The Golden Gate

Well, I’ve looked over and considered all of the Propositions on our local San Francisco ballot. And I’ve come to the conclusion that the San Francisco Taxpayers Union is absolutely correct — there’s not a damn thing worth supporting on this year’s ballot.

I tried to keep an open mind going in. I have a good friend who is working hard to pass Proposition A — the $450 Million Public School Repair/Upgrade Bond. A lot of his work brings him into and around the San Francisco Public School system. He urged me to support Prop A., even invited me to work on, and donate to, the campaign.

But I just can’t. Not when our school system is so rife with waste, mismanagement, shenanigans, and cronyism. And I don’t see that changing any time soon, unless perhaps if we stop shoveling money into the dysfunctional system (and it’s worth noting that San Francisco passed a $300 Million School Repair and Upgrade bond just 3 years ago. Where does it stop?)

I said to my friend, “we have to stop feeding the beast.” And he tried his best, but he couldn’t bring me over to his point of view. And the School Bond is perhaps he most compelling item on the ballot. The other stuff is just economic poison or political grandstanding — or both, in many cases. Force all employers to provide paid sick leave (Prop. F)? Say Buh-bye to jobs for San Franciscans (ahhh.. who needs ‘em, anyway?) Or how about Prop. H, which would force all landlords to increase the current $1,000 per tenant “relocation charge” for Owner Move-In or repair evictions to $4,500 per tenant (up to $22,500 per unit)? And people wonder why apartments are being converted into condos at a breakneck clip and nobody wants to build apartments here. Great for the few tenants who receive these exorbitant, extorted payments, very very bad for everybody else (including any tenants who are looking for a new place to rent.)

And on and on it goes.

In a way, the horrible crop of ballot propsitions will make it very easy to vote on November 7th. Just mark “NO” next to every San Francisco measure. Simple!

Below are the San Francisco Taxpayers Union ballot arguments. The SF Taxpayers Union is a worthy organization dedicated to injecting some restraint and some much-needed economic sanity into our turbulent and often screwy economic and political climate, so go here to sign up for their updates and information. They boldly assert: “San Franciscans pay enough to live and work in San Francisco without having our pockets picked every Election Day.”

Indeed. Here’s the SF Taxpayers Union:

Taxpayers Beware!

There they go again! Here are some good reasons to vote against everything and save your money:

Prop A - Another School Bond . . . . No

$450 million with no guarantee how it will be spent? We know they spent part of the 2003 bond on schools that were later closed and that most of this one will be spent on a disabilities lawsuit settlement, Until responsible people come up with a long-range spending plan, there are better uses for property taxes.

Prop. B - Supervisors Stay Home . . . . No

Taxpayers deserve the opportunity to confront the people who take and spend their money. Make them go to work like everyone else.

Prop C. - Politicians Get a Big Raise . . . . No

The Sheriff gets $55,000 more and the Mayor gets $40,000 more if this passes, plus all of the trickle down raises to staffers whose salaries are tied to elected officials – labor costs will skyrocket. There are no incentives for performance – they can do a lousy job and still get a raise.

Prop D. - Privacy Protection . . . . No

It’s one thing for the city to be uncooperative with the Federal Government, but it’s quite another to force city contractors to do the same. Another attack on business.

Prop E. - Higher Parking Taxes . . . . No

This 25% parking tax increase and 35% valet parking increase is not even going to MUNI - it’s going into the General Fund for the Mayor and Supes to spend as they will. Driving a car is already too expensive - save your money for gas.

Prop F. - Mandatory Paid Time Off . . . . No

Forcing small businesses to provide benefits without regard to whether doing so will drive them, their customers, or the taxes they generate to other cities is foolish..

Prop G. - Anti Formula Retail . . . . No

This will require a Planning Commission hearing for every new formula retail store (like Starbucks), and enable the Supes to ban them outright in more commercial districts. Just another anti-business and anti-taxpayer move.

Prop H. - Renter Relocation Benefits . . . . No

Property owners would be forced to pay thousands of dollars to renters [up to $22,500 per unit] for temporary relocation, even if they are repairing/improving their buildings for the renters’ benefit!

Prop I. - Fun and Games at City Hall . . . . No

While we agree it would be fun to watch the Mayor try to answer questions from the Board of Supervisors every month nonsense such as this belongs in a comedy routine, not on a ballot.

Prop J. - Impeach Bush/Cheney . . . . No

The Board of Supervisors needs to stay out of national and international debates. Ballot clutter like this costs tens of thousands of dollars for each proposition, money better spent on police officers and gardeners.

Prop K. - Feel Good Housing Policy . . . . No

A policy debate that belongs in Board chambers, not on the ballot.