NEWS | 1
Vol. 174, Issue 5 | Oct. 10 – Oct. 26
NEWS | 2
Vol. 174, Issue 5 | Oct. 10 – Oct. 26
WHAT DO THE CANDIDATES FOR BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAVE TO SAY?
Four-Year Term Vote for 3/Two-Year Vote for 1 John Rizzo (incumbent, four-year): “Fortunately, with all these accreditation and state conditions met, there is no need for further cuts in the future. Building our reserve also enables us to save classes should a recession [occur].”1,
Incumbent Slate: Enrollment
has declined therefore classes must be cut
• Read CCSF Stabilizes Finances with Sustainable 2022-23 Budget
JOHN RIZZO
• Saved the College from loss of accreditation and state takeover • Carried out difficult work of implementing the changes mandated by oversight agencies and the state • Messaging can be found at: www.ccsftogether.org
“I have worked to increase access to education by working to eliminate placement exams and remedial classes, even before the state outlawed them with AB 705. These tests unfairly impacted student diversity, equity, and inclusion by keeping students from earning college credit by requiring many years of remedial courses.”1
Brigitte Davila (incumbent, four-year): “Too many students rely on CCSF for me to disregard financial warnings from the state and the accrediting agency.”1,“If we are not accredited City College cannot use any of the $800 million Bond passed in 2020, or any state money to complete the projects.”1
BRIGITTE DAVILA
Thea Selby (incumbent, four-year): “I am very clear on what we do to avoid ever having to take this decision [to cut staff] again. Enrollment, enrollment, enrollment.”1, “I work hard every day, and urge you all to join us, in promoting FREE City, in calling, in texting, in asking for funds from the FREE City $15M to use for outreach to students, so that we can get our enrollment back and grow our college once again.”
THEA SELBY
Murrell Green (incumbent, Mayor’s appointee to the board May 2022, two-year): “I do believe that there were other ways to balance the budget as compared to the detriment of employees. I am seeking to get a better understanding of why that decision was made and how to avoid this in the future.”1
MURRELL GREEN
William Walker (four-year):
Background Information:
“I believe CCSF does its budgeting process without the input of the entire San Francisco community, even though it benefits from funding approved by the entire community.”1,
• ACCJC - previous accreditation - link • Student Centered Funding Formula - link • Cuts to CCSF Nursing and ESL • Schools and Communities First (Prop 15, a state-wide CA ballot initiative in 2020) - link
VO T
“I will say that based on having expertise in the area of Student Services, enrollment and retention are high on the radar for me. In addition, customer service and accessibility to quality services are also targeted components of my agenda.”1
WILLIAM WALKER
“Just as noncredit courses serve English learners, enrollment of Black students in noncredit courses could be increased by offering courses for displaced workers, or the course my mom seriously needs as a septuagenarian: ‘How to use an iPhone, the later years’”1
Jill Yee (four-year): Facilities: “More staff needs to be hired rather than sub-contracting because we need a designated person [who is] accountable to oversee and coordinate the projects. I’m concerned that with the various projects, one hand doesn’t know what the [other] is doing.”1,
E
“How do we retain Black and Latinx students and increase their college completion? … As student success increases so will enrollment, because success attracts more success.”1
JILL YEE
VOTE
Anita Martinez (four-year): “When elected, I will demand specifics on proposed budget cuts and call for study sessions or hearings. I will be open to hearing from College constituencies. I will refuse to vote on a budget that is distributed at noon on the same day that the Board will meet to consider or withhold approval of the budget.”1, “NO, City College is not meeting the demand! By downsizing to meet an artificial goal, by cutting a steady funding stream (enrollment is the only steady stream), by continuing to cut and growing the perception that City College is in decline, the administration and board have | failed the City and City College.”
