Month: October 2008

10/19/08

SF: Prop O – Replacing the Emergency Response Fee with an Access Line Tax and Revising the Telephone Users Tax

Shall the City replace the Emergency Response Fee with an Access Line Tax at the same rates and with the same exemptions, and revise the Telephone Users Tax?

That $2.75 fee seen in the phone bill for landlines is currently used to support the 911 service. But a court ruling found fees in general to be more of a tax than a fee. So now the only way the City can keep the fee in the bill is to make it into a tax. Although the revenue from the tax will not necessarily go towards supporting the 911 service. Instead, the revenue generated will go into the general fund where it can be distributed to other services. That sounds like a bad thing.

The proposition is also looking to revise the Telephone Users Tax to tax any future forms of communication whether it be VOIP or some other undiscovered form.

Vote no on Proposition O. Keep the fee until the court says otherwise and when the time comes, the voters can decide whether or not a tax is needed to fund the 911 service.

10/19/08

SF: Prop N – Changing Real Property Transfer Tax Rates

Shall the City increase its transfer tax on sales of real estate worth more than $5 million to 1.5% and reduce the tax by up to 1/3 on sales of residences where the seller installed solar energy systems or made seismic safety improvements?

I am going to vote yes for Proposition N. The proposition encourages residents to look towards tapping into solar energy to save on their electricity bills and create a safe environment against earthquakes. The City can also make some money off the increase in transfer tax to cover its budget deficit.

10/19/08

SF: Prop M – Changing the Residential Rent Ordinance to Prohibit Specific Acts of Harassment of Tenants by Landlords

Shall the City’s Residential Rent Ordinance be amended to prohibit specific acts of tenant harassment by landlords and to provide for enforcement by means of court orders, rent reduction, monetary awards or criminal penalties?

Proposition M prohibits landlords from doing certain acts which would be criminal outside the apartment building. The victims in this case are usually those living under rent control whose landlords wish to give them the boot to bump up the rent.
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10/19/08

SF: Prop L – Funding the Community Justice Center

Shall the City guarantee that the City provide first-year funding for the Community Justice Center, authorize the Director of Property to lease space for the CJC, and define the CJC’s scope and operations?

So, the Community Justice Center is already in place and has already leased space as well as hired the crew to staff the center. But, the Board of Supervisors decided to put a hold on their first year funding for unknown reasons. This proposition is on the ballot to guarantee that the Center receives the funding they were allotted when it was first created.
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10/19/08

SF: Prop K – Changing the Enforcement of Laws Related to Prostitution and Sex Workers

Shall the City: stop enforcing laws against prostitution; stop funding or supporting the First Offender Prostitution Program or any similar anti-prostitution program; enforce existing criminal laws that prohibit crimes such as battery, extortion and rape, regardless of the victim’s status as a sex worker; and fully disclose the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against sex workers?

Proposition K wants the City to not prosecute for prostitution and to not provide information of alternative opportunities to first-time offenders.

Yeah.

That is a no.

10/19/08

SF: Prop J – Creating a Historic Preservation Commission

Shall the City establish a seven-member Historic Preservation Commission and give it authority over historic preservation-related decisions in the City?

The City already has a Historic Preservation committee but the existing committee has no teeth. The current committee has nine members and are selected by the mayor. The proposed committee are still selected by the mayor but must have a majority vote by the Board of Supervisors.

The Historic Preservation Commission will be given the power to approve permits or certifications to allow demolition of our historic buildings and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisor. The decisions of the Commission cannot be appealed. The budget and staff of the commission will be drawn from the Planning Commission. So it is like a branch of the Planning Commission.

Anyhow, I am voting yes on Proposition J. Smaller committee creates less bureaucracy and quicker decisions. The previous committee had no power and thus was just a waste of resources.

10/19/08

SF: Prop I – Creating the Office of an Independent Rate Payer Advocate

Shall the City create an Office of the Independent Ratepayer Advocate to make recommendations about utility rates to the City’s Public Utilities Commission?

The PUC is the most powerful commission in the City in terms of budget and the projects they allocate. The PUC gets audited once every five years to determine if any changes need to be made in cases were the ratepayer (e.g. us) gets screwed.
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10/19/08

SF: Prop H – Setting Clean Energy Deadlines; Studying Options for Providing Energy; Changing Revenue Bond Authority to Pay for Public Utility Facilities

Shall the City: evaluate making the City the primary provider of electric power in San Francisco; consider options to provide energy to San Francisco residents, businesses and City departments; mandate deadlines for the City to meet its energy needs through clean and renewable energy sources; establish a new Office of the Independent Ratepayer Advocate to make recommendations about utility rates to the City’s Public Utilities Commission; and allow the Board of Supervisors to approve the issuance of revenue bonds to pay for any public utility facilities without voter approval?

Basically, Proposition H wants to set up the structure to take over the electric power infrastructure from PG&E with lofty goals of converting 100% to clean and renewable energy sources by 2040.
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10/18/08

SF: Prop G – Allowing Retirement System Credit for Unpaid Parental Leave

Shall the City allow City employees to purchase retirement system credit for unpaid parental leave taken before July 1, 2003, as long as the purchase price covers all City costs?

The proponents for proposition G guarantees that this amendment will not cost the taxpayers a dime which makes this an easy yes vote in my mind. It is just too bad that all City employees who had unpaid parental leave prior to July 1, 2003 and retired before today will not benefit from the passing of this proposition.

10/18/08

SF: Prop F – Holding All Scheduled City Elections Only in Even-Numbered Years

Shall the City shift all City elections except special elections to even-numbered years after the November 2011 election?

Short answer, no.

The long answer is there should be a separation between the national and city elections. We want the city officials to be given the opportunity to properly introduce themselves, their values, and their policies. If the election of city officials occur at the same time as the president, they would get nil air time.
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