SAN FRANCISCO and State of CALIFORNIA - PDF document

1 SAN FRANCISCO and State of CALIFORNIA Ac
SAN FRANCISCO and State of CALIFORNIA Action About thi uidThe MUVA voter guide provides light analysis through a critical race lens. MUVA doesn’t always tell you what to do, but begs you to ask more questions, particularly about what the measure will do for Black people, as we are consistently the most marginalized demographic. We’re giving feedback on the issues, not the individuals The guiding light behind this Black voter guide is simple—how do the SF and CA 2020 ballot measures hurt or help Black people? We give you not only our recs, but the who, what, and $$$$ behind each prop AND the impact on our community. Our lives and our votes matter, impact on both must be considered Ballot measures can be very, very confusing for California voters—that’s usually on purpose. MUVA recommends that you always look to different sources to get your info. Don’t shortchange your ballot. Know that seemingly ‘reputable’ organizations are often

2 getting paid for the endorsements they'
getting paid for the endorsements they've made. 3 • 2020 Ballot Guide Proposition A Borrow $487.5M to improve parks, permanent and supportive housing, . Despite Rec & Parks’ history of second tier, unequal service to Black San Franciscans, our outdoor and supportive housing spaces need more money and this bond Proposition B Split DPW from City Administrator and create the Department of . Shit’s been wild at DPW (and decentralizing power of this department to create new oversight commission for a Dept. of Sanitation and Streets sounds like a good idea) and yet, we already have hella boards & commissions that don’t do Proposition C Increase representation on Boards . Let’s increase representation and make room for everyone who contributes to society, regardless of their status and documentation, by removing the YES YES No SF 4 • MUVA: Move in Unity Victory + Action Proposition D Greater oversight of the Sheriff’s Dept. . Our Sheriff’s De

3 partment perpetuates anti-Black racism a
partment perpetuates anti-Black racism and violence through its control of our jails, enforcement of warrants, transport of prisoners and This change in oversight would help with key concerns to the Black community—including reviewing complaints made against the Sheriff's department, investigating in-custody deaths, and making policy recommendations on police use of force through a commission and Office Eliminate mandated number of police . There are too many police surveilling Black bodies in SF. Eliminate the Proposition F increase gross receipts tax . Overhaul the SF business tax structure by phasing out payroll taxes, increasing gross receipts business tax rates for some, and increasing the number of small Proposition G Allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in . Expand the vote by any means necessary. Haters will say that young people can’t be trusted with such an important job, but a lot of these youngsters have more YES YES YES YES 5 • 2020 Ballot Guide Proposi

4 tion H . My cousin shouldn’t have
tion H . My cousin shouldn’t have to work at the Dept. of Building Inspection Proposition I Increase taxes on property sales There’s no guarantee that the corporations with this type of money won’t work around to avoid paying these taxes (LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO) or that it will generate the estimated $196M in annual revenue (as the Controller’s office has said). It’s hard to plan for programs The regressive nature of our tax system has not been adjusted, despite the coupling of health and economic crises. People Transfer taxes rely on a healthy economy. In our current recession and a shaky real estate market, this is no guarantee. Plus, the promised $$$ can be changed by a legislative vote to be used for Proposition J . It’s true that teachers deserve better salaries and that students need deeper tech investments to support distance learning. It’s also true that SFUSD is failing Black students, evidenced by low test scores and some of the worst a

5 chievement outcomes in California. It&#
chievement outcomes in California. It’s unclear whether these tax revenues will be equitably invested to close the racial YES YES It’s a 6 • MUVA: Move in Unity Victory + Action YES Proposition K Authorize SF to build or rehabilitate When it comes to affordable housing promises to “save the SF Black Community™,” the history of redevelopment and targeted gentrification has shown that healthy, safe housing is never prioritized for us once the bag$ have been secured. As Black SF leaders of the past If we want an opportunity to advocate for Black residents to be prioritized for affordable housing, we must first pass this request to the state because of Article 34, a vestige of segregationist CA policy. If Black homes matter, then we need to actually build for our community, support existing public and subsidized housing, and question if the City should Proposition L Tax companies where the top exec earns 100x or more the median salary . More funds woul

6 d be great given our bleak economic outl
d be great given our bleak economic outlook. Larger businesses are throwing SF the deuces sign, so it’s unclear how much revenue this measure will actually generate (not to mention, corporations are slick with it when it comes to protecting This is a cute idea for more money with a shallow vision for implementation. Measure RRThree-county sales tax to fund CalTrain. . We support better public transit service, despite the history of divestment from Black riders and neighborhoods. The CalTrain Board recently passed an they say will help “develop programs to promote ridership across all which is code for low-income riders and people of color. Still, this sales tax is inequitable and CalTrain is largely remains a luxury service for tech workers to get to the peninsula (many of whom can work from home indefinitely or are leaving the Bay as we YES It’s a 7 • 2020 Ballot Guide Proposition 14 The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, The Latino Can

