Elections

Hello Voter!

This is the Kate Slate for the November 5, 2024, Consolidated Presidential Election in San Francisco. The goal of the Kate Slate is to encourage others to vote. If you’d like to learn more about the Kate Slate, scroll down to the end.

Please vote on or before Tuesday, November 5, 2024. In fact, bonus points if you vote early. San Francisco polls are open and I already received my ballot! 

Here is how you can vote this year:

• Vote by mail. All registered voters were to be mailed a ballot for this election. You must return your ballot on time to be counted. If you return your ballot by mail, make sure it’s postmarked by November 5 (check collection times if you use a USPS mailbox). You can also return your ballot at your polling place on Election Day, November 5, 2024. You may also authorize another person to drop off your ballot for you. Follow the directions in your ballot package.
• Vote using a Voter Drop Box. San Francisco provides 37 drop boxes across San Francisco where you can return your ballot. These boxes are available 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 5.
• Vote at the Voting Center. The Voting Center is open as of October 7 to provide ballots and services to all city residents who wish to pick up or drop off vote-by-mail ballots, register to vote (before or after the registration deadline), obtain personal assistance, use accessible voting equipment, obtain replacement ballots, and cast their ballots in person. This is a great resource if you make an error on your ballot and need to get a new one (as is your polling place on Election Day).
• Vote in person at your polling place. Your polling place is open November 5, 2024, 7am to 8pm. They will also assist you if you make an error on your ballot and need a new one.

Even if you miss the October 21, 2024, deadline to register to vote in this election, you can still vote provisionally at all polling places in San Francisco, as well as the City Hall Voting Center. Provided you are eligible to vote in San Francisco and have not cast another ballot, your ballot will be counted. 

Go vote. Make sure you, and the voters you know, have a plan to vote. Once you vote, you can track your ballot using the very cool voter portal, no matter how you plan to vote. But make a plan to vote. My plan is to drop my ballot off in a Voter Drop Box in my neighborhood now that I have this Kate Slate drafted. 

Feel free to forward the Kate Slate to friends (and friends, if someone other than me–Kate–sent this to you feel free to drop me a line if you end up reading it, I like to hear who this made its way to, and I can add you to the email list for the next Kate Slate).

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Grab and go! (The short version you can take with you to the polls. See below for the details.)

Local Offices

• SFUSD Board of Education (up to four): Virginia Cheung, Jaime Huling, Matt Alexander
• City College Board of Trustees (up to four): Alan Wong
• BART Board Director, District 7: Victor Flores
• BART Board Director, District 9: Edward Wright
• Mayor: #1 Aaron Peskin, #2 London Breed
• Supervisor, District 1: Connie Chan
• Supervisor, District 3: #1 Sharon Lai, #2 Moe Jamil
• Supervisor, District 5: Dean Preston
• Supervisor, District 7: Myrna Melgar
• Supervisor, District 9: #1 Jackie Fielder, #2 Stephen Torres, #3 Julian Bermudez
• Supervisor, District 11: #1 Ernest “EJ” Jones, #2 Chyanne Chen
• City Attorney: Abstain
• District Attorney: Ryan Khojasteh
• Sheriff: Michael Juan
• Treasurer: Jose Cisneros

State Propositions

• Prop 2: Bonds for public school and community college facilities: Yes
• Prop 3 – Constitutional right to marriage: Yes
• Prop 4 – Bonds for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention: Yes
• Prop 5 – Allows local bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure with 55% voter approval: Yes
• Prop 6 – Eliminates constitutional provision allowing involuntary servitude: YES!
• Prop 32 – Raises minimum wage: YES!
• Prop 33 – Expands local governments’ authority to enact rent control: YES!
• Prop 34 – Restricts spending of prescription drug revenues by certain health care providers: No
• Prop 35 – Provides permanent funding for Medi-Cal: Yes
• Prop 36 – Allows felony charges and increases sentences for certain drug and theft crimes: NO!

Local Propositions

• Prop A – Bonds to improve earthquake safety and accessibility at San Francisco schools: Yes
• Prop B – Healthy, safe, and vibrant San Francisco bond: Yes
• Prop C – Amend the City Charter to create the new position of Inspector General: Yes
• Prop D – Amend the City Charter to limit commissions: NO!
• Prop E – Amend the City Charter to create a commission Task Force: Yes
• Prop F – Amend the City Charter to allow deferred retirement for police: NO!
• Prop G – Amend the City Charter to require affordable housing funding for seniors and low-income families: Yes
• Prop H – Amend the City Charter to change pension formula for SF Fire Department: No
• Prop I – Amend the City Charter to allow member nurses of SF Employees’ Retirement System to purchase credit: no
• Prop J – Amend the City Charter to ensure effective City funding for children, youth, and families: Yes
• Prop K – Use the Upper Great Highway as public open recreation space permanently closed to cars: YES
• Prop L – Tax TNCs and autonomous vehicles to fund Muni and discount fares: Yes!
• Prop M – Permanently change the taxes it collects from businesses: Abstain

Hello Voter!

This is the Kate Slate for the March 5, 2024, Consolidated Presidential Primary Election in San Francisco. The goal of the Kate Slate is to encourage others to vote.

I share my personal cheat sheet with you to help others navigate their own ballot. I write the Kate Slate myself, race-by-race, issue-by-issue, and share why I am voting the way I am. I tell you how I voted, and what impacted my decisions. 

Sometimes I end up voting against something that seems right up my alley if there is a fatal flaw. (Definitely true this election!) You probably won’t agree with me on everything, and that is okay! If you’d like to learn more about the Kate Slate, scroll down to the end.

Just please vote on or before Tuesday, March 5, 2024. In fact, bonus points if you vote early. San Francisco polls are open and I already received my ballot! 

