General Election 2022 City & County Ballot Measure Guide

October 11, 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 S  
CITY OF OAKLAND – Non-Citizen Voting Charter Amendment

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the measure to amend the City Charter to allow the City Council by adopting an ordinance, to authorize voting by noncitizen residents, who are the parents, legal guardians, or legally recognized caregivers of a child, for the Office of Oakland School Board Director if they are otherwise eligible to vote under state and local law be adopted?” 
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports Measure S because we believe that every parent or guardian, regardless of documentation status, should have the right to select who will be serving on a governing body that makes decisions impacting their child’s education. Non-citizens pay taxes, and many of them send their children to schools in Oakland, however they are not allowed to vote for the people who serve in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).  This ballot measure would allow for non-citizen parents or legal guardians of school-aged children to vote in the OUSD school board director elections.

MEASURE V
CITY OF OAKLAND – Just Cause Amendment

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the Measure amending the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance to: (1) prohibit no-fault evictions of children and educators during the school year; (2) extend eviction protections to tenants in recreational vehicles (RVs), tiny homes on wheels, and newly constructed units except during the first 10 years after issuance of the certificate of occupancy; (3) remove failure to sign a new lease as grounds for eviction; and (4) make other clarifying amendments, be adopted? 
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports the Measure V amendment to the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance to protect vulnerable populations from eviction, especially during a critical time period in their education. The 2003 Just Cause Eviction Ordinance prevents landlords from evicting renters except for reasons such as not paying rent, damaging property, or committing something illegal in the home. This ballot measure would update protections to prevent evictions of children and educators during the school year and would extend protections to tenants who live in newly constructed units and RVs.

MEASURE X  
CITY OF OAKLAND – Government Reform Charter Amendments

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall a measure to amend the Charter to, among other things, establish Councilmember term limits, require two hearings before Council places certain measures on the ballot; count Councilmember abstentions and absences as “no” votes in determining whether Mayor may break a tie; provide Public Ethics Commission discretion in setting Councilmember salaries; authorize the Commission to set City Attorney and Auditor salaries; and add and detail duties and provide minimum staffing for the Auditor, be adopted?” 
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports Measure X to allow for new and diverse leadership to take leadership. Instead of Councilmembers staying indefinitely in office through re-election every four years, term limits would be created so that they would serve no more than three consecutive terms in office or 12 years total.  Other reforms include hosting two public hearings before voting takes place to put a measure on the ballot instead of only one hearing. Pay increases for councilmember salaries, city attorney, and city auditor would be made by the Public Ethics Commission.  

  

MEASURE P  
CITY OF RICHMOND – Annual Allowable Rental Adjustment Ordinance

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the Ordinance to amend the City of Richmond’s Municipal Code, changing the City’s Rent Ordinance so that the maximum allowable rent increase on rent-controlled units is adjusted to 60 percent of CPI or three percent whichever is lower, be adopted?” 
Two-thirds (2/3) vote needed to pass

CAIR-SFBA supports Measure P to ensure that renters will not be exploited and priced out by the ever-increasing rental costs. This measure would limit rent increases to fair and affordable levels by reducing the percentage by which a landlord may increase rent from 100% inflation to 60% inflation, or a flat 3%, whichever is less.  

MEASURE O  
CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE – 6 to 4 Councilmembers Charter Amendment

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: NO

SUMMARY
“Shall the Pacific Grove City Charter requirement for six elected City Councilmembers be changed to four elected Councilmembers via this sequence: (1) in 2024 two Councilmembers shall be elected to four-year terms, and one shall be elected to a single two-year term, (2) every two years thereafter, beginning in 2026, two Councilmembers shall be elected to four-year terms, with other revisions for votes needed for a quorum, a majority vote and other select actions?”
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA opposes Measure O because reducing the number of members on the council would limit opportunities for citizens to serve in office, hinder a broader and more diverse representation, and decrease the number of voices to weigh in on important decisions.

PROPOSITION C
CITY AND COUNTY PROPOSITION – Homelessness Oversight Commission Charter Amendment

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the City amend the Charter to establish a Homelessness Oversight Commission to oversee the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (DHSH) and require the City Controller to conduct audits of services for people experiencing homelessness?”
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports the Proposition C charter amendment because it will ensure funding will appropriately serve the unhoused as intended rather than fall into waste and mismanagement. While the DHSH budget more than doubled from 2017 to 2022, conditions have worsened for the unhoused. Currently, there is no Charter requirement for an audit of the Department and many decisions have been made without community input, public meetings, or independent review. If approved, the change to the Charter would ensure oversight by establishing a Commission with audits by the City Controller.