7 cer Institute, Sickle Cell Disease Hates
cer Institute, Sickle Cell Disease Hates it: Jeff Sheehy, board member of the California Institute for Regenerative $7,546,270 (Mostly Robert Klein, JDRF . We are pro-science, anti-pharma money grab. Obama lifted most federal restrictions on funding stem cell research. The first set of bonds that passed have yielded no results, yet Californians are still paying the bill. This would grow annual payments to $587M/year. Additionally, there are questions regarding the conflicts of interest of CIRM board members, who benefit from bond $. Lastly, Obama lifted most federal restrictions on stem cell research funding, so it’s unclear why we need an additional, publicly funded initiative, especially given aaaaaall the things we could spend $5.5B on in CA right now. California State Propositions NO CA 8 • MUVA: Move in Unity Victory + Action Proposition 15 Repeal Prop 13’s tax caps for commercial and industrial properties, only, with Joe Biden, Gov. Gavin Newsom, California Teac

8 hers Association, Chan California Chamb
hers Association, Chan California Chamber of Commerce, California Retailers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, $41,555,499 (Major Donors: California Teachers Association, SEIU California and $34,594,659 (Major Donors: California Business Roundtable, California Business . Prop 15 would end a tax break on wealthier, bigger businesses, and could provide between $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion per year to counties, cities and school districts across the state. California has about 10,287 Black-owned businesses; due to racial wealth and land disparities, many small Black-owned businesses fall underneath the $3 million threshold, and would likely be exempt. There’s a concern that commercial landlords would pass through this tax to their tenants. More funding for struggling cities and school districts also means more opportunities to invest in our Black students, support for local hospitals and assistance for strapped Black Proposition 16 Mayors of San Francisco, Los An

9 geles, San Jose, Sacramento and Oakland,
geles, San Jose, Sacramento and Oakland, Patrisse Cullors and Alicia Garza Co-Founders, Black Lives Matter Hates it: Chinese American Civic Action Alliance, Students for Fair Admissions, CA $16,342,793 (CA Teachers, Kaiser, $1,032,621 (Students for Fair Admissions, an anti-affirmative action group, Gail Heriot, USD law professor, . Black [women] teachers. Black [women] students. Black [women] business contract opportunities. This initiative is about racial justice as much as it is about restoring gender equity in government business, public education, and employment Latinx) have been locked out of access to education and business contracts for 23 years because of Prop. 209 and CA YES YES 9 • 2020 Ballot Guide Proposition 17 Restore the right to vote for people on parole for felony convictions Legislation authored by Assm. Kevin McCarty Free the Vote CA, League of Women Voters in California, ACLU of California, State Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-4), of of California’s adult

10 population. We need to make sure justice
population. We need to make sure justice-involved Black folks (who also pay taxes, work and raise families) can fully reintegrate back into the mainstream, and influence policies that impact their daily lives. We also support extending the Allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections if they will turn 18 by Alex Padilla—Secretary of State, Hates it: The Election Integrity Project . Expand the vote by any means necessary. YES YES 10 • MUVA: Move in Unity Victory + Action Proposition 19 Allows older and/or disabled Californians a property tax break when buying a new home; these homebuyers can also purchase anywhere in CA and retain low property taxes. Closes an tax loophole that requires inherited homes not used as a main residence (such as second Legislation authored by Assm. Kevin MullinFirefighters, CA Nurses Association, CA The Orange County Register Editorial Board, Mercury News & East Bay $40,686,113 (California Association of Realtors, National Assoc

11 iation of Realtors, . A similar initiati
iation of Realtors, . A similar initiative was on the ballot 2 years ago - it failed. New funds from Prop 19 could generate billions for schools, firefighters, cities, counties and the state. Yet, there’s no guarantee that the money would directly benefit Black, Brown people or and low- of White ones. While Prop 19 may be a boon to Black baby boomers (whose opportunities, limited as they were, are even less available to millennials and Gen Z), it does skew tax breaks further Increase prison spending and revert to “tough on crime” approach Assm. Jim Cooper (D); Assm. Vince Fong (R); CA Retailers Association; Sacramento County DA Anne Marie Marie Hates it: Gov. Gavin Newsom, CA Dem $4,329,677 (Devin Nunes Campaign Committee (Republican congressman); San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Employee $6,750,941 [Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (co-founded by Mark Zuckerberg); Patty Quillin (philanthropist); Committee for CA . This initiative would move progress back on several cr

