BOMA San Francisco's Endorsements for November 2 Election! (The BOMA Slate card!)

Board of Supervisor Races:

District 1: Lillian Sing, David Heller, and Leanna Dawydiak 

www.lilliansing.com; www.electdavidheller.com;  www.voteleanna.org    
District 2: Michela Alioto-Pier www.alioto-pier.com   
District 3: No Endorsement.
District 5: Andrew Sullivan www.sulli.info 
District 7: Sean Elsbernd www.seanelsbernd.com
District 9: Miguel Bustos www.miguelbustos.com
District 11: Myrna Lim www.district11supervisor.org

Board of Education: (Elected at large) 
Heather Hiles www.hilesforschoolboard.com
Coach Larry Kane www.coachlarrykane.org
David Weiner www.weinerforschoolboard.com
Jill Wynns www.jillwynnsforschoolboard.com

San Francisco Propositions:
Proposition A (Housing Bonds): No Position
Proposition B (Historical Preservation Bonds): Support
Proposition C (Health Service Charter Amendment): No Position
Proposition D (Government Reorganization Charter Amendment): Oppose
Proposition E (Increases benefits for survivors of police and fire personnel who die in line of duty):  No position
Proposition F (Non-citizen voting in school board elections): No position
Proposition G (Health Plan Charter Amendment): No position
Proposition H (Prohibits selling naming rights for Candlestick Park): Oppose
Proposition I (Creates an Office of Economic Analysis/Requires an economic development plan): Strong Support
Proposition J (Increases local city sales tax 1/4 of 1% to a total of 8.75%): Support
Proposition K (Creates a gross receipts tax of 1/10 of 1% on receipts over $500,000 per year): No Position
Proposition L (Diverts hotel taxes to fund new nonprofit to preserve single screen movie theatres): Oppose
Proposition M (Anti-Multi-Unit Residential Demolition Ordinance): Strong Oppose [Measure deleted from ballot]   
Proposition N (Declaration Opposing U.S. occupation of Iraq): No Position.
Proposition O (Restricts use of city sales tax increase, if passed): No Position.
Proposition AA (BART General Obligation Bonds for seismic upgrades): Support

California Propositions: BOMA California Supports 1A, and 64; Opposes 72

BOMA SF PAC Endorses Miguel Bustos for Supervisor!
After a recent meeting with Miguel Bustos, candidate for District 9 Supervisor (opposing incumbent Tom Ammiano), the BOMA PAC Board unanimously endorsed him, contributed the maximum allowed, and urged BOMA members to do the same. Mr. Bustos will bring a more business-friendly attitude to this position that will encourage economic development for the residents of District 9. Mr. Bustos will partner with the business community to solve problems, create jobs, and stimulate a revival of the Mission District, Bernal Heights, and Portola areas of the city. It's time for a change in District 9! To help Miguel Bustos' campaign, check out his website: www.miguelbustos.com. Contributions are most welcome: Make checks payable to Miguel Bustos for Supervisor, District 9, and mail to P.O. Box 40037, San Francisco, CA 94140-0037.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors Passes Anti-Graffiti Ordinance
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has passed a new anti-graffiti ordinance this month, as introduced by Supervisor Sean Elsbernd. This ordinance, with substantial input from the City's Anti Graffiti Advisory Committee, will establish new guidelines and fines for graffiti not removed in a timely fashion. Under this new proposal, the owner of the property will be given a 30 day notice to remove the graffiti or request a hearing from the Director of Public Works. After 30 days, if the owner has not responded to the citation, the City will remove the graffiti and charge the owner the greater of $500 or the actual costs the City incurred to remove it. Contact the BOMA office for a copy of the new ordinance.

David Binder Predictions
BOMA Members were given a preview of what noted local pollster David Binder thought were the probable results of the upcoming election at as special Advocacy Briefing on October 14th. Here are some of his predictions:

• Binder predicted that people who still claim they are "undecided" by this date are probably not going to vote.
• He stated that it was remarkable in California for a Republican Governor to be as popular as Arnold Schwarzenegger currently is, and who is receiving a 65% approval rating, 22% disapproval rating as of an October 7th poll.
• However, he also noted that 58% of the same people polled were not in favor of changing the U.S. Constitution to allow him to run for President.
• He predicted that Proposition 64, the proposal to limit frivolous lawsuits, will be defeated. [BOMA California supports Prop 64.] Proposition 66, which will limit the "three strikes" law, will win 2-1. Both Indian gaming measures, Propositions 68 and 70, will be defeated, while he sees Proposition 71, the $3 billion bond to promote stem cell research, passing.
• On the local level, he stated that Mayor Newsom remains extremely popular with a favorable rating of 67%, down from his high of 78% in August.  As for the local races for the Board of Supervisors, he predicted a toss up between Jake McGoldrick and Judge Lillian Sing for District 1, a sure thing for Michela Alioto-Pier in District 2 and Aaron Peskin in District 3, and expected wins for Ross Mirkarimi in District 5, Sean Elsbernd in District 7, Tom Ammiano in District 9, and Gerardo Sandoval in District 11. He also thought Proposition A, the housing bond, would pass with the required 2/3 vote, but Proposition B (the historic preservation bond) was more doubtful. He thought both tax measures (Propositions J and K) placed on the ballot by Mayor Newsom were in trouble, as well as Proposition L, the measure to divert a part of the hotel tax to the preservation of single screen movie theatres.

Who is Business Friendly (and who isn't) on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors?
Over the past four years, a tally of votes taken on various issues has been compiled to show who is supportive of the business community and who is not on the Board of Supervisors. Although not a scientifically precise measurement of our fair city leaders, it does give voters a general idea where the supervisors fall on the moderate to extremely liberal spectrum. (Note: There are no conservatives on the Board of Supervisors.) Lowest percentage favorable to business: District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly (Only 14%!). Close behind Daly were District 5 Supervisor Matt Gonzalez (only 18% business favorable voting record) and District 9 Supervisor Tom Ammiano (19%). Slightly more business friendly were District 1 Supervisor Jake McGoldrick (27%), District 11 Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval (27%), District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin (32%), and District 10 Supervisor Sophie Maxwell (33%). The best friends of the city's business community on the Board have been former District 7 Supervisor Tony Hall (77%), District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier (71%), District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty (63%), and District 4 Supervisor Fiona Ma (55%). Sean Elsbernd, the Supervisor who replaced Tony Hall, is too new to the Board to be compared at this time. Votes were compared on such issues as: the business tax settlement lawsuit, politicizing the planning process by changing the rules for conditional use appeals, restrictions on allowing tenants in common to purchase their buildings, municipalizing the local power company, doubling the property transfer tax, Care Not Cash, HOPE -the home ownership  program for everyone - initiative, creating an elected rent control board, the ban on aggressive panhandling, the anti-demolition ban on multi-family residential buildings, and the restrictions and/or ban on chain stores.

BOMA Tour of San Francisco City Hall November 16th - Sign Up Now!
Back by popular demand, BOMA's Director of Government and Public Affairs has organized another tour of City Hall for Tuesday, November 16th, beginning at 10 a.m. If you missed the last one, you missed a very interesting visit! See the historic building up close, and visit with the building manager of City Hall, Corrine Mehigan. The tour will begin at 10 a.m. at the bottom of the staircase under the rotunda. The group will enjoy lunch in the Light Court and meet with legislators in the afternoon. Call BOMA to sign up today!

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission General Manager Susan Leal Selected for BOMA Honor
BOMA San Francisco has selected Susan Leal, the former City Treasurer, former City Supervisor, and current General Manager of the city's Public Utilities Commission to receive its Good Government Award for 2004. BOMA will bestow this Good Government Award on her at the November 18th BOMA general membership meeting at the Palace Hotel, which starts at 11:30 a.m. BOMA's Good Government award is presented annually to a public official who has demonstrated leadership in promoting a more efficient, responsive government, and who has made contributions which directly impact our industry.  This award is being given to Susan Leal for her excellent stewardship of the city's financial resources as City Treasurer, and for her re-organization of that city department into a very efficient and productive operation. The city's investments under Treasurer Leal also made the best returns of any local government, while still adhering to a socially responsible investment philosophy. 

