SF voters show support for all five propositions

San Francisco voters Tuesday were asked to consider five propositions. As of Wednesday afternoon, it appears all five safely passed. 

Proposition A: City College Job Training Repair and Earthquake Safety Measure

Yes: 70.76 percent. No: 29.24 percent.

The $845 million bond measure will allow City College to use the funds to make repairs, construct and acquire buildings or equipment across its nine campuses. The college will prioritize earthquake safety repairs and steps toward renewable energy.

Proposition B: San Francisco Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond, 2020

Yes: 81.08 percent.  No: 18.92 percent. Requires two-thirds vote to pass.

The $628.5 million emergency bond measure will help The City prepare for future major earthquakes by funding upgrades to San Francisco’s Emergency Firefighting Water System, fire and police stations, the 911 call center and other disaster facilities.

Proposition C: Retiree Health Care Benefits for Former Employees of the San Francisco Housing Authority

Yes: 68.12 percent. No: 31.88 percent.

The proposition comes in the wake of the San Francisco Housing Authority’s downfall. While acting as a separate local government agency that provides subsidies to low-income residents via the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD asked The City to assume responsibility for the Housing Authority after irregular budget issues. The proposition ensures former Housing Authority employees who found new jobs can receive retiree health care coverage.

Proposition D: Vacancy Tax

Yes: 68.1 percent. No: 31.9 percent. Requires two-thirds vote to pass.

Proposition D taxes owners and tenants who keep ground floor commercial space vacant as of Jan. 2021. They tax starts out in 2021 at $250 per street-facing foot and increases to $1,000 per street-facing foot in 2023. Only owners who keep spaces vacant for 182 days in a calendar year are subject to the tax. The new rule also applies to tenants and subtenants. The City expects the new tax law to generate at least $5 million annually, which will be used to help small businesses.

Proposition E: Limits on Office Development

Yes: 55.37 percent. No: 44.63 percent.

Proposition E would restrict office development if The City does not meet affordable housing goals. In 1986, voters limited development of projects with office space. Proposition E would allow further limitation if The City fails to meet the affordable housing goal of 2,042 units per year. If the goal is not met within a given year, the next year’s square footage allotment for office projects would be reduced by the same percentage as the affordable housing shortfall.

Editor’s Note: Results reflect the latest figures from the San Francisco Department of Elections as of March 4 at 12:54 a.m.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.