SF voters pass sweeping bond measure

  • by John Ferrannini, Assistant Editor
  • Wednesday November 6, 2024
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City Clinic's cramped workspaces would change if Proposition B continues to lead and the facility is relocated. Photo: Rick Gerharter
City Clinic's cramped workspaces would change if Proposition B continues to lead and the facility is relocated. Photo: Rick Gerharter

San Francisco voters are on the cusp of passing the $390 Proposition B infrastructure bond. The measure would give City Clinic a new home and allocate $25 million toward the revitalization of Harvey Milk Plaza.

Proposition K, a measure that would close the westside's Upper Great Highway to vehicle traffic, is also on track to pass.

The elections department announced Wednesday that there are about 150,000 remaining ballots to count.

Prop B required two-thirds of the vote to pass. It garnered 71.1% to 28.8%, according to preliminary returns from the San Francisco Department of Elections.

"We are very encouraged by the Prop B results so far and are continuing to track progress," Brian Springfield, a gay man who is the executive director of the Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza, stated to the Bay Area Reporter.

It also looks good for Prop K, which was spearheaded by gay District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio. It received 52.9% of the vote to 47%, according to preliminary returns.

Engardio didn't return a request for comment.

Other measures

San Francisco voters also rejected making drastic changes to the structure of the city government in voting down Proposition D 54.6% to 45.3%, according to preliminary returns. It had called for drastically reducing the number of commissions and making some advisory only in nature.

Instead, they seem in favor of the less extreme approach outlined in Proposition E, which will establish a commission to study changes to make to the commissions structure. It is currently passing 51.6% to 48.3%, according to preliminary returns. Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, a mayoral candidate who was the main proponent of E and an opponent of D, was pleased.

"Despite being outspent by a staggering 100:1, San Francisco voters saw through Together SF and their billionaire donor Michael Moritz's cynical attempt to limit public participation in government by rejecting Prop D and passing Prop E," Peskin stated to the Bay Area Reporter. "I am elated. Mr. Moritz should be embarrassed and disband his silly political organization."

Together SF didn't return a request for comment.

Voters decided to accept Proposition M, which reforms the city's business tax, 69.1% to 30.8% and accept Proposition L, which would tax ride-share services to provide money to narrow the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's budget deficit 56.2% to 43.7%. However, Prop L may not go into effect, as it needed to receive more votes than Prop M for the two tax measures to be enacted. It was short by 18,371 votes as of Wednesday morning.

In the arena of public safety and first responders, it looks like voters have passed Proposition F, which allows some police officers to delay retirement in exchange for extra benefits, 52.7% to 47.2%; Proposition H, which expands retirement benefits for firefighters, 51.5% to 48.4%; Proposition I, which improves retirement benefits for nurses and 911 operators, 69.8% to 30.1%; and Proposition N, which creates a first responder student loan forgiveness fund, 51.5% to 48.4%.

Proposition A, a school improvement bond, is passing 72.9% to 28.0%. Proposition C, which would create an office of the inspector general, is passing 59.5% to 40.7%. Proposition G, which creates a budget guarantee of certain rental subsidies, is passing 56.6 to 43.3%. Proposition J, which creates an accountability structure for funding of programs for city youth, is passing 80% to 19.9%.

Finally, Proposition O takes on added significance in a second Donald Trump administration by seeking to protect and promote reproductive rights in San Francisco. That's passing 82% to 18%.

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