June 2 Election: San Francisco Ballot Measure Positions

The primary election, coming up on June 2, will include four propositions on the San Francisco ballot for voters to weigh in on. After deliberation and a survey of our membership, SDA would like to release our positions on these four local ballot measures.

Prop A: Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond
No position

Prop A would allow the City to borrow up to $535 million by issuing bonds. The City would spend this money on improvements and seismic upgrades to infrastructure used for emergency response and recovery.

Member opinions were split, and this specific bond doesn't directly connect with any of SDA's campaigns, so we are not taking a position and encourage you to vote as you see fit.

Prop B: Charter Amendment: Lifetime Term Limits for Mayor and Members of the Board of Supervisors
Oppose

Prop B would set lifetime term limits for the Mayor and Supervisors of two four-year terms for each office, whether the terms are consecutive or nonconsecutive. Currently, the Mayor and Supervisor have consecutive term limits but can run for office again after a break.

Prop B would make those term limits nonconsecutive and for life. This proposition appears to be conservative backlash against progressive politician Aaron Peskin, and an attempt to keep him from running again for Board of Supervisors. In the words of former San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos, “this is a solution looking for a problem."

Prop C: Ordinance: Decreases to Business Taxes
Oppose

Prop C would exempt many small business from the Gross Receipts Tax and the Top Executive Pay Tax. Almost all small businesses are already exempt from the Top Executive Pay Tax, but Prop C would also raise the income threshold for the Gross Receipts Tax.

Another example of conservative backlash against progressivism in San Francisco, Prop C is the tech billionaire response to Prop D's Overpaid CEO Tax, and if both pass, only the one with the higher percentage of "yes" votes will be enacted.

Prop D: Ordinance: Increases to Business Tax Based on Comparison of Top Executive’s Pay to Employees’ Pay (aka the Overpaid CEO Tax)
Support

Under Prop D, large businesses whose top executive earns more than 100 times the median pay of all their employees (company-wide, not just SF staff) would be subject to additional Top Executive Pay Taxes on their San Francisco gross receipts.

Income inequality is rising and many San Franciscans are being priced out of the city, and it is more crucial than ever that for-profit businesses with ultra-wealthy executives pay their fair share. Revenues from Prop D will help preserve critical city services, including housing, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), long-term care programs, and other essential services that keep our neighborhoods safe and healthy. At a time when our city-funded programs are being slashed despite the immense wealth in this city, we need progressive revenue measures to keep our communities alive.