Here is how you can vote this year:

• Vote by mail. All registered voters were to be mailed a ballot for this election. You must return your ballot on time to be counted. If you return your ballot by mail, make sure it’s postmarked by March 5 (check collection times if you use a USPS mailbox). You can also return your ballot at your polling place on Election Day, March 5. You may also authorize another person to drop off your ballot for you. Follow the directions in your ballot package.
• Vote using a Voter Drop Box. San Francisco provides 37 drop boxes across San Francisco where you can return your ballot. These boxes are available 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Election Day, March 5.
• Vote at the Voting Center. The Voting Center is open as of February 5 to provide ballots and services to all city residents who wish to pick up or drop off vote-by-mail ballots, register to vote (before or after the registration deadline), obtain personal assistance, use accessible voting equipment, obtain replacement ballots, and cast their ballots in person. This is a great resource if you make an error on your ballot and need to get a new one (as is your polling place on election day), or if you are not registered for a party but want to vote in a party’s primary election and you still need to swap your ballot.
• Vote in person at your polling place. Your polling place is open March 5, 7am to 8pm. They will also assist you if you make an error on your ballot and need a new one.

Even if you miss the February 20 deadline to register to vote in this election, you can still vote provisionally at all polling places in San Francisco, as well as the City Hall Voting Center. Provided you are eligible to vote in San Francisco and have not cast another ballot, your ballot will be counted. 

Go vote. Make sure you, and the voters you know, have a plan to vote. Once you vote, you can track your ballot using the voter portal, no matter how you plan to vote. But make a plan to vote. My plan is to drop my ballot off in a Voter Drop Box in my neighborhood. 

Feel free to forward the Kate Slate to friends (and friends, if someone other than me–Kate–sent this to you feel free to drop me a line if you end up reading it, I like to hear who this made its way to, and I can add you to the email list for the next Kate Slate).

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Grab and go! (The short version you can take with you to the polls. See below for the details.)

• President of the United States – abstain
• Member, County Central Committee (District 17) – Peter Gallota, John Avalos, Vick Chung, Gloria Berry, Adolfo Velasquez, Michael Nguyen, Sydney Simpson, Jane Kim, Anita Martinez
• Member, County Central Committee (District 19) – Natalie Gee, Frances Hsieh, Leah LaCroix, Queena Chen, Sandra Lee Fewer, Mano Raju, Gordon Mar
• United States Senator (term ending January 3, 2031) – Barbara Lee
• United States Senator (term ending January 3, 2025) – Barbara Lee
• United States Representative, District 11 – abstain
• State Senator, District 11 – Scott Wiener
• State Assembly Member, District 17 – Matt Haney
• Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #1 – Michael Isaku Begert
• Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #13 – Patrick Thompson
• Proposition 1: Authorizes $6.38B in bonds to build mental health treatment facilities – YES
• Proposition A: San Francisco affordable housing bonds – YES
• Proposition B: Amend City Charter with minimum police officer staffing levels – NOOOOOO
• Proposition C: Exempt the Real Estate Transfer Tax after property converts from commercial to residential – NO
• Proposition D: Enhance city ethics laws – YES
• Proposition E: Allow police department to make several changes to policing policies without further approval – NOOOOOO
• Proposition F: Require those receiving city public assistance participate in drug screening and treatment to receive benefits – NOOOOOO
• Proposition G: Encourage SFUSD to offer Algebra 1 to 8th Grade students – abstain

Now onto the full enchilada…

President of the United States – abstain

This is the primary and California voters are very likely to nominate the incumbent, Joe Biden, for president. And, I won’t waste my ink on a world leader who won’t stand up to end senseless genocide, and worse, is personally responsible for enabling it.

Member, County Central Committees Districts 17 and 19

You have to be registered to vote as a member of the Democratic Party to vote in this race; if you aren’t you won’t have this on your ballot. And, there are two slates depending on what part of SF you live in. You can elect up to 14, and these VIPs have the privilege of nominating the official Democratic Party Slate. This means mayor, Board of Supervisors, etc. If one set of names aren’t on your ballot, check the other district. And, if neither are on your ballot but you want to vote in this race, head over to the Voting Center at City Hall where you can exchange your ballot for one with this race and vote in person. And now, the candidates…

District 17 – Peter Gallota, John Avalos, Vick Chung, Gloria Berry, Adolfo Velasquez, Michael Nguyen, Sydney Simpson, Jane Kim, Anita Martinez

Peter Gallota is a clean energy and queer rights advocate who is the current chair of the DCCC; John Avalos fought for working families when he was Supervisor; Vick Chung and Anita Martinez fought to stop cuts to classes at City College and are elected members of its Trustees; Gloria Berry is on the SF Reparations Committee where she is fighting for…reparations; Adolfo Velasquez is an SF State educator who fights for low-income students; Michael Nguyen is Juicy Liu, a drag performer and API activist attorney; Sydney Simpson is a union nurse who fights for evidence-based health initiatives and strong worker protections; and Jane Kim is my favorite progressive San Francisco politician who stands up for working class families and queer rights.

District 19 – Natalie Gee, Frances Hsieh, Leah LaCroix, Queena Chen, Sandra Lee Fewer, Mano Raju, Gordon Mar

Here’s who I recommend and why for D19: Natalie Gee is a legislative aide and Chinatown community organizer working on language access; Frances Hsieh is a labor leader who has supported AAPI, women, and immigrants in city government; Leah LaCroix helped in the fight for free Muni for Youth when she was chair of the SF Youth Commission; Queena Chen is a Chinatown transportation organizer and cofounder of the Rose Pak Democratic Club who serves on the SFMTA’s Citizen Advisory Committee; Sandra Lee Fewer is a former progressive Supervisor who is a strong coalition builder; Mano Raju is a badass elected Public Defender whose efforts are reforming our justice system; and, Gordon Mar is a former progressive Supervisor who fought for low income and immigrant families.

