Ballot Analysis

Proposition A allows the City to borrow up to $300 million by issuing general obligation bonds to construct, develop, acquire, or rehabilitate affordable housing ($240 million), preserve existing rental housing ($30 million), and construct, develop, acquire, and rehabilitate housing for victims of street violence, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse ($30 million). San Francisco’s policy allows the City to only issue borrow money by issuing new bonds only when prior bonds are paid off to avoid increasing tax levels on property owners.

The Proposition A bond was sponsored by Mayor London Breed and Board President Aaron Peskin and supported by the Board of Supervisors and affordable housing advocates.

The State of California requires San Francisco to build 82,000 new housing units over the next eight years. This measure provides needed funding for low-income housing, and state and federal sources often match it. Proposition A is a modest public investment toward that goal and doesn’t raise taxes.

It will need to be approved by two-thirds of voters to pass.

San Francisco Police Department staffing and recruitment are paid through the City’s General Fund. The budget does not have to include funding for the number of police officers the SFPD recommends. Also, the Charter does not specify a required minimum number of officers for the SFPD.

Proposition B would amend the Charter to change the process for establishing and funding minimum police staffing levels for the City only if voters in a future election amend an existing tax or approve a new tax that would fully fund police staffing and recruitment.

As of September 2023, the SFPD had 1,578 full-duty sworn police officers, nearly 600 fewer than an independent analysis found the City needs. If adopted, and if voters approve full funding, Proposition B would set in the City Charter the minimum number of full-time police officers for the City from 1,700 to 2,074 in the first five years. For those five years, Proposition B would require the City to budget enough to pay for at least the number of police officers employed during the previous year.

San Francisco absolutely needs more police officers. City leaders should be held accountable for staffing the Police Department at an appropriate level for a city of our size. This measure deceptively says that the City will have a fully staffed police force but doesn’t actually do it. That outcome is conditioned on voters approving yet another tax increase at some future election. Requiring San Franciscans to pay more to get basic police service is a step in the wrong direction.

This measure requires 50% +1 votes to pass. 

The City collects a real estate transfer tax on most property sales and some leases in San Francisco. The tax rate usually depends on the total sale (or lease) price, ranging from 0.5% to 6%. Money collected from this tax goes into the City’s General Fund and may be spent for any purpose.

Under Proposition C, the first time a property is transferred after being converted from commercial to residential use, it would be exempt from the transfer tax if the property owner receives permission to convert the property before January 1, 2030.

The exemption would be available for up to 5 million square feet of converted properties. Proposition C would allow the City to increase the amount of office space available for development by including property that has been converted or demolished.

San Francisco’s office vacancy rate is at a historic high. At the same time, the City needs to build 82,000 units over the next eight years. Additionally, adding housing stock would help bring needed foot traffic and economic activity to help Downtown become more vibrant.

However, existing cost factors make office-to-housing conversions too expensive to complete. The City needs to reduce barriers to investment and change to revitalize our Downtown Economic Core. While not a complete solution, temporarily removing the transfer tax on office properties that are converted to housing will help some projects move forward.

This measure requires 50% +1 votes to pass.

This measure did not sufficiently meet our criteria to take a position. See other group recommendations.

The Police Commission (Commission) oversees and adopts policies for the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD). The Chief of Police manages the SFPD’s day-to-day operations. The Board of Supervisors (Board) may also adopt policies for the SFPD by a majority vote.

Proposition E updates the San Francisco Police Department’s policies on technology (including drones, body cameras, and other surveillance technology), vehicle pursuits, and community input. It would allow police to install security cameras on public property, use drones to investigate certain crimes, and reduce the amount of paperwork police officers must complete.

Proposition E helps unblock and refocus the policing in San Francisco, helping officers get away from desks and back onto the streets to help solve crimes. This measure helps by allowing the San Francisco Police Department access to modern law enforcement tools that other police departments have used for years. Less time behind a desk means more time spent on the street, keeping the public safe.

Proposition E moves the City in the right direction because it will make it easier for SFPD to investigate crimes, arrest criminals, and help achieve justice for victims.

The measure requires 50% +1 votes to pass. 

This measure did not sufficiently meet our criteria to take a position. See other group recommendations.

This measure did not sufficiently meet our criteria to take a position. See other group recommendations.