Election Slate for November 5, 2024

Dear Friends,

Each election I prepare a slate card for my friends so we can debate how to vote here in San Francisco (and beyond). Here’s what I have based on various organizational endorsements and various discussion with local activists… I’d love your input! (Thanks especially to Ben.)

In solidarity,

Stardust

PS: Life under late-stage corporate-welfare capitalism and billionaire-choose-all “democracy” can be discouraging. Please remember that there are other ways to change society than just the elections.


Federal

President and Vice President: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz (if you want to go third-party in Cali, that’s fine… just please NOT Robert F. Kennedy and NOT in a swing state, thanks!)

U.S. Senator (term ending January 3, 2031): Adam Schiff
U.S. Senator (remainder of term ending January 3, 2025): Adam Schiff

U.S. Representative, District 11: no vote (as protest against Pelosi who will get elected anyway… yes I know some of you support Pelosi)

California State

State Senator, District 11: Scott Wiener (lots of problems with the Wiener, but better than the alternative)
State Assembly Member, District 17: Matt Haney (also not my favorite, but better than the alternative, sigh)

Schools

Member, Board of Education (no more than four):
Matt Alexander, Virginia Cheung, Jaime Huling, Laurance Lem Lee

Trustee, Community College Board (no more than four):
Alan Wong (yes, ONLY Alan Wong, no others, sigh)

District

BART Board of Directors: Edward Wright

San Francisco City and County

Mayor: Aaron Peskin (yes, ONLY Peskin — avoid inexperienced candidates like Lurie and billionaire-funded candidates like Lurie, non-compassionate somewhat corrupt mayors like Breed, and SF conservatives like Farrell… for some policy positions and a survey you can take to see which candidate best matches your views, see
https://www.sfchronicle.com/election/article/sf-mayoral-candidates-policy-issues-19847216.php )

Member, Board of Supervisors, District 1: Connie Chan
Member, Board of Supervisors, District 3: Sharon Lai, Moe Jamil
Member, Board of Supervisors, District 5: Dean Preston
Member, Board of Supervisors, District 7: Myrna Melgar
Member, Board of Supervisors, District 9: Jackie Fielder, Roberto Hernandez (NOT Trevor Chandler, well-funded Republicanish candidate)
Member, Board of Supervisors, District 11: Chayanne Chen, Ernest “EJ” Jones

City Attorney: leave blank (Chiu will win despite my disapproval)
District Attorney: Ryan Khojasteh
Sheriff: leave blank (Miyamoto will win)
Treasurer: José Cisneros

California State Propositions

Proposition 2: Yes (bonds for schools)
Proposition 3: Yes (protect right to marry regardless of race or sex)
Proposition 4: Yes (protect water and land, prevent wildfires)
Proposition 5: Yes (allow local bonds for affordable housing)
Proposition 6: Yes (remove prison slavery from state constitution)
Proposition 32: Yes (raise minimum wage)
Proposition 33: Yes (help low-income renters by allowing cities to pass or strengthen rent control laws without state prohibitions, repeal Cost-Hawkins, please don’t fall for SPUR and other realtor and massive property owner opposition to this measure)
Proposition 34: No (billionaire corporate landlords seeking revenge against AIDS Healthcare Foundation)
Proposition 35: Yes (support Medi-Cal)
Proposition 36: No (don’t restart the drug war)

San Francisco Propositions

Proposition A: Yes (improve school safety and accessibility)
Proposition B: Yes (shelters, healthcare facilities, and public safety improvements)
Proposition C: Yes (inspector general to investigate and prevent corruption we’ve had here in San Francisco)
Proposition D: No (limits # of commissions increasing mayoral and police chief authority)
Proposition E: Yes (taskforce to improve operations of city commissions)
Proposition F: No (reduces police department reporting and offers incentives to delay retirement)
Proposition G: Yes (rental subsidies for extremely low-income seniors, families, and disabled persons)
Proposition H: No (earlier higher pension benefits for firefighters)
Proposition I: Yes (pension benefits for registered nurses and 911 operators)
Proposition J: Yes (effective funding for children, youth, and families)
Proposition K: Yes (Upper Great Highway at Ocean Beach closed to private vehicles as open recreation space)
Proposition L: Yes (tax Uber, Lyft, Waymo, et al, to support city mass transit)
Proposition M: No (some parts of it are good, but it would destroy Prop L if passed)
Proposition N: No (good idea, but unfunded, Board of Supervisors should handle it without proposition)
Proposition O: Yes (guarantee reproductive freedom)

Updates will appear here as available from your comments and other sources.


