November Proposition Positions
- A: SF General Hospital and Trauma Center Earthquake Safety Bonds
- I support a bond to fund the seismic retrofit of SF General. SFGH is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the region and the only hospital in the city equipped to handle a high number of patients following an earthquake or other disaster. It serves the vast majority of uninsured/under-insured city residents and delivers the majority of charity health care in the city—services private medical centers aren’t able to provide. It has been on the cutting edge of HIV/AIDS care since the outbreak of the disease in the early 1980s and is the hub of the city’s new universal health care initiative.
- B: Establishing Affordable Housing Fund 7/25/2008 Board of Supervisors
- I believe that the City must be a leader in providing funding for the construction of affordable housing in the city. San Francisco has lagged behind in meeting its goals for affordable housing development. And state and federal sources are disappearing - making it even more difficult to fund permanently affordable housing. This fund is an investment by the City to assure that we continue to have housing to meet the needs of all our residents.
- H: Setting Clean Energy Deadlines; Studying Options for Providing Energy; Changing Revenue Bond Authority to Pay for Public Utility Facilities
- As we are all becoming more conscious global warming and reducing our carbon footprint, it would seem that financial resources could be better spent on energy efficiency, conservation and recycling, rather than acquisition and construction of massive infrastructure project. In this economic environment, it does not seem fiscally responsible to authorize the issuance of revenue bonds without checks and balances.
- J: Creating a Historic Preservation Commission
- K: Changing the Enforcement of Laws Related to Prostitution and Sex Workers
- L: Funding the Community Justice Center
- I support the Community Justice Center. It is time that people on the street receive more than just shelter and it allows us to reduce the congestion in the courts for petty crimes. We should establish the CJC, let it gain momentum, refine its operation, and then consider expanding it to other areas.
- M: Changing the Residential Rent Ordinance to Prohibit Specific Acts of Harassment of Tenants by Landlords
- N: Changing Real Property Transfer Tax Rates
- I do not support the increase in the property transfer tax because it is yet another instance of raising revenues instead of looking at how the city can be more efficient in providing services. The City has a spending problem not a revenue problem. This last year revenue grew at 5%, the problem is spending grew faster. It seems that every time the City faces a budget deficit, there is a proposal to increase the property transfer tax because it “doesn’t hurt anyone.” But I believe it does impact the value of property and does inflate costs.
- Q: Modifying the Payroll Expense Tax
- I support the change to the payroll tax because I believe that it will benefit small businesses by raising the threshold that triggers the tax and closes that partnership loophole thus applying the tax more equitably.
- V: Policy Against Terminating Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) Programs in Public High Schools
- I support the restoration of the JROTC program for P.E credits in high schools. JROTC is a leadership-training program that does not discriminate against any race, sex, or gender, and does not provide for the direct military recruitment of the JROTC participants. Students should have the opportunity to choose a program that they believe will help them become productive adults and responsible citizens.
