Where SF ballot measures stand a week after Election Day
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
People walk along Great Highway, closed to vehicles, on Aug. 10, 2021 in San Francisco. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Election Day wrapped up a week ago but we're finally getting a clearer picture on the success — or failure — of some local ballot measures.
Why it matters: These measures, along with the change in elected officials, are likely to reshape city life in major ways.
Here are the latest updates on propositions with slim margins:
Upper Great Highway's future
Zoom in: One of the most contentious ballot measures this year, Proposition K, asked voters to decide whether a segment of the highway along Ocean Beach between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard should stay closed to vehicles after the city barred off traffic during the pandemic.
- Its passage means that the 2-mile roadway will become an oceanside park.
The intrigue: Western precincts largely voted against Proposition K, in sharp contrast to the approval recorded among nearly every eastern precinct.
- Residents of the Sunset District, the neighborhood closest to the highway, had expressed concern about traffic spillover onto nearby streets and increased congestion and noise pollution.
Yes, but: Proponents say existing erosion issues will worsen if the highway remains open to vehicles but closing it will protect the coastal ecosystem while revitalizing local businesses.
What to watch: Supervisor Joel Engardio, who represents the Sunset, could face repercussions from his constituents for proposing to put the measure on the ballot, residents tell San Francisco Chronicle.
Addressing first responders
State of play: Voters rejected Proposition F, which would have allowed tenured police officers to delay retirement for up to five years in exchange for pay increases. The measure was proposed in response to a sustained staffing shortage.
- Proposition N, which would create a fund to reimburse city-employed first responders like police, firefighters, paramedics and 911 dispatchers for student loans and training programs, looks like it will narrowly pass.
Reality check: Opponents criticized it for failing to address inadequate compensation over the long term.
Zoom out: More firefighters could soon access retirement benefits at age 55 instead of 58 under Proposition H. Supporters, including former speaker Nancy Pelosi, say it'd lower the risk of cancer, a leading cause of occupational death, and reduce health-related workers' compensation costs.
- Caveat: Its passage could add to San Francisco's nearly $800 million budget deficit.
Local government reform
Between the lines: Proposition E looks like it will defeat Proposition D, a competing measure, with approval from a majority of voters. Both aim to reduce the number of city commissions, which political analysts say contribute to bureaucratic delays, through a task force review.
- The fine print: The main difference between the two is that Proposition E would require a vote on any resulting legislative actions or charter amendments, while Proposition D would have given mayors the authority to hire and fire department heads.
The other side: Voter input would be an extra step that could backfire and drag out the process, opponents say.
What's next: The elections department has counted 382,292 ballots so far and have 24,700 left. Keep an eye out as results are finalized, which will be no later than Dec. 5.