure AA would pay for that wetland restoration. It would improve water quality and increase natural habitat for hundreds of species of wildlife, including salmon, Dungeness crab, porpoises, sea lions, and shorebirds.

Restoring San Francisco Bay’s wetlands will also protect shoreline communities from from flooding, which is likely to reach crisis proportions in the coming decades as sea level rises. More than $60 billion worth of homes, businesses, and crucial infrastructure are at risk, including ports, airports, roads, office buildings, and entire neighborhoods at or below sea level. Restoring wetlands will help with this by helping absorb and buffer against rising tides and storms.

Arguments in opposition

Measure AA is generally unopposed throughout the region, with the exception of taxpayers’ associations, which reflexively oppose taxes. The main argument against the measure is that all parcels are taxed at the same rate-- that is, Facebook and Google pay the same as owners of individual homes. Though we certainly support more funding from large tech companies for Bay restoration, the tax is a broadly affordable $12 and will support something that cannot wait--the restoration of our Bay.