United States Senator (term ending January 3, 2031) – Barbara Lee

United States Senator (term ending January 3, 2025) – Barbara Lee

This is the primary for two races for the same seat in the US senate, but for different terms. The first is finishing the remaining term vacated by Dianne Feinstein when she passed. The second is the following six-year senate term. You’ll vote on these two same seats come November with the two top vote getters in this primary. 

And, I emphatically endorse Barbara Lee for both now and in November. Barbara Lee has a phenomenal voting record as an assemblymember where she is famous for being the only legislator to vote against the retaliatory Gulf War after September 11. Beyond that she constantly defends rights for the working class, immigrants, women, and queers. And, as we know how much representation matters, I am proud to be voting for a Black woman for senate. Vote for Barbara Lee. 

United States Representative, District 11 – abstain

The truth is that Nancy Pelosi will easily be reelected as one of the Democratic Party’s biggest fundraisers. I wish she had ended her service in the House at the end of her term, passing the torch onto the next generation of Democrats. Instead she has been embarrassing herself with ridiculous gaslit accusations about those begging our federal leadership for an end to the genocide in Gaza. Gross, Nancy. Save your ink.

State Senator, District 11 – Scott Wiener

Scott Wiener is so often on the wrong side of issues for me, except transportation funding and transgender rights. But, those who are running against him don’t meet the muster either, so I am endorsing Wiener here.

State Assembly Member, District 17 – Matt Haney

Matt Haney is another candidate who has not impressed in the state assembly but is running against candidates who would be even less likely to do so. He talks a good game for affordable housing but hasn’t delivered any solid outcomes yet. C’mon Matt. San Francisco needs you to deliver!

Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #1 – Michael Isaku Begert

Begert is known as “one of the good guys” working in SF courts diverting those charged with minor crimes into drug and mental health treatment and job counseling instead of jail.

Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #13 – Patrick Thompson

Thompson has also had success on the bench working in the pretrial system where he stands up for what’s right and fair, and is outside the victim blaming doom-cycle that has others in the justice system pointing fingers instead of addressing the fentanyl crisis that is fueling SF crime.

Proposition 1: Authorizes $6.38B in bonds to build mental health treatment facilities – YES

If you care about addressing the drug epidemic that is impacting just about every quality of life issue in the state, then you will vote yes on State Proposition 1. 

It both modifies an existing state tax and also includes a $6.38B bond supported by the governor and majorities both in the state assembly and senate to be used for substance abuse, housing, and supportive services. 

The new money would go to county health departments and grants to organizations that treat behavioral health, including permanent supporting housing and creating more inpatient and residential treatment beds. 

Prop 1 is the right direction to address this issue, unlike SF’s prop F (see below) that does the complete opposite. Vote YES. Let’s get 11,000 more treatment beds and services for more than 27,000 people who so desperately need it to finally turn the tide on this crisis.

Proposition A: San Francisco affordable housing bonds – YES

Speaking of needing to vote yes on an initiative to turn the tide on a crisis…a yes vote on Prop A would fund 1,500 affordable housing units in San Francisco that are currently stalled in the housing pipeline due to lack of funding! Also, this requires a two-thirds majority to pass, and city leaders are afraid if it doesn’t pass that it will sound a death knell for future progressive measures. We’ve seen it before in San Francisco. I can’t vote YES on this one fast enough.

Proposition B: Amend City Charter with minimum police officer staffing levels – NOOOOOO

If we need more officers, the mayor or the Board of Supervisors can do so right now without this garbage legislation. 

The San Francisco Controller’s Statement on this proposition is that if this were to pass, it would have a “significant impact on the cost of government.” This sets up a situation where the city’s general fund could be depleted to meet this policy when the city has more vital needs. And, as the city is faced with a budget crisis, belts are going to get tighter and tough funding decisions are going to be made. We can’t have our budget tied up by unnecessary policy. 

It is ballot box budgeting at its absolute worst and does not reflect San Francisco values. This is just a bad government move spurred by the doom cycle media frenzy. Vote NO!

Proposition C: Exempt the Real Estate Transfer Tax after property converts from commercial to residential – NO

This prop would provide an unnecessary benefit to wealthy real estate developers in an effort to encourage them to convert offices into housing. Not to be a downer but a realist, this proposition builds on the unlikely and idealistic premise that the housing crisis could be addressed by repurposing underused commercial real estate for housing. 

The San Francisco Controller’s statement on this proposition is that it would significantly decrease the City’s transfer taxes revenues. Unfortunately, this hopeful but not realistic initiative would cost the city more money during our continuing financial crisis spurred by the pandemic. 

Worse, the proposition also has a poison pill that allows the Board of Supervisors to overturn the real estate transfer taxes on properties worth $5+ million that fund affordable housing and City College that voters approved. Vote NO.

Proposition D: Enhance city ethics laws – yes

Here’s my disclosure that I am a city official so this would impact me directly. In the shadow of rampant corruption in San Francisco, I support the Ethics Commission’s effort to provide firmer policy for employees on gift-giving and professional relationships while providing city officials a clearer definition for bribery. 

I know from personal experience that these ethics rules can feel cumbersome. And, they are difficult to get right. But, I also know that corruption in city government is slowing down and even undermining the good efforts of some of our smartest and hardest working city staffers. Let’s make it clearer that conflicts of interest are not tolerated in good government. Vote yes.

Proposition E: Allow police department to make several changes to policing policies without further approval – NOOOOOO

Here is just another piece of garbage legislation. It is just too far reaching! There are so many details to this proposition that cannot be justified as a whole with so many questionable parts.

