2022 San Francisco & Santa Clara County Voter Guides

May 9, 2022

THE 2022 California primary election

CAIR-SFBA works to encourage American Muslims to engage in the election process, conduct voter registration training programs, issue briefings, host candidate forums, educate the community on issues, take positions on legislation, and lead get-out-the-vote drives.

As a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, CAIR-SFBA cannot advocate for specific candidates for office or party preference, however, it can endorse ballot propositions and measures. See our Proposition Guide below.

The CAIR-SFBA City and County Ballot Measures Voter Guide serves to empower voters on issues that impact them and assist them in making decisions at the polls.

Our policy and advocacy staff apply a civil rights lens to weigh implications for how each measure could promote racial, gender, economic, and social justice in our community – especially, the most vulnerable among us. We also consider the stances of our partner organizations.

Each stance is vetted by multiple staff, executive leaders, and members of our board to determine whether we align on recommending that voters vote Yes or No.

CAIR-SFBA did not take positions on bonds, given that interest is involved. We also did not take a position on parcel taxes or any item out of scope, nor did we support any measure with the possibility of police funding since CAIR has supported reducing police department budgets to instead reinvest in critical social services, health, education, and other beneficial programs.

If we did not take a position on a measure, we did not include it in the guide, in light of the sheer volume of it even as is since there were dozens of measures for the nine Bay Area counties that were analyzed.

If you have any questions, please call our office at 408.986.9874.

Measure B
BUILDING INSPECTION COMMISSION

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the City amend the Charter to change the appointment process and qualifications for Building Inspection Commission members and have the Mayor appoint the Director of the Department of Building Inspection?”
50%+1 affirmative votes to pass

CAIR-SFBA supports this charter amendment because it would work to reduce corruption and increase accountability and transparency. Some reforms within the Building Inspection Commission include:

  • Removing seats designated for specific industries or stakeholder groups
  • Allowing qualified members of the public to serve
  • A public nomination and confirmation process to be required for all nominees
  • Removing a provision that allows the commission to appoint a Building Inspection Department director
  • Replacing mayoral appointments with commission recommendations
Measure C
RECALL TIMELINES AND VACANCY APPOINTMENTS

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the City amend the Charter to further limit the period during which the voters could recall a City elected official, and when an official is recalled, to prevent the person appointed to fill that vacancy from running as a candidate to remain in that office?”
50%+1 affirmative votes to pass

CAIR-SFBA supports this charter amendment because it reforms the recall process to limit costly recall races from occurring outside of a reasonable window. In the past year, San Francisco was forced to spend nearly $12 million dollars in a number of school and city recall elections, while registering only 36% of voter turnout. Proposition C would:

  • Extend the eligibility window for a recall campaign from six months to one year after an official takes office
  • It prohibits a recall from occurring less than one year before that official is up for re-election
  • An appointed interim replacement cannot run for that seat in the next election
Measure D
VICTIMS AND WITNESS RIGHTS

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY

“Shall the City create an Office of Victim and Witness Rights that would provide or coordinate existing City services and seek to establish programs that provide free legal services for domestic violence victims?”
50%+1 affirmative votes to pass

CAIR-SFBA supports Proposition D because it would provide critical services and support to all crime victims by ensuring that they can understand and access their legal rights through establishing the Office of Victim and Witness Rights and the Right to Civil Counsel for Victims of Domestic Violence. In the last year, more than 75,000 San Franciscans have reported being victims of crime and over 7,000 calls to 911 were made regarding domestic violence. It provides financial assistance, medical reimbursement, and mental health support, and will consolidate existing victims’ services across all public safety agencies.

Measure E
BEHESTED PAYMENTS

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the City amend its behested payments law to prevent Board of Supervisors (Board) members from seeking behested payments from contractors who received Board approval and to allow further changes to this law only if the City’s Ethics Commission and two-thirds of the Board approve those amendments?”
50%+1 affirmative votes to pass

CAIR-SFBA supports Proposition E because it will restrict “behested payments” or charitable requests made at the public official’s request. It would reform the practice of how elected officials and department heads can request donations for their causes and charities or receipt of gifts from individuals, lobbyists, or companies, including those seeking contracts and permits from the City. This is an effort to curb corruption and “pay to play” behavior to seek influence. There are numerous instances of such behavior under investigation for such solicited donations.

Measure G
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY LEAVE

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the City require employers with more than 100 employees worldwide to provide paid public health emergency leave, not to exceed 80 hours a year, for their employees in San Francisco?”
50%+1 affirmative votes to pass

CAIR-SFBA supports Proposition G because employees of companies employing over 100 employees need to provide assistance for employees during such emergencies. People should not be put in danger just to avoid missing work.

Measure B
MAYORAL ELECTION

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“To increase voter participation, shall the City Charter be amended to: (1) move the election for
the Office of Mayor to the same year as presidential elections beginning in 2024, and (2) limit
the person elected to the Office of Mayor in 2022 to a two-year term with the option to run for
and serve as Mayor for two additional successive four-year terms?”
50%+1 affirmative votes to pass

CAIR-SFBA supports Measure B to move the Mayoral elections to align with Presidential elections when more people tend to vote. 4 in 10 eligible voters participate in elections during off years. This would ensure a higher voter turnout for such a critical election.

Measure D
DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONS

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the City Charter be amended to elect city council members by district, excepting the mayor, to establish six districts for the election of one council member to represent each district; and to establish a 30-day residency requirement for all elected officials?
50%+1 affirmative votes to pass

CAIR-SFBA supports Measure D to ensure that all parts of Santa Clara are fairly represented on the council. In 2018, the City was involved in a California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) lawsuit that resulted in mandating six districts and one mayor elected at-large. This ruling allowed the first council member of Asian descent to be elected in the history of the City.