How Lisa Rein's Voting On November 4, 2003

Updated 9:30 am, November 4, 2003

Note: This page goes with this page of detailed explanations.

New! 3:40 pm Monday, Nov 3. I just added some brief descriptions from a flyer I picked up from the Youth Vote Coalition. Every one of their recommendations matches up with what Ammiano recommends, so I thought it would help flesh out the issues a bit to include what they say about the propositions in the explanations below (and on the Nov 4 explained page).

I took advantage of having access to Tom Ammiano in person Friday to ask him about the other propositions on the ballot. What he said makes sense to me. I hope it will be helpful to you in making your decisions about tomorrow's elections.

These are all endorsed by Tom Ammiano except for Terrence Hallinan. (Tom is abstaining from endorsing a DA.)

Key:
YES (Bold and in Caps) = Important to vote "yes" on
Yes (no bold or caps) = Can't hurt, but may not make that much of a difference
NO (Bold and in Caps) = will hurt San Francisco if it passes

Note that Prop M and Prop N are the only ones to be sure to vote "NO" on.

How I'm voting

Mayor: Tom Ammiano

District Attorney: Terrence Hallinan

Links in right column below go to "explanation" page for that proposition.

Proposition

Desc

Yes/No

A

School Bonds

Allows money for school renovation and maintenance.

YES

   

B

Safety employee retirement benefits

Grants retirement benefits to a wider range of government employees.

 Yes
     

C

City Services Auditor

Would create an official auditing division for the City under the Controller's office. Also sets up a hotline system for citizen complaints related to problems with City services.

 Yes
   

D

Small Business commission

Improve function of commission and representation of local businesses within Commission.

 Yes
     

E

Ethics Reform

Will increase enforcement of the ethical responsibility of our local government.

 YES
     

F

Targeted early retirement

Offers seasoned city employees the CHOICE to retire early in effect allowing both old and new employees to avoid lay-offs.

 Yes
     

G

Rainy Day Fund

Would create a fund from the surplus of a good local economy to help out at times when our local economy is in future slumps.

 YES
     

H

Police Commission/Office of Citizen complaints

Would give the Office of Citizen Complaints more power and access to police records so that the people can better fight police misconduct and brutality.

 YES
     

I

Child Care For Low Income Families (aka Smart Start Initiative)

Will catch about 1,650 San Francisco children who slip through the cracks and give them access to the preschool programs they shouldn't miss out on because their parents don't make enough.

 Yes
     

J

Facilities for the Homeless

Policy to require San Francisco to provide safe, decent and sanitary temporary shelter for homeless seniors, youth, families and disabled individuals that is separate from that provided to the general population.

 Yes
     

K

Sales Tax for Transportation

Would maintain 1/2 cent sales tax and renew 30 year plan directing use of these funds toward local transportation improvements.

 YES
     

L

$8.50 hour minimum wage

Would increase SF minimum wage from $6.75 to $8.50!!! This would increase money spent in SF businesses by increasing personal wages by $4,000 a year and allow people currently earning minimum wage to afford more and need public assistance less.

 YES
     

M

Aggressive Solicitation/ATM Solicitation Ban

Meant to ban "Aggressive Panhandling," Prop M would give the police the power to arrest the homeless for little or no reason at all. Using upwards of $900,000 per year in costs and manpower.

 NO
     

N

Taxi Permit Holder Disability

Would allow taxi drivers to keep a limited number of city issued permits/medallions possibly taking advantage of very loose definitions of "disability" and preventing drivers on the lengthy waiting list from receiving benefits paid to medallion holders.

NO