Battle Lines Forming Around November Initiatives

by Casey Mills, 2005-09-21

Voter handbooks for November's election hit San Franciscans' doorsteps in just a few weeks, full of paid ballot arguments for this year's propositions. A look at who's funding what reveals two interesting aspects of November's election that may take on greater importance as campaigns surrounding the initiatives heat up. Prop. F would designate a higher base level of funding to the Fire Department that could end up costing the city $6 million a year. In a ballot argument primarily funded by the Firefighters Union, Mayor Gavin Newsom penned his endorsement of the measure, despite his refusing a request by the union months ago to put it on the ballot himself. Newsom and others also signed arguments largely funded by Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) against Prop. D, which would split the appointments to the MTA between the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors.



Endorsements of Prop. F represent the largest number of arguments for or against any initiative this November. The signatures on them look like a who's who of the San Francisco Democratic establishment, including Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Mark Leno, Carol Migden, and our Mayor.

The Firefighters Union Local 798 primarily funded almost all of their arguments, in addition to funding others from a variety of fire commissioners, the Sheriffs and Police unions, and the Republican Party.

Many believed that Newsom's refusal of a union request issued months ago to get Prop. F on the ballot himself signaled the Mayor would oppose the initiative should it get before the voters. Now, however, it appears Newsom had a change of heart - one that could be closely connected to his possible entry into the 2006 governor's race.

Union support represents an essential component to any Democrat's bid for statewide office, and Newsom could be using Prop. F to shore up his support among firefighters. Unfortunately, the notoriously bloated budget of the fire department means the Mayor's support may be good for his career, but bad for San Francisco.

Perhaps the most vocal opposition to Prop. F comes from Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth, a community-based organization fighting to keep families fed, housed, and able to continue living in San Francisco. Coleman calls the intiative an "expensive and irresponsible raid on the city budget, under the false guise of protecting public safety."

Coleman estimates Prop. F will force the city to spend $6.6 million to enact, funds that could be spent on vital programs for the city's most vulnerable residents, including keeping health clinics and rec centers open and providing more affordable housing. Whether Newsom's support for the initiative stays confined to union-funded ballot arguments remains to be seen.

Newsom, along with members of the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club and the Democratic Party, also signed arguments in opposition to Prop. D. The Coalition to Save MUNI Reform/Committee Against Prop. D paid for these arguments, a group which listed their primary source of funding to be BOMA.

BOMA represents the organized face of downtown power, making their opposition to MUNI reform odd. Downtown businesses disproportionately reap the benefits of public transportation in San Francisco, relying on MUNI to transport their employees from throughout the city to their offices. This service eliminates major traffic problems and the need for expensive parking structures for downtown business owners. It would seem BOMA would do everything it could to improve public transit in the city.

However, downtown's opposition to Prop. D probably does not solely involve their opinions on the merits of the initiative. Instead, it shows the cozy ties Newsom maintains with big business interests in San Francisco.

Newsom strongly opposes Prop. D, going so far as to write the opponents' argument in the ballot handbook. He views it as a power grab by the Board of Supervisors, and seems willing to fight to maintain all seven of his appointments to the agency that controls MUNI. BOMA's funding of ballot arguments in opposition to D shows their willingness to support the Mayor when asked, and evidence that when it comes to maintaining Newsom's power, his allies will circle the wagons when necessary.

Unfortunately, whether it's to gain statewide support from labor or retain power with downtown's help, the fights for F and against D do not represent fights for a better San Francisco. In the weeks leading up Election Day, it will become clear just how hard Newsom and downtown are willing to fight to achieve their goals.