Sep 27, 2016 — Board of Supes election – OurCity vs CoTown; Yes on D, H and V; Leaning Tower of Frisco
Keep the OurCity majority on the Board of Supervisors
Referring to candidates and groups as “moderate,” “progressive,” “reform” and the like is confusing, especially in the November election where so much is at stake for San Francisco. In this blogger’s view it seems the issues and candidates can be labelled simply as OurCity and CoTown, as portrayed in two recent videos, “Our City” by Jane Kim, and the yet-to-be released movie “Company Town,” about the Fall 2015 District 3 Supervisor race between Aaron Peskin and Julie Christensen. Watch these short videos to get a sense of each side:
OurCity — “… make this a city that’s affordable and equitable for everyone.” — Jane Kim
CoTown —“… tech billionaires have decided to invest in the business of politics, and they are interested in controlling mayors and supervisors.” — Aaron Peskin in Company Town (2016).
The OurCity folks want to maintain a majority on the Board of Supervisors. To do this it’s necessary to win all three seats in D1, D9, and D11, and maintain the incumbent seats in D3 and D7. If one seat is lost that’s the end of the OurCity majority. This is precisely the goal of the CoTown folks: pick off one Supervisor seat and they have a 6–5 majority — let’s not let this happen.
The Our City slate of Supervisor candidates for the Nov 8 election:
* Sandra Fewer D1 Website Donate
I Aaron Peskin D3 Website Donate
Dean Preston D5 Website Donate
I Norman Yee D7 Website Donate
* Hillary Ronen D9 Website Donate
* Kim Alvarenga D11 Website Donate
* Progressive candidates running to fill termed-out Supervisor seats.
I – incumbent
Elect our Elected Officials – Proposition D
Another factor in maintaining the OurCity majority on the Board of Supervisors is SF Proposition D on the November ballot. This is the “Elect our elected officials” measure. Currently, if there is a vacancy on the BoS the mayor appoints a replacement. If either Jane Kim in D6 or Scott Weiner in D8 moves on to the State Senate their seat on the BoS is open. Proposition D would allow the mayor to appoint a stand-in Supe who cannot run in the special election to fill the position, that must occur within six months of the vacancy. Vote Yes on Proposition D.
Create an office of the Public Advocate – Proposition H
Vote Yes on Proposition H to create an office of the Public Advocate. Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who took office late last year, and others on the BoS have been acting as de facto Public Advocates. They have made several important moves to protect the taxpayers and residents of SF. They saved $7M on the sale of city-owned property, tried to recoup the $5M cost of city services from the NFL’s Super Bowl 50 party in SF early this year, and Peskin is currently conducting hearings on the Millennium Tower structural flaws, beginning with testimony from the SF Dept of Building Inspection.
Though the Supervisors’ efforts are effective their revelations so far are likely just the tip of the iceberg. A full-time Public Advocate with a fully-staffed office can look out for taxpayers in city dealings. At a projected cost $3.2M per year for the Public Advocate office, if it was in place this year $7M to $12M and probably a lot more could have been saved. Vote Yes on Proposition H.
Moms to take charge at City Hall
Supervisor candidates Sandra Lee Fewer, Hillary Ronen and Kim Alvarenga are running on a combined policy platform to address the most pressing issues in San Francisco. Frances Hsieh speaking for them at a City Hall rally. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Read this Op-ed by the three moms, Supervisor candidates Sandra Lee Fewer, Hillary Ronen and Kim Alvarenga.
Free preschool, better transportation, more navigation centers, fight crime, build affordable housing.
Yes on V, No on Big Soda/Diabetes
Checking the recycling bin, starting about two weeks ago eleven large-format “No on V” mailers have been received, each with different graphics and text, arguing that we don’t need a “grocery tax.” Fortunately, yesterday a handout arrived for “Yes on V,” to tax one cent to protect children and everyone from the negative health effects of sugary beverages. Give these folks a donation and help pass this much-needed measure. SFUnitedToReduceDiabetes.com
Upcoming events — see the full calendar for detailed info
Wed 9/28
Happy Hour – future of SF politics Wed, 28 September 2016 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Starlight Room, 450 Powell St
Dial It Up! Celebrating The Future of San Francisco Politics
Hosted by Juanita More! with Jane Kim, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, Cleve Jones, Tom Temprano, Kimberly Alvarenga, Hillary Ronen, Sandra Lee Fewer, Bevan Dufty, Aaron Peskin, Rafael Mandelman, Mark Sanchez, David Campos, Shannell Williams, Matt Haney and more!
Meet and greet these inspiring candidates over a cocktail and get mobilized for an election where every vote counts.
Thu 9/29
District 3 Dem Club endorsements Thu, 29 September 2016 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm, SF Italian Athletic Club, 1630 Stockton St
District 3 Dem Club endorsements for local and state candidates and measures. Aaron Peskin and other commentators will be on hand to explain and discuss ballot items.
District 1 Candidates Forum Thu, 29 September 2016 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Alamo Elementary, 250 23rd Ave @California
Engage with candidates who are running for supervisor, specifically around issues that impact our community like housing, displacement, homelessness, small business stabilization and more.
