Connie Chan for Congress +
If San Francisco is Goldilocks, Connie Chan is just right. Throughout her career she has supported renter protections, oversight of landlord-tenant conditions, and housing policies shaped by concerns about displacement, neighborhood stability, and affordability. Her approach emphasizes preserving existing affordable housing, protecting tenants, and promoting new housing with community safeguards. As Budget chair, Connie understands our city finances, and knows firsthand where our billionaire administration is cutting services for working people. She will be the best fighter to bring back dollars to invest in making our city affordable to working people.
Jane Kim for Insurance Commission +
The most important office in California that you may not have heard of is Insurance Commissioner. Historically this seat has been held by those who have catered hand over fist to the insurance industry. Jane is not one of those candidates. From making City College free to authoring the “Tenant Protections 2.0” package of 2015, Jane has a long track record of using government to work for working people. We have no doubt that Jane will bring that same tenacity to the role of Insurance Commissioner.
Local Candidates
Lori Brooke for District 2 Supervisor +
Lori Brooke has shown her commitment to tenants rights as cited by her concerns for the loss of rent-controlled housing as one of the reasons for her opposition to the Family Zoning Plan and in that, she’s fully aligned with SFTU’s goals and objectives.
Natalie Gee for District 4 Supervisor +
Natalie is a renter herself and an experienced legislative aide who has always stood with tenants, this is an easy endorsement for the SFTU. If you value someone with experience, and a track record of fighting for a more affordable City. Vote for Natalie Gee.
Alexandra Pray Superior Court Judge, Seat 16 +
Alexandra Pray’s record in San Francisco’s Public Defender Office will bring much needed perspective to their judgeship. Their opponent, on the other hand, has built a record working in the current District Attorney’s Office that has abandoned community justice reforms, undercut police misconduct investigations, and increased overall convictions. Pray has been at the forefront of combatting those regressive trends. SFTU is hopeful that Pray’s leadership will give tenants a fair shot in a court system that routinely sides with powerful landlord interests.
Board of Education +
This is outside of our field of expertise. No Position.
Local Ballot Measures
Prop A - Emergency Bond +
Due to the passthrough of costs to tenants we cannot support this measure. SFTU hopes to be able to support similar measures that do not include tenant passthroughs in the future. Tenants deserve safe, stable homes and infrastructure in their communities to support that. Property taxes, however, are specifically designed to tax those who will also financially benefit from improved community resources. Taxes on ownership must not be passed on to those who do not own property.
Prop B - Lifetime Term Limits +
In San Francisco, a Supervisor is elected by the district it resides and represents. Districts in San Francisco are made up of communities of neighborhoods and ethnicities with their own distinct interests that may or may not be the same as the rest of the City, particularly because of the huge income disparities among these districts. What is “sensible politics” in Pacific Heights and the Marina in District 2 may not be the same for people in the Mission or Outer Sunset. Limiting the choice of these communities to pick the best person to represent them at the Board and fight for their rights and interests is anti-democratic and not in line with San Francisco values.
Prop C - Business-Backed Waterdown Tax +
This measure is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and funded by billionaires. It is on the ballot to be a poison pill for Proposition D, the overpaid CEO tax. As of writing this, the title of the measure on the Department of Elections website is “Decreases in Business Taxes.” If you think the wealthy should pay their fair share, vote no on Prop C.
Prop D - Grossly Overpaid CEO Tax +
This is a gross receipts tax on businesses that pay their highest-paid managerial employee more than 100 times the median pay of their San Francisco Employees. It will help rebalance a city where working people face soaring rents while top executives collect outsized compensation. Companies benefiting most from San Francisco’s economy should contribute more toward the public good, which can support services and housing investments that make the city more livable for everyone. For renters, it is a matter of fairness: when inequality drives displacement and instability, asking the wealthiest corporate leaders to pay more is a reasonable way to invest in the communities their businesses rely on.
NOTICE TO VOTERS
THIS DOCUMENT WAS PREPARED BY San Francisco Tenants Union SMO, FPPC #1453022, 558 Capp Street, San Francisco CA, 94110, NOT AN OFFICIAL POLITICAL PARTY ORGANIZATION. Appearance in this mailer does not necessarily imply endorsement of others appearing in this mailer, nor does it imply endorsement of, or opposition to, any issues set forth in this mailer. Appearance is paid for and authorized by each candidate and ballot measure designated with an *.