For example: It overrides sensible policies like the current ban on high-speed chases…that saves lives. It also limits the time officers are allowed to spend reporting use-of-force incidents. (Why???) And, it allows for unchecked use of surveillance when SFPD already has considerable tools available. Vote NO.

Proposition F: Require those receiving city public assistance participate in drug screening and treatment to receive benefits – NOOOOOO

This proposition would require poor housed adults who receive $712/month and unhoused adults who receive $821/month for expenses (that include housing/shelter, food, utilities, and employment assistance) to be screened for illegal drug use. And, if the screener suspects the person receiving these funds to be a drug user, they would be required to participate in a treatment program in order to continue to receive these meager benefits. 

While many concerned with the state of the fentanyl epidemic may be inclined to vote yes, I am voting no. This plan would limit poor adults’ ability to access other opportunities, such as employment, housing, or educational opportunities to receive the meager support they currently receive. People who have limited means to make ends meet sometimes turn to illegal activities for day-to-day survival. Rather than get back on their feet, these mandatory programs continue the cycle of drug abuse. 

So, this plan would exacerbate the issue it aims to resolve. And, I can say this with confidence because this is a tried-and-failed plan here in San Francisco I know about from firsthand experience: When I first moved back to the Bay Area after college, I got a temp job doing intake at a drug treatment program in San Francisco  for people who were arrested for using drugs in public more than once. 

If these folks received public assistance when they were arrested, they were required to attend the program to receive their monthly funds. But, because the treatment program was in the middle of weekdays, the patients often were not able to address other issues like applying for housing or applying for food stamps. And, most of the customers I did intake for were not there for the first time. The program ended after it was deemed a failure.

I saw firsthand that policies such as this do not work. They are cruel and they keep people down who are already marginalized by poverty and health issues. And, many are veterans, too. Let’s find a better way to care for our poor who are struggling. Let’s not punch them while they are down. We need solutions that end the cycle of poverty and drug abuse. Vote NO.

Proposition G: Encourage SFUSD to offer Algebra 1 to 8th Grade students – abstain

This is a nonbinding policy statement that has no business being on the ballot. As I write this, Feb. 13, SFUSD is having a school board meeting where a new math sequencing plan is being considered that proposes to bring Algebra back to 8th Grade. 

For the back story here, in 2014, in an effort to address racial disparities in math education, the district reordered how students take math. It turns out the reordered sequencing didn’t have the results that were intended so the school district is addressing it. And, this policy statement passes, it would tell SFUSD that voters agree! Algebra should be taught in 8th Grade! But only after SFUSD’s binding decision would be made. Sigh.

This is just a ballot initiative to undermine SFUSD leadership, another ballot hit job on San Francisco’s schools. Save your ink and don’t validate the haters with a vote. It won’t be binding anyhow.

Okay! Now go out and vote!!

About the Kate Slate

I started writing the Kate Slate after the first time I voted. Standing in the voting booth, pen-in-hand, poised to vote, I was shocked that I didn’t understand all the issues or know all the candidates on the ballot. I was politically active in my community, and a bit of a politics and news junky. I felt like I showed up to take a test unprepared. 

The next election, I studied the ballot and shared my notes with friends, bringing about the Kate Slate, a tradition that continues for every election I’ve had the opportunity to vote in since. For the past decade plus, the Kate Slate is preceded by a Slate Party my pal Sacha Ortega co-hosts with me. The Slate Party is a big informer of the Kate Slate, as are voter guides, social media, and coffee break chatter.

And, in case you were wondering, the opinions in the Kate Slate are my own, and in no way should be thought to represent any views of anyone other than myself. I have thoughtful, engaging conversations with well-informed people who shed light on aspects I hadn’t considered; I get the tacky expensive mailers you get; and, cool people like yourself send me others’ slates. I am not affiliated with any party. Happy voting!!

Here is the Kate Slate for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary in San Francisco.

The goal of the Kate Slate is to encourage others to VOTE! by sharing my cheat sheet. You probably won’t agree with me on everything, and that is okay! Just please vote on or before Tuesday, March 3, 2020.

If you can, it is always best to cast a live ballot at your polling place. You can always go to City Hall on Election Day (March 3!) 7am-8pm to register and cast a provisional ballot If you don’t know your polling place, or where you were last registered to vote, or even if you don’t know if you are registered. But go vote.

If you have an absentee ballot, you can surrender your absentee ballot for a live ballot at your polling place. This is what I usually do. The poll workers will destroy your surrendered absentee ballot and its envelope, and will give you a live ballot. This assures you that your ballot is read and counted as you intended it. (When you vote absentee, if a machine rejects your ballot, the machine depends on a human to interpret your absentee ballot. I am not trying to be all conspiracy-theorist here, but feeding your own ballot into the machine and hearing it beep is the best way to ensure your ballot is interpreted as you intend it to be, particularly if you abstain on votes as I will this election.)

I write the Kate Slate race-by-race, issue-by-issue, and sometimes end up voting against something that seems right up my alley if it has some fatal (to me) flaw. I tell you if I think it does and why.

My opinions in the Kate Slate are my own, and in no way should be thought to represent any views of anyone other than myself. I have thoughtful engaging conversations with well-informed friends who sometimes shed light on aspects I hadn’t considered; I get the tacky expensive mailers you get (no I am not going to vote for you Mr. Super Billionaire); and, cool people like yourself send me others’ slates. I am not affiliated with any party.

When I voted for the very first time as an eighteen year old, I found myself in the voting booth surprised that I didn’t understand all the issues or know all the candidates on the ballot. The next election, I studied the ballot and shared my notes with friends, bringing about the Kate Slate. For the past decade the slate is preceded by a Slate Party my pal Sacha Ielmorini co-hosts with me. The Slate Party is a big informer of the Kate Slate, as is the League of Pissed Off Voters (thank you for your impeccably-researched guide), social media and coffee break chatter.