Election Slate for November 8, 2022

Dear Friends,

Each election I prepare a slate card for my friends so we can debate how to vote here in San Francisco (and beyond). Here’s what I have so far, based on the ballot I received in the mail, various organizational endorsements, and various discussion with local activists… I’d love your input! (Thanks to Ben, Ruth, and Andy for their input.)

It’s in order as it appears on my ballot.

Election Day is just around the corner on this coming Tuesday… please do vote!

In solidarity,

Stardust

PS: Life under late-stage corporate-welfare capitalism and billionaire-choose-all “democracy” can be discouraging. Please remember that there are other ways to change society than just the elections.
——-
California State Offices

Governor    no endorsement
Lieutenant Governor    no endorsement
Secretary of State    Shirley Weber
Controller    no endorsement
Treasurer    no endorsement
Attorney General    Rob Bonta
Insurance Commissioner    no endorsement
Board of Equalization 2    Sally J. Lieber

Federal Offices

U.S. Senator    Alex Padilla
U.S. Senator (remainder)    Alex Padilla
US Representative 11    no endorsement

California State Offices (cont.)

State Assembly 17    David Campos
State Assembly 19    Phil Ting
All the Justices    Yes
Superintendent of Public Instruction    Tony Thurmond

City and County Offices

Member, Board of Education (no more than 3)    Alida Fisher, Gabriela López, Lisa Weissman-Ward
Member, Community College Board, term ending 1/8/27 (no more than 3)    Susan Solomon, Anita Martinez, Vick Chung
Member, Community College Board, term ending 1/8/25 (vote for one)    Adolfo Velasquez
Assessor-Recorder    Joaqúin Torres
District Attorney    John Hamasaki (not Brooke Jenkins!)
Public Defender    Mano Raju

State Propositions

Proposition 1   yes  
Proposition 26    no
Proposition 27    no
Proposition 28    yes
Proposition 29    yes
Proposition 30    yes
Proposition 31   no

City and County Propositions

Proposition A    Yes
Proposition B    Yes
Proposition C    Yes
Proposition D    No
Proposition E    Yes
Proposition F    Yes
Proposition G    Yes
Proposition H    Yes
Proposition I    No
Proposition J    Yes
Proposition K    (removed)
Proposition L    Yes
Proposition M    Yes
Proposition N    Yes
Proposition O    Yes
——-

Want to Carry a Concealed Gun? Live in Sacramento, Not San Francisco

“In California, a state with some of the strictest gun laws in the country, Sacramento County has become an oasis for gun owners wanting to carry their weapons in public. Thousands of residents have been issued concealed carry permits by the sheriff, Scott Jones, since he took office four years ago….”

“The situation couldn’t be further removed from the one in San Francisco, where fewer permits are issued than any other county in the state. Three San Franciscans have been issued a permit to carry a concealed gun in the last five years.”

The article includes a map showing active gun permits by California county.

More at Reveal News

College Accreditation Agency Is Unfair, Rife With Conflict

Phil TingCalifornia Assemblymember Phil Ting’s excellent editorial on new legislation he introduced to rein in the abuses of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), which voted to revoke the accreditation of City College of San Francisco while giving Heald College a passing grade:

“California needs AB 1397 because the status quo is indefensible. The bill requires the commission to make its meetings public and to stop taking public comment after voting on accreditation. It establishes a strict conflict-of-interest policy to ensure independence and objectivity. Finally, it establishes a right for colleges to appeal sanctions.”

More at Sacramento Bee