This measure appeared on the March 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition A would provide for the election of all citywide offices (Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorney, City Attorney, Treasurer, Assessor-Recorder, Public Defender) and members of the Board of Supervisors using an "instant run-off" ballot, which allows for ranked choices and therefore eliminates run-off elections. This charter amendment was placed on the ballot…

Includes SPUR's analysis of seven city measures on the March 5, 2002 ballot.

This paper explores the potential to revitalize the Mid-Market Area -- a stretch of Market Street between the downtown commercial/office core and Civic Center.

SPUR outlines Muni improvements for 12 major corridors and locates potential revenue to create a thriving and seamless transit network.

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment introduced by Board of Supervisors President Tom Ammiano authorizes the issuance of revenue bonds for renewable energy and energy conservation facilities without majority voter approval, as is currently the case.Why it is on the ballot Certain types of revenue bonds are presently exempted from the city Charter…

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment would change the procedures for redrawing district lines for the Board of Supervisors, create a timeline for the process, and require use of adjusted census data.Why it is on the ballot This Charter change, proposed by Supervisor Chris Daly, replaces the current procedures for the decennial reapportionment…

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does The most far-reaching measures on the November ballot have to do with power-Propositions B, F, H, and I. In order to better understand this complex, technical subject, SPUR retained John Nimmons, a respected expert on alternative energy, first to frame the issue by describing today's deregulated energy markets, second, to explain…

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment wraps three unrelated items into one. It seeks to reform the Department of Elections by creating an Elections Commission, reconstitute the Ethics Commission, and change procedures for determining if the City Attorney has a conflict of interest.Why it is on the ballot Rather than place separate measures…

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure would require voter approval of a project by any San Francisco board, commission, department or other unit of government that would fill 100 acres or more of San Francisco Bay. It states that after certification of the project's environmental impact report (EIR) and conditional approval, the sponsoring entity shall…

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does This ballot measure, introduced by Supervisor Mark Leno, authorizes revenue bonds for city-owned solar energy, renewable energy and energy conservation facilities in a principal amount not to exceed $100 million.Why it is on the ballot The city Charter currently authorizes the Board of Supervisors to provide for the issuance of…

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does The San Francisco Community College District (City College of San Francisco/CCSF) is requesting voter authorization for $195 million in General Obligation (G.O.) bonds for a variety of capital projects. This request was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the CCSF Board of Trustees.Why it is on the…

supply structure Generally speaking, wholesale power markets are comprised of large central station generating plants, usually remote from population centers, together with high voltage transmission lines needed to get power from those plants closer to where it is used. The retail portion of electric supply includes parts of the system closer to end-users, that are needed to transform the power into usable voltages, distribute it…

The author describes the effects of local planning and legislative decisions which have had an enormous impact on housing production.

Though decentralizing might be a understandable instinct after the terrorist attacks, Metcalf reminds us of the efficiency of density and importance of social interdependence that are only found in the city.

Though decentralizing might be a understandable instinct after the terrorist attacks, Metcalf reminds us of the efficiency of density and importance of social interdependence that are only found in the city.

Includes SPUR's analysis of nine city measures on the November 6, 2001 ballot.

Current Structure of Education Getting America's children ready to participate in the 21st century has become one of the nation's highest priorities, with educational issues in the forefront of national debate. A growing demand for excellence and student achievement is spurring a reevaluation of the way children learn and the nature of what is taught. At the same time that awareness grows about the critical…

The ways that people learn from and respond to the urban environment are critical to the prospects for sustainability. Ecologically designed urban landscapes must communicate cultural 'cues' for sustainable behavior.

SPUR makes four recommendations to expand the successful transit impact development fee.

This article uses 2000 census data to discuss major changes in San Francisco’s neighborhoods. It highlights changes in the Central Waterfront, South Beach, Bayview, the Presidio and Oceanview-Merced-Ingleside.