This Charter amendment would make two major city agencies accountable to a new, third body, called the Housing and Development Commission.
Category: Government & Politics
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, Elections, Government & Politics, Transportation
Proposition L: Giving Supervisors More Say Over Transit
This Charter amendment would shift some power from the mayor to give the Board of Supervisors more say over how the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency operates.
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, City Hall, Elections, Government & Politics
Proposition H: Creating a ‘Public Advocate’ Watchdog
This Charter amendment would create an elective office and a city agency tasked with holding other agencies and officials accountable to citizens.
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, Elections, Government & Politics
Proposition D: Limiting the Mayor’s Power in Filling Vacancies
This Charter amendment would require the mayor to act fast when appointing people to fill vacancies in elected office — but appointments to the Board of Supervisors would be temporary and appointees not be allowed to run in a subsequent election for the remainder of the term.
The supervisors voted 6-5 to put this initiative on the ballot.
Posted inArts & Culture, Climate Change, Elections, Government & Politics, Land use, Neighborhoods
When Sea Level Rises, How Long Can Mission Rock Survive?
Voters approved the Giants’ $1.6 billion waterfront development, but environmental questions linger about whether Mission Rock could be occasionally or permanently submerged as bay waters rise by many feet before the end of the 21st century.
Posted inClimate Change, Government & Politics
New Virtual Reality Installation Reveals How Sea-Level Rise Will Affect Bay Area Shoreline
A San Francisco technology company is helping Bay Area residents visualize in 3-D how their neighborhoods could look under three feet of water when sea-level rise accelerates later this century.
Posted inBay Area, California, City Hall, Elections, Government & Politics, Labor, News
Following S.F.’s Lead, Cities Leapfrog State in Race to Raise Minimum Wage
The momentum to increase the minimum wage that is building in San Francisco and other localities across California has not caught on for similar statewide efforts. Part of the summer edition of the San Francisco Public Press. Get yours today.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Housing, Housing Solutions
Housing Solution: Update Local Rent Control Law to Prevent Mass Displacement
By extending rent-control status to all existing apartments, like it did 35 years ago, the city could save the residents of as many as 50,000 apartments from today’s ballooning rental costs. But doing so might not make the city more affordable for the most economically vulnerable residents. Part of a special report on solutions for housing affordability.
Posted inCity Hall, Education, Government & Politics, Social Justice
Education Reformers Say Students Need a Voice in State Funding for Equity
With California public schools set to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding in the coming school year, education reform groups say Bay Area school districts have not done enough to bring students — not just parents and other district residents — into the decision-making process.
Posted inEconomy & Business, Government & Politics, Labor, Media, Workforce Development
Big Businesses Use State Tax Fund to Train Their Own Staff
Some subsidies, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, are awarded to multinational corporations valued in the billions
State subsidies for vocational training might provide a windfall to large corporations already able to offer similar instruction, if a planned expansion of a program funded through a tax on all businesses in California moves forward. State officials say they aim the vocational training funding at big businesses in key industries that are in danger of relocating to other states. But while tens of thousands of smaller companies pay into the program via the Employment Training Tax, it is hard for most to qualify for grants. Many do not even know the program exists.
SAN FRANCISCO’S WORKFORCE REBOOT is the cover story in the fall 2013 print edition of the San Francisco Public Press. Check back for updates on other stories.