Hosted by Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco hrcsf.org
See the full calendar for detailed event info.
“Company Town” premieres Oct 9
Company Town (2016) – “a shot of political energy, just when we need it most”
A new movie about the 2015 San Francisco election and the fight to keep the city from becoming “Company Town.” October 9, 2016 premiere Info & trailer.
The once free-spirited city of San Francisco is now a “Company Town,” a playground for tech moguls of the “sharing economy. — Filmmakers’ description
”“Company Town” is a shot of political energy, just when we need it most — a valentine to the weird and wild hurly-burly of the electoral process at the grassroots level, from where true democracy springs.” —— David Talbot, founder of Salon and bestselling author of “Season of the Witch” and “The Devil’s Chessboard”
“I was thrilled by Company Town’s virtuoso storytelling, its compassion, and the message that democracy can actually win the fight (sometimes!) against our corporate overlords.” —— Josh Kornbluth, Monologuist & Filmmaker
In the News
Peskin runs low-key race against Donnelly for 4 more years SF Chronicle 9/26
SF building inspectors may have known of Millennium Tower issues since 2009, SF Examiner 9/23, SF Gate 9/23, ABC-TV 9/22, Hoodline 9/22, Wall Street Journal 9/22
SF’s new progressive era could come to a halt in November
9/6/16 Examiner: “Some progressives see District 11 [Kim Alvarenga] as the one seat most at risk of causing the progressives to lose the board majority.”
Better news: On Sat 9/10 Kim Alvarenga picked up the D11 Dem Club sole endorsement by a 3–1 margin.
Best bet: Join Kim’s team to get the word out about this exceptional candidate.
Nov 8 Election Events full calendar — Campaign events and volunteer opportunities.
Kim Alvarenga D11 Website Donate
Vote Yes on Props D, H, L and M — Better government measures
The well-researched Pissed-Off Voters Guide for the Nov 8 election appropriately renames the ballot measures and recommends:
Prop D: Let’s Elect Our Elected Officials – Yes (ends mayor’s executive branch appointment of legislative branch BoS member)
Prop H: Create a Public Advocate – Yes
Prop L: Shift 3 of 7 MTA Board Appointments from Mayor to the BoS – Yes
Prop M: Create Oversight Commission & Kill Realtor Props P & U – Yes (Prop P: Snarl Affordable Housing in Red Tape; Prop U: Developer $ Grab from Affordable Housing)
The City has been bought by developer, real-estate, and other wealthy interests. To stem the flow of sold-off influence, measures D, H, L and M have been put before the voters on the November ballot. Tempering the City’s give-away to wealthy interests and returning more control to residents’ interests can be accomplished by voting Yes on Props D, H, L and M.
Of course the Chronicle, the voice of wealthy interests and itself owned by the Hearst Corporation, a huge SF real-estate developer, recently posted: The Chronicle recommends: Vote No on S.F. Propositions D, H, L and M
Contrast this with the San Francisco Democratic Party’s Official Nov 2016 Ballot Endorsements which recommend Yes on D, H, L and M.
Jane Kim OpEd: Integrated housing and transit policies are key for San Francisco’s future
Nov 8 Election Info
Local measures A–X and RR
Local candidates
State ballot measures 51–67
Want more information on all these ballot measures? Check the calendar for groups offering discussions and endorsements.
Supervisor candidate events
The campaign teams are well-organized and enjoyable to work with. You’ll meet campaign manager Chelsea in D1 for Sandra Fewer, Angeles in D9 for Hillary Ronen, and Emily in D11 for Kim Alvarenga. Jane Kim’s State Senate campaign is run by Charles and Davi, and often coordinates with the Supe campaigns. Get out in the field and meet the candidates and campaign staffs, all hard workers and the best sort of folks!
Put in an hour or two, once each week — check the calendar and help one of the campaigns with voter outreach.
Do this even if the candidate is not in your Supervisor District. The key to success in November is for everyone in Our City to get out and talk to voters.
There are only 7 weekends left before the election — get out there now!
Nov 8 Election Events full calendar — Campaign events and volunteer opportunities.
How we keep control of Our City in November
Following the great success of the Reform Slate in the recent DCCC election for control of the SF Democratic Party San Franciscans for Our City must once again support a unified slate of candidates and measures in the November 8 election. Following is the unofficial “Our City” slate of candidates for the November 8 election. Learn more about them and donate to their campaigns.
“Our City” slate of Supervisor candidates for the Nov 8 election
* Sandra Fewer D1 Website Donate
I Aaron Peskin D3 Website Donate
Dean Preston D5 Website Donate
I Norman Yee D7 Website Donate
* Hillary Ronen D9 Website Donate
* Kim Alvarenga D11 Website Donate
* Progressive candidates running to fill termed-out Supervisor seats.
I – incumbent
Other citywide “Our City” candidates for the Nov 8 election
Jane Kim for State Senate Website Donate
Victor Hwang for Superior Court Judge Website Donate
More at Nov 8 General Election
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