12 iminal sentencing laws, ultimately incre
iminal sentencing laws, ultimately increasing incarceration by making crimes that are currently misdemeanors eligible for felony sentencing. Prop. 20 limits early parole, and creates a path for tougher penalties for multiple parole violations. It also adds two new types of crime to NO NO 11 • 2020 Ballot Guide Replaces Costa Hawkins by allowing cities to 1) establish rent control on residential properties properties. Lastly, it prohibits rent Put on the ballot by petition signatures via AIDS Healthcare AIDS Healthcare Foundation, CA Democratic Party, Eviction Defense Network, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, US Gov. Gavin Newsom, Essex Property Trust, Inc., CA Chamber of Commerce, CA Council for Affordable $28,047,342 (AIDS Healthcare Foundation, CA Nurses Association, CA $45,307,184 (California Business Roundtable, Equity Residential—corporate . The rent’s too damn high. Stronger rent control across the state will protect Black renters and families, limit their rent

13 increases and preserve affordable housin
increases and preserve affordable housing. Black people are more likely to be rent-burdened, and COVID only made things worse. Prop 21 Lyft, Uber and DoorDash; CA Chamber of Commerce; CA NAACP; CA Hates it: Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; SEIU; (International Brotherhood of to overturn an existing law and create special rules for themselves, but not enough to pay their (primarily low-income) employees minimum wage, paid sick time, workers’ comp and healthcare? This measure is not just about the safety net provisions that being an employee would provide. It’s about the blatant exploitation of the companies cashing out on the backs of their workers. Even if you are against AB5, recognize that Prop. 22 does way more YES NO 12 • MUVA: Move in Unity Victory + Action Establish state requirements for kidney dialysis clinics, including: onsite physicians, reporting requirements and banning discrimination against patients based on the source Put on the ballot by Service Employees

14 International Union United Health Care
International Union United Health Care Workers, CA DaVita, Fresenius Medical Care, $6,212,857 (Service Employees Int’l Fresenius Medical Care, US Renal Care, Inc., Dialysis . More flashbacks—this prop is similar to an initiative that lost by 20 points in 2018. Voters will decide health regulations and a unionizing effort that impacts Black workers and dialysis patients. Supporters aim to limit clinic profits, hire on-site clinicians, and prevent insurance discrimination against people with Medicaid. Opponents say additional 80,000 Californians depend on dialysis multiple times a week. Chronic kidney disease among Black people is 3.6x higher than that among whites. There’s a deep, racial disparity in the quality of and access to care for patients with kidney disease, and there’s a higher number of Black folks on public health insurance programs. Our hope Alastair Mactaggart; Alice Huffman (CA NAACP); Common Sense Media; Rep. Ro Khanna; Consumer Hates It: ACLU, Do

15 lores Huerta, Consumer $5,893,652 (Alas
lores Huerta, Consumer $5,893,652 (Alastair Mactaggard) . This is the premature pet project of a wealthy SF real estate magnate that opponents argue could ultimately hurt consumers. It delays implementation of a rule allowing workers to find out what info employers collect about them. It would also make it easier for businesses to charge you more if you dont sell them your data. YES NO 13 • 2020 Ballot Guide End cash bail system and replace with tech-driven risk assessments via Sen. Robert Hertzberg (D-18), the legislative sponsor of Service Employees International Union, US Rep Karen Bass, League of Women Voters of California, NextGen California, CA Democratic Party, CA American Bail Coalition, CA Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, CA Bail Agents Association, CA Black Chamber of Commerce , CA Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, CA NAACP State $11,892,307 (Steve and Connie Balmer— $9,225,163 (AIA Holdings Inc., Triton Management Services, Bankers Insurance . The current ca

16 sh money bail system is racist and class
sh money bail system is racist and classist. If you can afford to pay bail, you go free. If not, you have to wait in jail for almost a year before your trial, even if you’re innocent. However, risk-based algorithms are not a perfect solution, and there are concerns from advocates on their use in release decisions. We need a more holistic NO 14 • MUVA: Move in Unity Victory + Action Notes 15 • 2020 Ballot Guide Notes is an homage to our Black identity as creators and givers of life to people and culture. MUVA is a community collective of Black womxn, seeking to build Black power by demystifying political and policy issues, uplifting our community needs, and mobilizing for radical, tangible change. We uplift the voices and brilliance of Black women, consistently the most reliable Democratic voters in turnout and performance. The words call on us to count on ourselves to not only win, but also to ensure that we see real action and change in the implementation of those wi