Urban historian Charles Lockwood paints a picture of early life on San Francisco's Rincon Hill, starting as an upscale residential neighborhood for the well-off settlers, and falling into a slow decline of tenements, bulldozing, fires, and eventual layering of on and off-ramps for the Bay Bridge.

Analyzing various surveys, San Francisco historian Rich DeLeon proves that San Francisco justly earns its reputation as the most liberal city in the US.

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment would shorten the period following a vacancy in an elective office before an election to fill the unexpired term. A vacancy could occur for any number of reasons, including death, resignation, recall, permanent disability or inability to carry out the responsibilities of the office.Why it is on…

Paul Lewis explains why lower turnout, "local only" elections result in wins for liberal candidates, and questions then, if there is a better solution to December date run-offs.

This measure appeared on the November 2002 ballot. What it does The BART Board of Directors placed this general obligation bond before the voters of the BART District, comprised of San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties. It would authorize BART to issue $1.05 billion in bonds to seismically retrofit the core BART system, including BART's stations, transbay tube, elevated tracks, maintenance facilities, and…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure states the following, in its entirety: "In light of the recent federal Drug Enforcement Agency crackdown on local medical cannabis clubs, shall the Board of Supervisors, in conjunction with the Mayor's Office, City Attorney, District Attorney and Department of Public Health, explore the possibility of establishing a program whereby…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does Prop R would permit existing tenants to buy their apartments, under certain specific conditions. It would permit conversions of rental housing units to condominiums under a new condominium conversion process. The new process would allow for a number of conversions equal to 1% of the total housing stock each year (a…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does This ordinance, placed on the ballot by the Mayor, would prohibit the expenditure for political purposes of any funds appropriated by the City for any contract, grant or loan agreement. The Controller would promulgate any rules and regulations necessary or appropriate for the implementation of the prohibition. If the Controller determined…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure would establish a Public Utilities Revenue Bond Oversight Committee to oversee expenditure of the PUC's capital improvement bonds.Why it is on the ballot The big picture on the PUC bond program is fully explained under Proposition A, the PUC Bond, and Proposition E, PUC Water and Sewer Rates…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does Prop O was developed by Supervisor Ammiano as an alternative to Supervisor Newsom's Care Not Cash Proposal (Prop N).Pros Those who support the proposition state: Exits From Homelessness could strengthen Care Not Cash, rather than compete with it, by ensuring that enough supportive housing and treatment is available.Cons Those…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure is an attempt to solve a piece of the homeless problem in San Francisco. It deals with the issue of general assistance cash grants--i.e., "welfare checks"--that are given to homeless people. Currently, San Francisco provides vastly larger amounts of money than other counties in the region. Many people believe…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure, put on the ballot by the Mayor as an amendment to the Administrative Code, would require the preparation and annual updating of an Economic Development Plan. It would provide for administration and oversight, together with a funding mechanism. The legislation would also require that the Office of Economic Development…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does A real property transfer tax is a one-time tax the city collects when a property is sold or transferred. This measure would increase the tax on properties sold for more than $1 million from 0.75% to 1.5%.Why it is on the ballot Several years ago, San Francisco 's business tax…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition K would revise the criteria by which the City selects newspapers for the publication of official notices by eliminating extraordinary preferences given to papers which are locally owned, printed in San Francisco, and owned by women and minorities.Why it is on the ballot In 1994, the voters passed Proposition…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition J would amend the Charter to classify the eleven elected jobs of Supervisor as full-time and allow the Civil Service Commission to set the Supervisor's salaries every five years based on a survey of comparable full-time city council and county boards of supervisors around the state. A Supervisor's salary would…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for City employees at the time of the birth of a child or placement through adoption or foster care. While existing local, state and federal laws entitle employees to take unpaid leave, many lack the resources to take advantage…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition H would amend the Charter by adding a new retirement benefit for active police officers, firefighters and paramedics and future hires to those classifications. It would be paid to all uniformed forces retiring after January 1, 2003. The benefit would calculate pensions at 3% of last year's salary at age…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition G would amend the Charter to correct a number of problems with the November 2001 Proposition E (Ethics, Elections and Outside Counsel). Specifically, the major changes of Prop G are to make it easier to use City employees to assist the Elections Department, spell out restrictions on certain activities by…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does This is a companion measure to legislation already approved by the Board and Mayor that creates a new Entertainment Commission with primary responsibility for permitting places of entertainment. What is at stake in the proposed charter change is not establishment of a commission, but only a narrow question regarding commission governance…

This measure appeared on the November 2002 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter Amendment is intended to reform the Public Utilities Commission so that it can operate as a more efficient enterprise.Why it is on the ballot The PUC has deferred maintenance on its water system for decades. A combination of mismanagement, political resistance to raising rates, a voter-approved rate freeze…