Feel free to forward the Kate Slate to friends (and friends, if someone other than me–Kate–sent this to you feel free to drop me a line if you end up reading it, I like to hear who this made its way to, and I can add you to the email list for the next Kate Slate).

As always, thanks for reading, now please go vote. Take others with you.

Grab and go! (The short version you can take with you to the polls. See below for the details.)

President of the United States – Elizabeth Warren
United States Representative, District 12 – Shahid Buttar
United States Representative, District 14 – Jackie Spier
State Senator, District 11 – Jackie Fielder
State Assembly Member, District 17 – Abstain
Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #1 – Maria Evangelista
Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #18 – Michelle Tong
Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #21 – Carolyn Gold
State Proposition 13 – Bonds for Facility Construction at Schools – Yes
School Proposition A – City College Job Training and Earthquake Safety Measure – Yes
City and County Proposition B – San Francisco Earthquake Bond – Yes 
City and County Proposition C – Make retiree health care coverage available to former San Francisco Housing Authority employees? – Yes 
City and County Proposition D – Tax owners or tenants who keep ground floor retail or other commercial space vacant to assist small businesses? – Yes
City and County Proposition E – Tie annual allotment for Large Office Projects to Affordable Housing Goals and change the approval criteria for office projects? Yes
Democratic Party County Central Committee (DCCC) Assembly District 17 John Avalos, Peter Gallotta, Matt Haney, Frances Hsieh, Jane Kim, Honey Mahogany
Democratic Party County Central Committee (DCCC) Assembly District 19 Queena Chen, Leah LaCroix, Janice Li, Faauuga Moliga, Mano Raju

Now for the long form version of the Kate Slate:

President of the United States – Elizabeth Warren

I am excited to vote for Elizabeth Warren. She is the candidate I’d most like to vote for in the primary and in the November presidential election. And, like most voters, I hope that it is possible that the candidate who runs against the president in November is someone whose politics align with mine. In this primary, there are only two candidates who I feel do: Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. While I think it is tempting to vote for my second-best since he may better align with “the rest of America,” if we all do that, we will nominate our second-favorite candidate rather than our favorite.

Bernie is good but Elizabeth Warren is better. She has detailed plans on how she hopes to achieve ambitious goals that address the tough issues our country faces, from economic disparities to climate change, from the affordability crisis to health care. And, these plans take into account the problematic political climate that will hinder progress if we don’t address it. Warren simply has a better track record than Sanders at doing the hard work to make substantial impactful change. I have been impressed how even during the campaign she is achieving results that are advancing positive outcomes.

The parts of her campaign I am most excited about are her “ultra-millionaire tax” to fund education, healthcare, and childcare, and her commitment to revitalize the agricultural industry while addressing climate change.

The ultra-millionaire tax is brilliant: it would tax households worth more than $5 million or more a 2% tax of every dollar of net worth above $50 million, and a 6% tax above $1 billion. That small tax would fund universal child care, high quality public education, free public college, allow student loan debt to be forgiven, and help finance Medicare for All. Wow! It would raise $3.75 trillion!!

Her plan for Medicare for All takes into account the hostile federal political climate and includes a transition period from our existing system. Elizabeth Warren acknowledges that any Medicare for All legislation is primed for veto by the Republican leadership, so she has a first-term approach to make anti-corruption reforms that are unfortunately necessary to make meaningful changes to health care, reduce drug prices and provide a Medicare for All option that would be free for some in her first term, and eventually free for everyone.

As someone who grew up in an agricultural Sonoma County, I love Elizabeth Warren’s smart plan for revitalizing these communities through restorative farming practices that would offset the country’s transportation carbon emissions.

Her to-do list is strategic in all the best ways: leveraging America’s greatest strengths to address our most pressing issues. There is just not a candidate as good as her. Vote Elizabeth Warren.

United States Representative, District 12 – Shahid Buttar

This is a primary, and Nancy Pelosi is likely to clinch one of the two spots that are on the ballot come November, the prize of this primary election. This is a little bit of a rerun of when both Nancy Pelosi and Shahid Buttar ran in the 2018 primary. Then, the second spot on the November 2018 ballot went to Republican Lisa Remmer. In 2020, I am encouraged by the momentum for us to challenge perhaps the most powerful woman in the world with a candidate who better reflects our district’s values: Shahid Buttar. 

Say what you want about Congresswoman Pelosi, but it is inarguable that she spends the majority of her time on (currently very messy) federal issues rather than representing our district to address the challenges that matter to our community most, like climate change, health care, and housing. I get that Pelosi is set to easily win both the primary and November’s election, but I am encouraged by Buttar challenging her to better serve her constituents, and having a candidate in November that better reflects our district’s values.

United States Representative, District 14 – Jackie Spier

I don’t vote in District 14, but I always get asked what I think about this race, so here it is: Jackie Spier is a badass representative. Unlike our District 12 Representative, Ms. Spier does a great job representing her constituents. She is a staunch defender of immigrant rights, standing up to the federal governments illegal tactics during this administration in particular. And, I love that she authored legislation to force lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct to pay settlements themselves instead of using public funds, as well as introducing legislation that would remove the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment so that it may finally pass after pushing it for nearly 40 years. Finally, Jackie Spier supports the New Green Deal. She is awesome! Vote Jackie Spier.

State Senator, District 11 – Jackie Fielder

Jackie Fielder is someone who cares about renters and affordable housing at the local level more than incumbent Scott Wiener. Scott Wiener lost my favor when he was on the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco. I do like that he supports transit with legislation that fund improvements, and I do agree that that state has to lead with housing policy for cities to be forced to do what is right, but I think Wiener’s tactics leave a lot to be desired in achieving a housing policy that works for cities and renters. I am excited about Fielder’s New Green Deal for California and she brings a unique and needed perspective to the state senate as a formerly unhoused person. Go Jackie!