Challenger Slate: Cutting classes leads to declining enrollment ANITA MARTINEZ
• Read Anita Martinez’s “An Open Letter to the City College Board of Trustees” • Questions the agenda and competency of oversight agencies
Susan Solomon (four-year):
• Major changes to City College programs need to be made democratically with stakeholder participation
“[I will] Ensure that City College’s use of funds aligns with its values, as stated in its Mission Statement and Vision. A budget is a moral document that reflects our values.”1, “It simply does not make sense to lead with cuts in the midst of COVID, when San Francisco needs City College as part of our collective recovery.”1
SUSAN SOLOMON
• Messaging can be found at: https://linktr.ee/anitasusanvick
Vick Chung (four-year): “All cuts since Rocha’s administration have repeatedly failed to be coupled with a strategy to effectively increase enrollment/revenue. As Trustee, I will not approve any additional cuts without a clear strategy forward that allows our college to succeed despite the state funding formula.”1 “Building from my experience working on the Schools and Communities First Campaign, as Trustee, I will correspond and develop relationships with stakeholders (trustees, faculty, staff, and students) across California so we may build the momentum necessary to relaunch the campaig to split roll Proposition 13.”1
VICK CHUNG
Adolfo Velasquez (two-year): “Pass Prop O [parcel tax to fund City College] in November.”1, “In the immediate future I would focus, if it passes, on the parcel tax and the $45 million it is | projected to generate and work closely with the other board members and Administration to ensure that the money is used where it is intended to be used including: classes, faculty, classified workers and wrap around services to assist students in reaching their academic goals.”1
ADOLFO VELASQUEZ Concerns about Hurabiell:
Marie Hurabiell (four-year): “ Facing CCSF floundering is creating a crisis in San Francisco it must be saved but electing the same type of candidates politicians beholden to stakeholders, over and over, will yield the same unacceptable outcomes.”3, “I'm the only candidate who has raised over $42 million for educational and other causes and \will bring creative funding ideas and opportunities for CCSF.”3
MARIE HURABIELL
Jason Zeng (four-year):
But candidate Hurabiell is very different.
“I believe City College should always be free for all San Franciscans, because it gives everyone in our city a chance to fight for a dignified life, no matter their background, age, or history. Removing barriers to education is the only way to help people out of the poverty trap.”2
JASON ZENG
Daniel Landry (two-year): “I believe in a top to bottom pay cuts system. Students' and teachers' needs should always if possible be last on the list.”1, “The challenge for many students I believe is because of classes being held remotely/online due to COVID. Why are the mask mandates still in place if students who must get vaccinated are the majority on campus?”1
Sources: 1. San Francisco Democratic Party candidate questionnaires, 2. Ballotopedia candidate survey, 3. San Francisco Young Democrats candidate interviews, Day 2: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=625946272309720&ref=sharing, 4. Presidio Trust website, 5. SF Dept Elections candidate filings
All the candidates except Zeng and Hurabiell responded to the San Francisco Democratic Party questionnaire and literally checked the boxes on a remarkably progressive platform, supporting expanded rent control, free public transit, diverting police funds to communities, and more. Two exceptions are that Selby does not oppose market-rate housing on public lands, and Green does not oppose privatization of government services.1
DANIEL LANDRY
She is a 2017 Trump appointee to the Presidio Trust, and she receives a six-figure salary from Connected SF, which has a very vague website.4,5 And she is a founder of Ellipsis Health which uses “voice analysis AI to improve mental health”, Is this what her “innovative solutions” might look like? Her explanation for recently switching from Republican to Democrat, in an interview with the SF Young Democrats, is unconvincing: “And so, I just finally decided, you know, I guess I'll go ahead and change because I vote both ways, frequently, so it was never a matter of like, I can't do this, but just a matter of coming to a point where it was important for other people to feel comfortable.”3
NEWS | 3
Vol. 174, Issue 5 | Oct. 10 – Oct. 26
Vol. 174, Issue 5 | Oct. 10 – Oct. 26
NEWS | 4
SAN FRANCISCO PROPOSITIONS FOR THE NOVEMBER 2022 ELECTION By Ann Marie Galvan agalvan1@mail.ccsf.edu
A
A supplemental cost of living adjustment for the pension benefits of city workers who retired before Nov. 6, 1996. City workers who retired before this are not guaranteed a cost of living adjustment, and are only eligible if their pension investments meet their expected rate of return. A vote “yes” means that these senior city retirees will receive a cost of living adjustment for their pension benefits, regardless of pension investment returns. A vote “no” means no changes are made.
This proposition would move elections for the mayor, sheriff, district attorney, and treasurer to even-numbered years. These elections would be put on the same ballot as the presidential elections, and the current officials who hold these seats would get a year added on to their term while this takes effect.
H
This proposition wants to eliminate the Department of Sanitation and Streets (SAS) and merge its duties with the Department of Public Works (DPW). In November 2020, voters approved the creation of SAS. It was created in part because of the bribery scandal of former Public Works director Mohammad Nuru. SAS was created to focus on street cleaning and repairs. Election day is Nov. 8 and mail-in ballots were sent to voters on Oct. 10. There are 34 official ballot drop boxes in the city, but voters can also go to the City Hall Voting Center for in-person voting or ballot drop-off if they want to ensure their ballot is delivered securely.