PROPOSITION G
CITY AND COUNTY PROPOSITION – Student Success Fund – Grants to the San Francisco Unified School District

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the City amend the Charter to provide additional funding for grants to the San Francisco Unified School District for 15 years to improve student academic achievement and social/emotional wellness?” Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports Proposition G because it will respond to unmet mental health challenges and barriers to learning.Without raising taxes, Proposition G would provide up to $60 million per year from existing city funds to fund programs that will improve academic success and social and emotional wellness.

PROPOSITION H
CITY AND COUNTY PROPOSITION – City Elections in Even-Numbered Years

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the City amend the Charter to hold elections for Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorney, City Attorney and Treasurer in November of presidential election years, extend the current terms of these officials by one year to January 2025, provide that there would be no regularly scheduled election in 2023, hold elections for local ballot measures only in even-numbered years or in special elections, and change the minimum number of signatures required for voters to place ordinances and declarations of policy on the ballot?”  
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports Proposition H because it will promote civic engagement. It would update the City Charter to align with a state law prohibiting cities from holding off-cycle elections if doing so significantly lowers voter turnout. Over the past ten years, San Francisco voter turnout in odd year elections is 43% but 80% in presidential elections.  Consolidating next year’s election into the 2024 ballot will save $7 million as well.  

 

MEASURE Z
CITY OF REDWOOD CITY ELECTION PROCEDURES – Charter Amendment

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the measure amending the Redwood City Charter to align the date of the Redwood City General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election date, clarify the date by which Redwood City elections must be certified and City Councilmembers sworn in, and provide for election of City Councilmembers by-district in order to comply with State law, be adopted? 
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports Measure Z to update the City Charter to comply with the California Voting Rights Act by electing Councilmembers by-district.  It would also align the date of the Municipal Election with the Statewide Election date to ensure efficiency and maximize voter participation. 

MEASURE BB  
CITY OF SAN BRUNO – Mayoral and City Council Term Limits Ordinance

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall an ordinance be adopted to amend the City of San Bruno Municipal Code to limit service on the City Council to consecutive terms of no more than 12 consecutive years or as Mayor to consecutive terms of no more than 12 consecutive years?” 
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports Measure BB to update the Municipal Code to limit service on the City Council and Mayor to no more than 12 consecutive years.  This would increase the opportunity for new engagement and new ideas in the city government.  

MEASURE C  
CITY OF SARATOGA – Term Limits Ordinance

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the City of Saratoga adopt an ordinance establishing term limits for members of the Saratoga City Council, limiting individuals to serving two terms and specifying the duration of various types of partial terms that are considered a term for the purposes of term limits?
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports Measure C to establish term limits to two termsto foster greater participation in local government, provide voters with more choice, generate fresh perspectives, and hold elected officials accountable. Otherwise, Saratoga City Council members would be able to serve unlimited terms if elected.   

 
MEASURE F  
CITY OF MILPITAS – Term Limits Ordinance

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall an ordinance be adopted amending the Milpitas Municipal Code to shorten Councilmember terms limits by establishing for both Councilmembers and Mayor, effective with the November 8, 2022 General Municipal Election, a ten consecutive year limit on combined Mayoral and City Councilmember service, with a six-year limit on Mayoral service, followed by a two-year “cooling off” period, during which a person may not serve as Mayor or a Councilmember?”  
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports Measure F to limit council terms to a ten-year consecutive year limit with a six-year limit on Mayoral service. Term limits would foster greater participation in local government, provide voters more choice, generate fresh perspectives, and hold elected officials accountable. 

MEASURE I  
CITY OF SANTA ROSA – Charter Amendment

CAIR-CA RECOMMENDATION: YES

SUMMARY
“Shall the City of Santa Rosa’s measure to amend the Santa Rosa City Charter to affirm the City’s recent transition from the election of Council members by city-wide vote to the election of Council members by district, be adopted?“  
Percentage Needed to Pass: 50%+1

CAIR-SFBA supports Measure I to update the Charter so that council members would be elected by distract rather than city-wide to comply with the California Voting Rights Act.  This would encourage facilitation of electing minority candidates and foster greater participation.