Newson is a neoliberal, a supporter of the economic status quo, someone who has shown no inclination to promote policy measures that would redistribute wealth and income from the disgustingly rich to the poor and the middle class. But Newsom is now saying that it probably won’t happen in his administration – because it would require him to do what he has never been willing to do: Take on the corporate power structure. He is running for governor in part on a promise to create single-payer health care in California – which is a great idea. He went up against much of the party establishment, pushed the issue, and helped create the political environmental that led the Supreme Court to say that same-sex marriage is the law of the land. Newsom did one amazing thing: He legalized same-sex marriage in San Francisco, and changed the entire national discussion. Newsom was an ineffective and conservative supervisor, an ineffective and pro-developer, anti-tenant mayor, an ineffective lieutenant governor who sued his own city to allow more waterfront development … and now he’s the Democratic Party’s standard bearer. It boggles our collective mind that, in the great state of California, with so much political talent and potential, the best we seem to be able to do is put up Gavin Newsom for governor. Working through a superPAC called Progress San Francisco, they have already at press time raised close to half a million dollars to attack candidates they don’t like.Īnyone supported by Progress SF and whatever other Big Tech and Real Estate PACs show up in the next month should be opposed by every independent-minded person who cares about the future of the city. These individuals and corporations, driven by greed and a desire for private profit, have done immense damage to the city and their agenda of unlimited growth (with no concern for the costs to existing residents) is frightening.
So no matter what else you do, go to the polls and vote Yes on 10 and yes on C.Ī final note: The major forces of evil in San Francisco these days are Big Tech and Big Real Estate, with the Chamber of Commerce a close third.
Yes on 10 has a strong statewide campaign. But both have a real chance of passing: Yes on C has a massive, broad-based grassroots campaign and has raised enough money to be competitive. C is central to our endorsement.īoth measures are bitterly opposed by the Chamber of Commerce and the landlords. So our position on this election is clear: The position any candidate for office takes on Prop. Rent controls on vacant apartments would slow the evictions and displacement that create more homelessness. Cs money would provide housing for thousands of people currently on the street. Together, they could make a dramatic difference in this town: Prop. C would do what San Francisco has needed to do for years: Tax the wealthiest corporations in town to pay for housing for homeless people. Under the law, cities and counties can’t impose controls on vacant apartments, giving landlords an incentive to get rid of long-term tenants. In this case, the Costa-Hawkins act bars local government from imposing effective rent controls. 10 would overturn one of the worst examples of a bad trend in California: The state Legislature likes to take away the ability of cities to deal with problems that the state won’t fix. Both would address the housing crisis both are desperately needed. The two most important things on the November ballot are state Proposition 10 and San Francisco Proposition C. CLICK HERE FOR OUR CLEAN SLATE VOTER GUIDE TO TAKE TO THE POLLS.