State Assembly Member, District 17 – Abstain

I stopped voting for Chiu in 2018. There are just so many city issues being tangled by state policy, from the housing crisis to innovative street design, and we need strong leaders representing San Francisco. David Chiu is unfortunately running unopposed so there is no need for me to vote for him for another term.

Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #1 – Maria Evangelista

I asked my pal Jesse Stout who is a criminal justice activist and attorney in San Francisco what he thought about the candidates for judges, and he gave me insights on the races for seats #1, #18, #21 that I will share with you here: Maria Evangelista brings charisma to her causes, and is dedicated to seeking justice for her clients. She’s a native San Franciscan born to undocumented parents. Her opponent has worked as a prosecutor.

Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #18 – Michelle Tong

Michelle Tong is also running against a prosecutor. Tong has litigated on behalf of tenants, immigrants, and workers. And she is apparently also a really fun person, according to the aforementioned Jesse Stout.

Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #21 – Carolyn Gold

I think I am most excited to vote for Carolyn Gold of the judge candidates. She is the litigation director at Eviction Defense Collaborative. For 15 years, she’s protected thousands of San Franciscans from eviction. Since we passed Prop F in 2018 she’s helped lead implementation of SF’s civil right to counsel for evictions. A candidate you can feel good voting for. And, surprise! She is also running against a prosecutor. I guess it is a theme.

State Proposition 13 – Bonds for Facility Construction at Schools – Yes

This would be the largest school construction bond in California state history if passed and it enables districts to place bond measures to raise the taxable limit of property for schools that would then be matched. I am sure many people are going to be confused that this Prop 13 funds school construction when California’s 1978 Proposition 13 gutted school funding, but that is a different conversation. Here we are in 2020 and for this Proposition 13, I am voting yes.

School Proposition A – City College Job Training and Earthquake Safety Measure – Yes

This is a much needed measure to fund facilities and training at one of San Francisco’s most important institutions. What’s great about this one is that it is smartly designed legislation. Pals at League of Pissed Off Voters explain, “None of the money can go to administrator salaries, the state has to keep their hands off the money since it’s coming through a local measure, and there’s an oversight committee to watch how the money gets spent.” Yes, vote yes!

City and County Proposition B – San Francisco Earthquake Bond – Yes 

I am guilty of consistently voting yes on earthquake bonds in earthquake country to prepare us for earthquakes. This one is particularly compelling because it would fund maintenance and repairs to our cistern system dating back to the 1850s that, by the way, helped save the Mission (my neighborhood) from burning down after the 1906 earthquake. Yes!

City and County Proposition C – Make retiree health care coverage available to former San Francisco Housing Authority employees? – Yes 

File under: administrative. Any changes to the City Charter must go to the voters, and just because this addresses health care administration for only 24 workers, it still has to go to the voters. It sounds like these workers got the short end of the healthcare stick when there was some bureaucratic shuffling of management of the San Francisco Housing Authority to address its mismanagement. At any rate, we can fix that now and do what is right by the workers by voting yes.

City and County Proposition D – Tax owners or tenants who keep ground floor retail or other commercial space vacant to assist small businesses? – Yes

This is one of two compelling propositions on the ballot that will help address the affordability crisis by taxing those who are maintaining vacant storefronts after six months to encourage their activation. Currently storefronts are often left vacant until someone will pay the predatory sky-high rents that make this city unaffordable for many of us. The money raised here would go to support small business (though it is a pittance, let’s be real). I mostly love this proposition as a property owner-motivator, and it is about time. Vote yes.

City and County Proposition E – Tie annual allotment for Large Office Projects to Affordable Housing Goals and change the approval criteria for office projects? Yes

Here is the second of the two compelling propositions on the ballot that will help address the affordability crisis, this one relates to housing. This ties the allowed capacity of office development to the city’s affordable housing goals, that we don’t typically meet. So, if we only reach 50% of our affordable housing goals, the capacity for office development would be decreased by half. By pairing office project capacity with affordable housing goals, we incentivize real estate investors to meet the city’s affordable housing goals. It is an interesting strategy and I am all for it, since the workers at those offices have to live somewhere, and I rather they not live a two-hour commute away. Vote yes.

Democratic Party County Central Committee (DCCC)

Guess what?! I am not a member of the Democratic Party so I don’t get to vote on this slate. The DCCC votes on endorsements for candidates and ballot initiatives for the official San Francisco Democratic Party. They have a lot of power. So! I happen to still have opinions about favorite candidates. You get to vote for up to fourteen seats for District 17 and ten seats for District 19 so make sure you include these awesome people:

Assembly District 17 

John Avalos, Peter Gallotta, Matt Haney, Frances Hsieh, Jane Kim, Honey Mahogany

Assembly District 19

Queena Chen, Leah LaCroix, Janice Li, Faauuga Moliga, Mano Raju

Oh hey! You made it to the end. Nice work. Now go out there and vote!

Here’s your Kate Slate for the November 2019 election for San Francisco. 

The goal of the Kate Slate is to encourage others to vote by sharing my cheat sheet. You probably won’t agree with me on everything, and that is okay! Just please vote on or before November 5, 2019.

If you can, it is always best to cast a live ballot at your polling place. You can always go to City Hall on Election Day (November 5!) 7am-8pm to register and cast a provisional ballot If you don’t know your polling place, or where you were last registered to vote, or even if you don’t know if you are registered. But go vote.

If you have an absentee ballot, you can surrender your absentee ballot for a live ballot at your polling place. This is what I usually do. The poll workers will destroy your surrendered absentee ballot and its envelope, and will give you a live ballot. This assures you that your ballot is read and counted as you intended it. (When you vote absentee, if a machine rejects your ballot, the machine depends on a human to interpret your absentee ballot. I am not trying to be all conspiracy-theorist here, but feeding your own ballot into the machine and hearing it beep is the best way to ensure your ballot is interpreted as you intend it to be, particularly if you abstain on votes as I will this election.)

