Dated October 15, 2007:
(Retrieved June 24, 2021)
Mayor
Harold Hoogasian
Sheriff
David Wong
Hey! Guess what? We have another election coming up!
YOU DID REMEMBER, RIGHT???
Many people out there only pay attention to elections when the national or state races are in play. Heck, everyone knows when it’s time to vote for president or for governor. Sadly, these same people often will blow off the local elections, first for ideological reasons (”all leftists anyway, why vote”) and second, just for the SIZE of the ballot, which takes some time to wade through.
Here’s why it’s especially important to know the issues and vote in local elections. San Francisco’s mayor and Bored of Stupidvisors currently can put initiatives on the ballot WITHOUT public review. In many cases, the only time the public (that’s not part of the leftist machine) actually gets to have input on the proposed policy is at the ballot box. Another important thing to keep in mind is that these “initiatives” often cost a lot of MONEY that comes from taxes paid by property and business owners. Ultimately, these added costs trickle down to everyone else, thus adding to the already-high cost of living in San Francisco.
Keeping this in mind, here for your perusal, are SFYR’s initiative endorsements. Initiative titles are linked to text from the Dept. of Elections.
Proposition A, Transit Reform, Parking Regulation and Emissions Reductions: NO
Let’s see. A MUNI “reform” package that’s supported by the people who caused MUNI’s problems in the first place that removes Charter-imposed caps on salaries for unions, yet imposes strict rules on management. Allows the MTA to “incur debt,” AKA issue bonds without citizen approval. More managers, more bureaucracy! And this is reform? Maybe for the union to continue getting more for doing less.
Proposition B, Limiting Hold-Over Service on Charter-Created Boards and Commissions: NO
Removing commissioners who are doing the job while not reducing the quorum requirement will cripple their commissions and not get work done. Of course, maybe that’s the point of this initiative, authored by Supervisor Jake McGoldrick.
Proposition C, Public Hearings on Initiatives: YES
Citizens should know what the mayor and Board of Supervisors plan to pack the ballot with BEFORE it shows up there! Just for laughs, read here on how this current crop of initiatives came to be.
Proposition D, Changes to Library Preservation Fund: NO
Although it reads like a good cause, this begs the question, “How is the money REALLY going to be spent?” Is this really an bond in disguise without the usual oversights and the 2/3rd requirements?
Proposition E, Requiring Mayor to Appear Monthly at a Board of Supervisors Meeting: NO
Do we really need the Chief Executive of the City and County of San Francisco (mayor) to kowtow to the “legislative branch” and submit himself to verbal abuse at his expense so the stupidvisors can score points with cheap shots and innuendo that ultimately will be written up in the local rag? Shouldn’t our “elected officials” be fixing the roads, trying to stem the tide of blood in the streets (more police hires and less leftist “oversight”) and cutting government waste (how does the city budget double in six years with decreases in population and services)? They clearly have more pressing things to do than to showboat for the media.
Proposition F, Retirement Benefits for Police Department Employees Who Were Airport Police Officers: NO ENDORSEMENT
Proposition G, Golden Gate Park Stables Ordinance: NO ENDORSEMENT
Proposition H, Allowing Construction of Additional Parking Spaces and Facilities: YES
Our neighborhood businesses depend on people being able to get there. More often than not, people have to drive. MUNI doesn’t cut it. At all. This initiative reflects the reality of San Francisco, not some leftist ideal of a utopia with no cars. Of course, if you ARE into that sort of thing, perhaps you’d like to move here. Now THAT’s a traffic jam that liberals would luurve!
Proposition I, Establishing Office of Small Business as City Department and Creating Small Business Assistance Center: NO
As President Ronald Reagan wisely said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’” This is one of those cases. As in most times in San Francisco, the “help” that is rendered is often in the form of added bureaucracy, more city “workers” on the payroll, and fees and charges levied on the people who are supposed to receive the assistance (small business owners). This initiative is another way that the city and its unions “help” themselves to more of your tax dollars.
Proposition J, Universal Wi-Fi Declaration of Policy: NO
Kind of a dead issue, since Earthlink has withdrawn from the citywide wi-fi project. The policy is full of “social justice” crap and can ultimately lead to an already-proposed city-owned-and-run wi-fi network, which is projected to cost tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.
Proposition K, Street Furniture Declaration of Policy: NO
Apparently, evil capitalist advertising on street furniture and billboards adds to “urban blight.” Yeah, just like that Times Square in New York. Blighted space that. No one goes there.
(2021 Editor’s note: Above endorsements and commentary are presented for historical purposes only. These are from an archive.org copy of a previous incarnation of SFYR’s website. We do not condone the pro-car or anti-MUNI commentary above. We do however appreciate that the 2007 SFYR gave thorough (and colorful) reasonings of their positions.)
