This Charter amendment would lower the minimum voting age to 16 for municipal and school elections in San Francisco. Voting for federal candidates (president and Congress), state offices and state ballot measures would remain at 18 years old.
Category: 2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide
This year’s local ballot is a doozie. San Francisco voters will decide 25 measures and 11 candidate races.
Baffled by our local election letter jumble? The Public Press is here to help. We’ve organized the propositions by theme and alphabetically.
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, Arts & Culture, Elections, Land use
Proposition X: Preserving Space for Arts, Small Businesses and Community Services
This ordinance would require that developers in parts of the Mission and South of Market neighborhoods build replacement space if their projects displace arts activities, certain light-industrial and craft business or community-related facilities.
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, Elections, Parks & Open Space
Proposition E: Returning Tree Maintenance to City Hall
This Charter amendment would make it City Hall’s responsibility, once again, to maintain trees and surrounding sidewalks, the care obligation of which had recently transferred to private-property owners.
The Board of Supervisors voted 11-0 to put this initiative on the ballot.
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 in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, Education, Elections
Proposition B: Raise and Extend Parcel Tax to Help City College
This measure would increase and extend a parcel tax for the City College of San Francisco that will otherwise expire in 2021.
The community college board voted 7-0 to place this initiative on the ballot.
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, Education, Elections, Housing
Proposition A: $744 Million Bond for S.F. Schools
This bond measure would provide up to $744.25 million to build new schools and an arts center; rehabilitate and modernize other school facilities; upgrade information technology; create “green” school yards, and construct affordable housing for teachers and other school workers.
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, Housing, Media, Technology
What Nevius Gets Wrong About Tech and Politics
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Chuck “C.W.” Nevius is imploring tech companies “to get into politics, particularly grassroots politics in cities like Oakland and San Francisco.” But he misses the obvious: the tech industry is and has been deeply involved with local politics, led by Ron Conway (photo).
Posted in2016 Non-partisan Voter Guide, City Hall, Elections, News, Open Government, Public Safety
$2 Million Fills War Chests of S.F. Candidates as Races Heat Up
With two months until Election Day, more than $2 million has been amassed in the collective war chests for local candidate campaigns, 90 percent of which has been raised for six Board of Supervisors seats.