I write the Kate Slate race-by-race, issue-by-issue, and sometimes end up voting against something that seems right up my alley if it has some fatal (to me) flaw. I let you know if I think it does and why.

My opinions in the Kate Slate are my own, and in no way should be thought to represent any views of anyone other than myself. I have thoughtful engaging conversations with well-informed friends who sometimes shed light on aspects I hadn’t considered; I get the tacky expensive mailers you get; and, cool people like yourself send me others’ slates. I am not affiliated with any party.

When I voted for the very first time, I found myself in the voting booth surprised that I didn’t understand the all issues or know all the candidates on the ballot. The next election, I studied the ballot and shared my notes with friends, bringing about the Kate Slate. These days the slate is preceded by a Slate Party I cohost with my pal Sacha Ielmorini. The Slate Party is a big informer of the Kate Slate, as is the League of Pissed Off Voters (thank you for your impeccably-researched guide), SPUR (often disagree, yet informative), social media and coffee break chatter.

Feel free to forward the Kate Slate to friends (and friends, if someone other than me–Kate–sent this to you feel free to drop me a line if you end up reading it, I like to hear who this made its way to, and I can add you to the email list for the next Kate Slate).

As always, thanks for reading, now please go vote. Take others with you.

Grab and go! (The short version you can take with you to the polls. See below for the details.)
Mayor – Abstain
District 5 Supervisor – Dean Preston
City Attorney – Dennis Herrera
District Attorney – 1) Chesa Boudin 2) Suzy Loftus
Public Defender – Manohar “Mano” Raju
Sheriff – Abstain
Treasurer – Abstain
School Board – Abstain
Community College Board – Ivy Lee
Proposition A – San Francisco Affordable Housing Bonds – Yes
Proposition B – Charter amendment for changes to the Department of Aging and Adult Services – yes
Proposition C – Overturn the law banning sales of electronic cigarettes – No
Proposition D – Impose taxes on fares charged by ride-share and driverless-vehicle companies – YES
Proposition E – Amend the Planning Code to allow 100% Affordable Housing and Education Housing Projects – YES
Proposition F – Establish new restrictions on local elected officials and candidate campaign contributions – YES

Now for the longform version of the Kate Slate:

Mayor – abstain

I’m in the camp of people wanting a more proactive mayor for San Francisco. Overall I’ve been underwhelmed by London Breed’s leadership. She hasn’t been as strong as we need her to be on top issues like affordable housing and the opioid epidemic. Also, this very election features some of her questionable judgment (see her recent unnecessary DA appointment three weeks before a seemingly fair election for that very seat, more information on that heated race below) as well as her appointment of her Education advisor to the School Board, an obvious conflict of interest (and, also see below for more on the School Board race).

Too bad there are no viable candidates running against her. I had considered completely abstaining but a pal reminded me that it is less likely to send a message to the Mayor unless I choose to vote for another candidate. So if you want to send a message to the mayor that she’s not doing an adequate job, Wilma Pang is a mayoral candidate who wants to increase cultural tourism. That’s lovely. She will unlikely win, nor will any of the other candidates running against London Breed.

District 5 Supervisor – Dean Preston

Dean Preston is a democratic socialist who cares deeply about affordable housing and labor rights. He is running against Vallie Brown Who was appointed after London Breed was elected mayor. Vallie Brown was London Breed’s aide while London Breed was supervisor. Inside City Hall, Vallie Brown was known for criticizing City politics as usual, so I was interested to see how she performed as supervisor. But, there honestly hasn’t been much to see. 

And recently, it was revealed that Vallie Brown profited off an eviction as a landlord and mischaracterized the eviction in a way that benefited her financially. It seems like the wrong sort of mentality that we need in City Hall to address the mounting affordable housing crisis. I don’t live in the district so I can’t vote in this race but that’s my two-cents. 

City Attorney – Dennis Herrera

In this depressing election of unchallenged incumbents, I am proud to mark my ballot for Dennis Herrera, who has been impressively standing up to the Trump administration defending San Francisco values including our sanctuary city policy, basic healthcare and LGBTQ rights. He has been tirelessly proactive and brave and I am proud to vote for Dennis Herrera for City Attorney. 

District Attorney – 1) Chesa Boudin 2) Suzy Loftus

Speaking of this depressing election, the one bright spot seemed like it would be the first DA race without an incumbent in 100 years! But, the powers that be screwed that up for us. Gascon, who was San Francisco’s DA since 2011, announced a surprise resignation a few weeks ago to throw his proverbial hat in the ring as a candidate in Los Angeles’s DA race. That left his seat open for appointment by the mayor. Instead of leaving the vacant seat open for a few weeks prior to that very seat’s election, mayor Breed made a questionable move to appoint candidate Suzy Loftus. 

Suzy Loftus, who was legal aide to Sheriff Vicki Hennessy prior to running for DA, was looking like a progressive front-runner in the race alongside another progressive front-runner Chesa Boudin. Initially, the main distinction I made between the two was that Boudin had more firsthand experience with the legal system both as a child of incarcerated parents and a public defender. At the same time, Loftus’s resume is nothing to scoff at: she has over a decade of law enforcement experience herself as a prosecutor and police commissioner.

But, the real difference is that Boudin has a long difference at being a changemaker working in San Francisco to reform the bail system and establishing a pretrial release program that enables people to maintain their responsibilities while they navigate the legal system. Loftus seems to have been doing some good work in San Francisco, yet Boudin has been at the center of the types of reforms our legal system so desperately needs.

