Instead of wasting stormwater, the City could manage it as a resource. SPUR explores four strategies that allow for greater stormwater storage and infiltration of rainwater into the ground.

This measure appeared on the November 2006 California state ballot. What it does Proposition 90 is an amendment to the California Constitution that does two things: Prop. 90 imposes new requirements on the way that governments use eminent domain17 and increases the total amount that governments pay property owners when they make use of eminent domain. Prop. 90 requires compensation to property owners…

Prop. 84 is a state bond authorizing the issuance of nearly $5.4 billion in general-obligation bonds to fund programs and the construction of improvements for a diverse array of natural resource areas throughout the state, including safe drinking-water supply, flood control, and the protection and preservation of parks, forests, lakes, rivers, beaches, bays and ocean coastline.

This measure appeared on the November 2006 California state ballot. What it does Proposition 1D would authorize the state to sell $10.4 billion in bonds to build and repair public school facilities. The money would be used to repair older facilities and build new facilities at the K-12, California Community College, California State University and University of California systems. The money will also be…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 California state ballot. What it does This measure seeks voter approval of a $2.85 billion general-obligation bond to finance housing production ($1.5 billion), and infill and transit-oriented infrastructure ($1.35 billion). The $1.5 billion housing-production programs include the following: Low-interest loans for development of affordable rental housing $345 million); units for the disabled ($195 million); units for emancipated…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 California state ballot. What it does Proposition 1B, the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality and Port Security Act of 2006, is $19.9 billion in general obligation bonds designated for highway and street repair and reconstruction, traffic congestion improvements, port goods movement and security, mass-transit projects, traffic safety, and air-quality programs. With the exception of a $1…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 California state ballot. What it does This state Constitutional amendment embodied in Proposition 1A, (the "Transportation Investment Fund "), would: a) prohibit the Legislature and governor from using gas sales-tax revenues for any purpose other than transportation or transit improvements, b) authorize "loans" only in the case of severe state fiscal hardship, c) within three years require…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What it does This declaration of policy regarding senior housing calls on San Francisco to acknowledge the particular housing needs of people with limited financial means who are 60 years of age or older and/or are disabled, and to explore ways of addressing these housing needs. The policy statement defines "limited financial means" as…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition J is a policy statement calling for "the impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard B. Cheney." The measure lists several reasons why the president and vice president should be impeached, including the abuse of power in relation to illegal electronic surveillance, the detention of citizens and…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What is does The measure is a very brief, non-binding policy statement that reads, in its entirety, "It is the policy of the voters of San Francisco that the Mayor should appear in person at one regularly-scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors each month to engage in formal policy discussions with members of…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition H would provide additional relocation benefits to eligible tenants who are evicted in a "no-fault eviction." No-fault evictions are when a landlord evicts a tenant for reasons that are not the tenant's fault. Examples include the owner moving in to the unit, the need to undertake substantial rehabilitation of or…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What it does The measure would require any "formula retail use" (as defined by the San Francisco Planning Code) desiring to locate in any neighborhood commercial (NC) district to obtain a conditional-use permit prior to starting a business. A conditional-use permit request is granted or denied by the Planning Commission and requires a public…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What it does This initiative ordinance would require employer-financed paid sick leave for all employees in San Francisco. Employees would earn paid sick leave at the rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked after the first three months on the job. Employees who work in businesses with fewer than 10 employees could…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure would increase San Francisco's existing gross-receipts tax on parking from 25 percent to 35 percent, and extend the tax to cover valet parking. The measure is a non-dedicated general tax whose proceeds would go entirely to the General Fund, unlike the current tax which has historically dedicated 40 percent…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure would ban the City from disclosing private information except when specifically authorized by the individual or by contract, or where required by federal or state law or judicial order. "Private information" is defined as "any information that could be used to identify an individual, including without limitation name, address…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What it does This charter amendment would require the Civil Service Commission to set the salary for San Francisco's mayor, city attorney, district attorney, public defender, assessor-recorder, treasurer, and sheriff every five years. To determine the salary for each of these city officials, the commission would calculate the average salary paid to comparable officials…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What it does This amendment to San Francisco's City Charter would require the Board of Supervisors to adopt parental-leave policies for supervisors and members of other boards and commissions. These parental-leave policies would include permitting members to attend and vote at public meetings via teleconference. This measure requires the approval of a simple majority…

This measure appeared on the November 2006 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition A authorizes the San Francisco Board of Education to issue up to $450 million in general-obligation bonds to meet disability-access requirements and health and safety codes, and to rehabilitate the buildings and grounds of 64 schools in the San Francisco Unified School District. There would be a $29.6 million state…

Includes SPUR's analysis of 6 states and 11 city measures on the November 7, 2006 ballot.

Nowhere has the history of high-rise public housing and its subsequent redevelopment as HOPE VI mixed-income housing played out as intensely as in Chicago. At its height, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) managed some 39,000 units of public housing, many of which were concentrated in high-rise residential developments.