SF voters could see 39 — yes, 39! — city ballot measures
When it comes to ballot initiatives, San Francisco’s politicians are like gardeners who neglect the weeding and end up with a jungle.
Voters are potentially facing 39 city ballot measures in November. Seven are public initiatives, two are regional bonds, and another two were proposed by City College and the Ethics Commission. The rest — 28 — are from the mayor and supervisors.
Those elected officials are taking advantage of an expected high turnout for the presidential election and the strong economy to propose tax increases — there are a whopping eight tax measures under consideration — as well as policies likely to appeal to the younger, more liberal electorate expected to turn out for the presidential election, like allowing noncitizens to vote in school board elections.
But many of the ballot measures have as much to do with politics as with substance. The mayor and the supervisors use ballot measures as bargaining chips to pressure colleagues to support legislation or a way to raise their profile by championing an issue they think will resonate with the public. They are also the result of a mayor and Board of Supervisors that are finding themselves unable to deal with some issues facing the city.
And with one state Senate seat up for election and six supervisorial seats — the outcomes will determine the balance of power on the Board of Supervisors — those tactics are in overdrive. Several of the proposed ballot measures deal with issues that could be decided by a vote of the Board of Supervisors, but a failure to compromise and a desire to force wedge issues means voters will decide instead.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/SF-voters-could-see-39-yes-39-city-8344592.php
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