B
According to City Controller Ben Rosenfield, the merging of these two departments would “significantly reduce the cost of government.” Opponents to the merger include the Laborers Local 261 union.
October 24 is the last day to register to vote and still receive a ballot in the mail. After this date, people can still register to vote but will need to vote in person. To register to vote, visit registertovote.ca.gov. On Election Day, all polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 8 in order to be counted. If you’re unsure where your polling place is sfelections.org/tools/portal can help you find it.
The city also created two oversight commissions, one to oversee SAS and another to oversee the DPW. With Proposition B, both oversight commissions would be kept after merging the departments.
C
A vote “yes” means that local elections will be moved from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years in an effort to increase voter turnout. A vote “no” means these changes will not happen. This proposition would allow cars to use John F. Kennedy Drive (JFK Drive) and the Great Highway.
I
A vote “yes” means cars will be allowed on JFK Drive and the Great Highway. A vote “no” means that the changes will not happen.
Proposes to create a Homeless Oversight Commission to oversee the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. This seven-member commission would serve for four years and must have specific qualifications. These qualifications include having experienced homelessness themselves, experience in mental health services or substance abuse treatments, or significant advocacy experience.
Keeps JFK Drive closed to commuter vehicles. In May 2022, parts of JFK Drive were officially established as a no-car zone by the board of supervisors. This proposition affirms this, and will continue to allow people to use JFK Drive as a safe car-free public space.
J
A vote “yes” means that a Homeless Oversight Commission will be created to oversee the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. A vote “no” means no changes will be made.
Opponents to Proposition D claim that this measure will redefine what “affordable housing” means, because people whose area median income (AMI) is 140% (which is $135,800 for one person) will qualify. Per housing project, the AMI of all units can be no more than 120%, which is $116,400 for one person. This measure automatically streamlines housing for teachers, including City College instructors. A vote “yes” means that certain affordable multifamily housing projects will have a streamlined approval process. A vote “no” means no changes will be made.
K
L
This proposition competes with Proposition D and is known as the “Affordable Housing Production Act.” This measure was introduced by Supervisor Connie Chan, and it also seeks to streamline the approval process for certain affordable housing projects. Unlike Proposition D, it has a lower income cap for affordable housing. People whose area median income (AMI) is 120% (which is $116,400 for one person) will qualify, but the average household income for all units in a housing project can be no more than 80% of AMI, which is $77,600 for one person.
E Illustration by Cindy Chan/The Guardsman
Just this year, 38 full-time instructors were laid off along with over 100 part-time lecturers. Over the past three years, City College has lost 40% of its programs and enrollment is in a steady decline. English classes and ESL classes have been hit hard by the layoffs and class cuts, and class sizes are huge to accommodate students. Over 300 students were reportedly waitlisted for English 1A and 200 students were stuffed into a single ESL course. With classes and waitlists of this size, students are being turned away. English 1A is a course required for transfer to universities so it is vital for City College students looking to continue their education, and cuts to ESL programs are detrimental to immigrant communities seeking to build their lives in the city and the United States. City College is a stepping stone for English language learners, and the cuts to the ESL program is a huge loss to San Francisco’s future. These courses are the entrypoint for many to the workforce and for becoming active participants in San Francisco city life, and students should not be turned away. People from all backgrounds benefit from City College’s programs and workforce development opportunities. The revenue generated from Proposition O could help City College potentially return to its pre-pandemic course schedule and help it continue to serve the city of San Francisco.
A vote “yes” means that the proposition will take effect. A vote “no” means no changes will be made.
F
M
N
A vote “yes” means that the city will allocate money to the Student Success Fund. A vote “no” means this will not happen.
Would extend funding to city transportation projects until 2053. Currently, there is a one-half cent sales tax to help fund transportation needs. This proposition would extend this sales tax. This money would fund maintenance for city streets, improvements for Muni, BART and Caltrain, and the construction of a Bayview Caltrain station and a Caltrain rail extension to the Salesforce Transit Center, among other projects. A vote “yes” means the one-half cent sales tax will continue to help pay for city transportation projects. A vote “no” means this sales tax will not be extended.
