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my ballot
i just spent a couple hours going through my sf ballot, and wanted to give you my take as well as a couple of resources:
* League of Pissed-Off Voters Guide to the SF Ballot-- I generally agreed with this, with a few important exceptions. (They didn't endorse the sex-workers proposition, which is pretty damn important-- my tax money should not be busting sex workers.) http://theballot.org/2008/sf
* My Delicious links to the Guardian's endorsements-- I found this voter guide useful, but hideously difficult to read-- my delicious links for elections will take you right to the page with a particular endorsement: http://delicious.com/nadyalec/elections
The Guardian and the League were my main reference sources-- where they disagreed, I paid particular attention.
Below, I'm listing most of my votes, with a bit more detail on a couple of places where I feel strongly.
As always, I welcome courteous disagreement, and do not welcome trolling.
xoxo
Nabil
US Representative: Cindy Sheehan. A protest vote-- while Pelosi is an improvement on Reid, I'm extremely disappointed with her actions on FISA and the bailout. In particular, I think she made deceptive claims about the bailout.
Judge of the Superior Court, Seat 12: Gerardo Sandoval
Board of Education Members: Sandra Fewer, Norman Yee, Kimberly Wicoff, Barbara "Bobbi" Lopez
Community College Board Members: Milton Marks, Bruce Wolfe, Chris Jackson
Bart Director: Tom Radulovich
Board of Supervisor Members:
Eric Quezada, Mark Sanchez, and David Campos, I'm agnostic on order.
Propositions:
Yes on 1A for high-speed train.
Yes on 2 for standards for confining farm animals. The endorsements for this are pretty exciting-- it's endorsed by a large number of reputable worker's rights groups, animal right's groups, and environmentalist groups. It looks like a well-written proposition recognizing the intersection of all three important issues-- some types of factory farms are terrible for the animals, the people who work there, and the environment. I'm extremely excited about this; I really hope it passes.
No on 3 for Children's Hospital bond. Disproportionately funds private hospitals.
No on 4 for Parental Notification laws. I've studied these laws. Truth is, the only time kids don't tell their parents about needing an abortion is when the parents are abusing them. No, no, no.
Yes on 5 for Parole & Rehab for Nonviolent Drug Offenses. We don't need more nonviolent folks in jail!
No on 6 for more money for prisons.
No on 7 for renewable energy generation: One of those deceptive props that looks good, but does harm.
No on 8 for discriminating against homo couples.
No on 9 for more prisons.
No on 10 for alternative fuel vehicles: Another fake-environmental prop.
No on 11 for redistricting: Based on party lines, not representative.
Yes on 12 for veterans bond: YES, veterans should have housing.
Yes on A to shore up the hospital.
Yes on B for affordable housing.
No on C for keeping city workers for serving boards.
D-- Undecided, I'm not voting.
E: Yes on changing recall process. This was a disagreement between the League and the Guardian, and I'm a bit on the fence-- but I'm leaning to yes.
F-- Undecided, I'm not voting.
Yes on G for letting city workers get credit for unpaid family leave.
Yes on H for evaluating power options-- looks like most of the $ for No on this comes from PG&E, which is not pure and uncorruptible.
No on I
Yes on J for a historic preservation commission.
Yes on K to defund busting prostitution: I'm disappointed the League didn't advocate this. My tax money should not be busting sex workers. I have a huge problem with trafficing; but I don't think busting sex workers helps them avoid abusive pimps and johns.
No on L for the CSJ
Yes for M to prevent landlords from harassing tenants.
Yes for N to tax real estate deals over $5 million.
Yes for O.
No for P.
Yes for Q-- makes sure that some of the most profitable businesses in SF can no longer use loopholes to avoid paying city taxes.
Yes for R for the George Bush Sewage Plant-- the Guardian worries this is insulting to the workers, but their union voted for it. Hell, it might get tourists to the plant, and bring more appreciation for how important sewage plants are.
No on S for set-asides.
Yes for T to increase low-cost substance abuse treatment services (on demand)-- we have a huge waiting list for these services, let's help more people.
Yes for U to say we want out of Iraq.