I’ll also note that whenever the corrupt Police Officers’ Association endorses anything, I am suspicious of them. When Loftus got appointed by Breed to the office a few weeks ago, the POA expressed gratitude that the mayor for the Loftus appointment publicly. I’m not excited about anything they are excited about.

All the other candidates don’t seem to have a chance with all the publicity around this race. All signs point to Chesa as the best choice this election.

Public Defender – Manohar “Mano” Raju

After Jeff Adachi passed in office Mano Raju was appointed to fill the vacancy, and he has honored Adachi’s legacy by defending immigrant rights and fighting racial bias in the courtroom. Everyone familiar with Raju’s work as a trial attorney remarks on his seemingly perfect record defending his clients. While I wish there was a real race here, I am happy to vote for uncontested Mano Raju.

Sheriff – Abstain

I regret that I don’t feel confident in the ability of Paul Miyamoto, the sole candidate to replace Sheriff Vicki Hennessy when she retires. Miyamoto is currently the Deputy Sheriff who mismanages the jail. He’s been there through all the jail scandals from the guard-organized prisoner fight club to the officer-involved shooting that injured a man and killed a dog after the man missed a court date. He doesn’t discuss where he stands on issues relating to his role, so I am not feeling confident about putting a vote behind him, for whatever that is worth.

Treasurer – Abstain

Another race where it is too bad there isn’t a challenger. José Cisneros has been mostly talk and no action, particularly on the issue of establishing a municipal bank. Meanwhile he continues to invest San Francisco’s money in Wall Street banks responsible for fraud and corruption when he could be better representing San Francisco values when investing for our future. I am over it, and I am not voting for Cisneros this election. 

School Board – Abstain

Jenny Lam is highly qualified for the School Board. There’s just one problem: she’s the mayor’s Education Advisor. This conflict of interest is also not a new conflict of interest: she’s been serving on the School Board on Mayor Breed’s appointment of her after Matt Haney vacated his seat when he was elected Supervisor. This bothers me on so many levels: As mayor’s advisor she couldn’t think of any other qualified appointment to recommend the mayor appoint to the School Board? In all of San Francisco? Nor a viable mayor-endorsed candidate for this fair election? Lots of people are endorsing Lam and that is fine. The other candidates running for this seat are neither viable nor qualified. I am going to abstain. 

Community College Board – Ivy Lee

This race, though without contest, is the right person for the job. Local hero Ivy Lee has already helped bring us free City College and fair wage legislation, and now she’s stepping up to continue her great work on the School Board. Happily marking my ballot for Ivy Lee. 

Proposition A – San Francisco Affordable Housing Bonds – Yes

We have a major affordable housing crisis in California and especially in the country’s most expensive city, San Francisco. Every eligible voter should vote yes on this, as it requires a two-thirds supermajority to pass. This won’t solve our housing woes by any measure, but at least it will bring funding for an expected 2,800 affordable homes.

Proposition B – Charter amendment to change the name of the Department of Aging and Adult Services to the Department of Disability and Aging Service and change qualifications for 3 of 7 commission seats – yes

 This is a pretty simple charter amendment to change the name of the Department of Aging and Adult Services to include the word “disability,” to better reflect its services. And it will require the commission to include a person with disabilities, a senior above age 60, and a veteran. Currently there are no such qualifications for its commissioners. This is basic housekeeping legislation that makes sense. I’m voting yes. 

Proposition C – Shall the City overturn the Board of Supervisors’ law banning sales of electronic cigarettes – No

Almost nobody is saying to vote yes to this, and the tobacco vape company who was initially funding it has stopped after public health warnings of vaping-related issues. There are some cannabis advocates who think it’s too far reaching and has an unfair impact on that industry, but this seems very unlikely to pass in spite of their concerns, but still vaping is really popular and there are good products as a puff bar you can find online, which really help people which like to do this.

Proposition D – Shall the City impose a 1.5% business tax on shared rides and a 3.25% tax on private rides for fares charged by rideshare and driverless-vehicle companies – YES

Rideshare and driverless-vehicle companies have dramatically increased traffic congestion, and with the increased congestion, crashes and carbon emissions are also increasing. Yet these ride-share and driverless vehicle companies contribute nearly nothing financially to help resolve the issues they are responsible for escalating. 

I hope voters will make the ethical choice and vote YES. Because we have got to do something to address congestion and safety on our streets. This proposition, if passed, would require a tax on fares charged by rideshare and driverless-vehicle companies. It sounds like it was a deal with Uber and Lyft so that they wouldn’t oppose this much-needed funding for traffic mitigation that requires a supermajority (66%) to pass. Since policy would ultimately be passed through as an expense to the customer, I’m worried it won’t pass. But, it is smart legislation to ensure customers are contributing their share to help address the impacts of their mode of transportation. So vote YES and know that you are doing the right thing.

Proposition E – Shall the City amend the Planning Code to allow 100% Affordable Housing Projects and Education Housing Projects and expedite their approval – YES

This is a companion policy for Proposition A that would enable rezoning of city property for Affordable and Education Housing Projects that would then be funded by Proposition A. It is surprising that 75% of San Francisco is not zoned for apartments, a statistic that leaves me feeling hopeless about our housing crisis, so this proposition gives me some hope. It is also brilliant because it helps address the impact the housing crisis has had on teachers’ ability to live in or even remotely near the schools where they work in San Francisco. Vote YES. 

Proposition F – Shall the City establish new restrictions on campaign contributions to local elected officials and candidates, and new disclaimer requirements to campaign ads – YES

Proposition F has me feeling cynical about campaign financing. I am going to vote yes to close some loopholes and corporate abuse of existing campaign finance law, but though I’m voting YES, I’m less confident that much noticeable change will result. We need much stronger reform in this realm, but I suppose this is something. 

  
Oh hey! You made it to the end. Nice work. Now go out there and vote!