This would tax owners of vacant buildings with three or more units. These units would have to have been vacant for “182 calendar days.” It does not apply to nonprofits or government agencies. Depending on the size of the unit, the tax could be from $2,500 to $5,000 per vacant unit. The collected taxes would go into a fund for rent subsidies for seniors and low-income households.
A complaint from the de Young Museum about the closure of JFK Drive to cars is that the loss of parking spaces available on JFK is negatively impacting attendance. Proponents of Proposition N claim that if the city were to gain control of the parking garage, the city could change the garage’s current hours to later than 7 p.m. which would align more with people’s vacation agendas, and the city could reduce the cost of parking. A vote “yes” means that public funds will be used to maintain the parking garage under the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. A vote “no” means no changes will be made. This is a parcel tax that benefits City College. There is currently another property tax in effect that benefits City College, teachers, counselors, and libraries. The rates for Proposition O are based on square footage, so larger buildings would be taxed more. This tax would be adjusted annually for inflation and it would last until June 30, 2043.
A vote “yes” would mean a 25-year renewal for the Library Preservation Fund. A vote “no” means no changes.
G
This proposition was removed by the San Francisco Superior Court and will not be up for a vote. Dubbed the “Amazon Tax” by some, it would have taxed e-commerce within the city. However, many said that its name was misleading and Amazon would not have been taxed at all and small businesses would have been adversely affected.
This measure allows public funds to be used to maintain the 800-space underground parking garage below the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. Right now, this parking garage is operated using no public funds and is managed by a private company called REEF Parking, according to the Golden Gate Park website. Its hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and parking fees can be as much as $33 on weekends.
Renews the Library Preservation Fund charter that will expire in 2023, and extends the fund until June 2048. The fund makes up 97% of the library’s annual budget. The city also dedicates a portion of its annual property taxes to the fund and the money is used to pay for library services, construction, and maintenance. This proposition would require the main library branch to be open for at least 1,400 hours a week, up nearly 200 hours from its current schedule.
Money from existing city funds will be placed in a Student Success Fund to benefit the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). The money could be used by schools for wellness programs, tutoring, afterschool and summer enrichment, to hire more social workers, and to improve student academic achievement. Schools can apply for grants of up to $1 million per year. The city would allocate money to the Student Success Fund for fifteen years.
A vote “yes” means that JFK Drive will remain closed to cars. A vote “no” means that the board’s May ordinance to keep JFK Drive closed is not supported.
A vote “yes” means vacant buildings will be taxed. A vote “no” means there will be no tax.
This proposition also requires that an additional 8% of units in a housing development qualify as affordable. Right now, city law requires that a housing project of 100 units have 22 units of affordable housing. Proposition E states an additional 8% of units for a total of 30 would need to be planned in order to qualify for the streamlining process. Mission Local writes that detractors claim these qualifications would not be profitable for builders which would result in “little construction,” while others claim this is simply not true. This measure automatically streamlines housing for teachers, including City College instructors.
City College has been hit hard with budget cuts and staff layoffs, and Proposition O would generate up to $45 million a year. The measure requires City College to submit an expenditure plan that would then need to be checked by an oversight committee so the funds won’t be available immediately, but City College needs this secure source of funding.
Currently, portions of JFK Drive are closed seven days a week to commuter vehicles and it is used as a recreational public space by city residents and is popularly called the “JFK Promenade.” The Great Highway is closed to cars from Friday through the weekend and on holidays. With Proposition I, cars would be allowed to use JFK Drive, except from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Some Saturdays in April through September will also be closed to cars. Cars could use the Great Highway at all times.
A vote “yes” means that the fledgling SAS will be eliminated and its duties transferred back to DPW. A vote “no” means no changes will be made.
The “Affordable Homes Now” proposition. Multifamily affordable housing projects will be exempt from some steps of the city approval process in an effort to make the lengthy process more efficient. This proposition is backed by Mayor London Breed.
D
Supporters of H claim that moving city elections to the presidential ballot will increase voter turnout, and that voter turnout on off-year elections is usually low. California state law mandates that if voter turnout on local elections is low, then municipal elections should be moved to even-numbered years.
According to the city voter guide, the funds must be used for these purposes: • 25% to programs supporting enrollment, basic needs, retention and job placement
O
• 25% to programs supporting English language proficiency, technology use, and obtaining US citizenship • 25% to programs supporting workplace development and job placement • 25% to programs that support academic success and development of underrepresented students A vote “yes” means that this additional tax to benefit City College will be implemented. A vote “no” means it will not be implemented.
Propositions that directly impact City College.