Vote in the June 2 Primary Election

In 30 days, San Francisco residents will begin to receive their vote by mail ballots for the June 2 primary election. This midterm primary election carries a significant importance for our City and state’s future.

Local Initiatives

We have four local initiatives coming to voters this June.

The first, Proposition A, Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond, authorizes the City to borrow up to $535 million by issuing general obligation bonds for improvements and seismic upgrades to infrastructure used for emergency response and recovery. This includes initial expansion of the Emergency Firefighting Water System (EFWS), fire and police stations, Muni bus storage and maintenance facility at Potrero Yard, and other disaster response facilities. While I understand the concern that the construction cost of the EWFS is not funded to fully reach the Richmond District, we need to continue to make progress with the buildout of the system and I will continue to push for accountability, effective planning and funding to ensure the safety of the Richmond is prioritized.

Proposition B, Lifetime Term Limits for Mayor and Members of the Board of Supervisors. The initiative was placed on the ballot by my colleagues, supervisors Mahmood, Sherill and Sauter, and would amend the charter to set lifetime term limits for the mayor and supervisors, banning only these elected officials from running for the same office again after serving two terms. I suggest voters check out former Gov. Jerry Brown’s ballot statement arguing against the measure and explaining how this is an undemocratic measure aiming to block voter choice.

Proposition C, Decreases to Business Taxes. The measure aims to raise the gross receipts tax exemption threshold for businesses from $5 million to $7.5 million and change the date for a planned tax increase. According to a San Francisco controller’s report, this tax measure would increase the City’s budget deficit by $35 million to $40 million annually. Our City is currently facing an almost $1 billion deficit, and as your budget chair, I cannot support any measure that increases our budget deficit.

Lastly, Proposition D, Increases to Business Tax Based on Comparison of Top Executive’s Pay to Employees’ Pay, would increase our existing overpaid CEO tax in San Francisco. This increase only applies to companies that make over $1 billion in revenue, have more than 1,000 employees, and whose executives earn 100 times or more than their average worker. The controller’s report projects between $250 million and $300 million in increased revenues. I am supporting Prop. D, as it is time for overpaid executives and billion-dollar corporations to pay their fair share, particularly given the tax breaks they are receiving from the Trump Administration.

Elected Offices

Federally, we will be voting for our next congressperson with the retirement of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. We will also be voting on all of our executive state offices: governor; lieutenant governor; secretary of state; controller; treasurer; attorney general; insurance commissioner; state superintendent of public instruction; as well as Board of Equalization member for District 2; State Assemblymember for Districts 17 and 19 and Superior Court Judge, seat 16. Locally we have elections for the Board of Education, one seat, and the Board of Supervisors for District 2 (Marina) and District 4 (Sunset).

Our vote is our voice. At a time when our voting rights are being threatened by the Trump Administration and the U.S. Supreme Court, whether our right to vote by mail or to vote under our chosen names, now more than ever we must exercise and protect our rights and vote.

Voters are expected to receive their ballots in the mail by the first week of May, and it’s recommended you get them in early to prevent your vote from being disqualified by Trump’s undemocratic policies. Vote in person or turn in your ballot to one of the City’s drop boxes by June 2 or make sure to mail your ballot early.

Connie Chan represents District 1 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She can be reached at 415-554-7410 or chanstaff@sfgov.org.