No for V to bring JROTC back. I don't like the military in our schools.
* League of Pissed-Off Voters Guide to the SF Ballot-- I generally agreed with this, with a few important exceptions. (They didn't endorse the sex-workers proposition, which is pretty damn important-- my tax money should not be busting sex workers.) http://theballot.org/2008/sf
* My Delicious links to the Guardian's endorsements-- I found this voter guide useful, but hideously difficult to read-- my delicious links for elections will take you right to the page with a particular endorsement: http://delicious.com/nadyalec/elections
The Guardian and the League were my main reference sources-- where they disagreed, I paid particular attention.
Below, I'm listing most of my votes, with a bit more detail on a couple of places where I feel strongly.
As always, I welcome courteous disagreement, and do not welcome trolling.
xoxo
Nabil
US Representative: Cindy Sheehan. A protest vote-- while Pelosi is an improvement on Reid, I'm extremely disappointed with her actions on FISA and the bailout. In particular, I think she made deceptive claims about the bailout.
Judge of the Superior Court, Seat 12: Gerardo Sandoval
Board of Education Members: Sandra Fewer, Norman Yee, Kimberly Wicoff, Barbara "Bobbi" Lopez
Community College Board Members: Milton Marks, Bruce Wolfe, Chris Jackson
Bart Director: Tom Radulovich
Board of Supervisor Members:
Eric Quezada, Mark Sanchez, and David Campos, I'm agnostic on order.
Propositions:
Yes on 1A for high-speed train.
Yes on 2 for standards for confining farm animals. The endorsements for this are pretty exciting-- it's endorsed by a large number of reputable worker's rights groups, animal right's groups, and environmentalist groups. It looks like a well-written proposition recognizing the intersection of all three important issues-- some types of factory farms are terrible for the animals, the people who work there, and the environment. I'm extremely excited about this; I really hope it passes.
No on 3 for Children's Hospital bond. Disproportionately funds private hospitals.
No on 4 for Parental Notification laws. I've studied these laws. Truth is, the only time kids don't tell their parents about needing an abortion is when the parents are abusing them. No, no, no.
Yes on 5 for Parole & Rehab for Nonviolent Drug Offenses. We don't need more nonviolent folks in jail!
No on 6 for more money for prisons.
No on 7 for renewable energy generation: One of those deceptive props that looks good, but does harm.
No on 8 for discriminating against homo couples.
No on 9 for more prisons.
No on 10 for alternative fuel vehicles: Another fake-environmental prop.
No on 11 for redistricting: Based on party lines, not representative.
Yes on 12 for veterans bond: YES, veterans should have housing.
Yes on A to shore up the hospital.
Yes on B for affordable housing.
No on C for keeping city workers for serving boards.
D-- Undecided, I'm not voting.
E: Yes on changing recall process. This was a disagreement between the League and the Guardian, and I'm a bit on the fence-- but I'm leaning to yes.
F-- Undecided, I'm not voting.
Yes on G for letting city workers get credit for unpaid family leave.
Yes on H for evaluating power options-- looks like most of the $ for No on this comes from PG&E, which is not pure and uncorruptible.
No on I
Yes on J for a historic preservation commission.
Yes on K to defund busting prostitution: I'm disappointed the League didn't advocate this. My tax money should not be busting sex workers. I have a huge problem with trafficing; but I don't think busting sex workers helps them avoid abusive pimps and johns.
No on L for the CSJ
Yes for M to prevent landlords from harassing tenants.
Yes for N to tax real estate deals over $5 million.
Yes for O.
No for P.
Yes for Q-- makes sure that some of the most profitable businesses in SF can no longer use loopholes to avoid paying city taxes.
Yes for R for the George Bush Sewage Plant-- the Guardian worries this is insulting to the workers, but their union voted for it. Hell, it might get tourists to the plant, and bring more appreciation for how important sewage plants are.
No on S for set-asides.
Yes for T to increase low-cost substance abuse treatment services (on demand)-- we have a huge waiting list for these services, let's help more people.
Yes for U to say we want out of Iraq.
No for V to bring JROTC back. I don't like the military in our schools.