BOMA San Francisco Adopts New Housing Policy
BOMA's Government and Public Affairs Committee recently adopted a new policy on housing. As a city with hugely expensive housing costs, and only 35% of the residents owning their homes or condos, the reality is that city policies must change to promote more housing construction of all price ranges, and that this effort must begin NOW. Without adequate housing, employers will not locate or expand their offices here. When that happens, it hurts everyone. Fewer jobs are created, fewer tax dollars are produced for social services, and more vacant office space is on the market. The policy states: "[BOMA] will support laws, regulations and proposals that provide effective and efficient mechanisms to produce or improve rental and ownership housing for all income groups. Conversely, [BOMA] will oppose laws, regulations, and proposals which provide disincentive to new investment in rental and ownership housing, abridge the rights of property owners, impose barriers to the financing, production and improvement of housing, and unreasonably shift the burden of subsidizing or providing affordable housing to property owners."  BOMA recognizes that home ownership promotes civic and political stability, community responsibility, and increases and broadens the tax base. Therefore, it is important for the city to promote more home ownership through any means possible.

CA Assembly Member Gene Mullin Speaks to San Mateo BOMA Members
California's 19th Assembly District Member Gene Mullin addressed the BOMA membership in San Mateo county on October 12th and gave the attendees an inside view of the chaos called the California Legislature. Although it's members are termed out just about the time they learn their way around the Capitol, Mullin stated the general caliber of representatives has remained high, and that the variety of legislators today more accurately reflects the state's demographics than it has in the past. Mullin stated he had retired from a 32 year teaching and textbook writing career before the California Teachers Association asked him to run for the state legislature, and after his next two years, he will step down permanently. Mullin said: "Politicians are like diapers - they need to be changed regularly - and for the same reason." He characterized the new Republican Governor as a social moderate and fiscal conservative, who has pretty much thrown his lot behind the state chamber of commerce, having just vetoed 30 out of 36 passed bills that group had opposed. He stated the current Governor relies on his staff for policy input and most of whom are folks from the previous Gov. Wilson administration. He decried the polarization of the legislature, where he said politics usually trumps good policymaking, and that too many legislators base their votes on how it will affect their political futures rather than on the merits of the particular issue at hand. Mullin also called for an end to the "gut and amend" method of lawmaking and stated he thought it was disingenuous of legislators to throw totally unrelated items into old bills that then move forward in stealth fashion. Mullin did say the job was a tough one, much tougher than he had expected, but that it was like the Peace Corps mott "it's the toughest job you'll ever love. Mullin sits on six standing Assembly committees including Budget, Housing and Community Development, Local Government, and Labor and Employment. His district covers the cities of Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Daly City, El Granada, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Millbrae, Montara, Pacifica, San Mateo, San Bruno, South San Francisco, and portions of unincorporated San Mateo County.

BOMA's Annual Codes Update Seminar November 10th! Don't Miss Out!
The annual half day seminar on building code changes, and the latest changes at the City's Department of Building and Fire Departments will be held on November 10th, at 650 California Street, basement conference room beginning at 8:15 a.m. and ending at 11:30 a.m. This year will focus on "green building" codes, and their practical implementation. Speakers will include the BOMA Codes Chairman, Gordon L'Estrange (Ottolini, Booth and Associates, Architects), Steve Hutchinson and Jim Chace of PG & E, Cal Broomhead of the San Francisco Department of the Environment, Laurence Kornfield, Chief Building Inspector for San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection, and Bill Krill, Swinerton Builders.  Topics to be covered include: how to implement "green" upgrades to existing commercial offices, a review of the city's new construction and demolition debris recycling ordinance, a case study using Swinerton Builders' 260 Townsend office building as an example of adaptive reuse incorporating "green codes". PG & E will update the membership on the various rebate programs available to office building owners for energy conservation upgrades. Cost: $85 for members; $105 for non-members. BOMA wishes to give special thanks to the San Francisco Electrical Contractors Association for being the prime sponsor of this seminar, and to Swinerton Builders for also helping to underwrite this event. Make your reservations TODAY! Seating is limited!

SF Supervisor Chris Daly Seeks to Limit Home Ownership Opportunities - Again!
You might have thought it wasn't possible, but Supervisor Chris Daly wants to make it even harder for San Franciscans to become homeowners:  he wants to place even stricter limitations on condo conversions.  Currently, owner-occupied two-unit buildings can almost immediately be turned into condos, avoiding the 200 unit per year condo "lottery".  Daly's legislation would remove the condo lottery exemption for two-unit buildings, which is one of the few ways for low and moderate income people to become homeowners. Next, Daly's legislation would place severe restrictions on 175 out of the 200 units that can convert under the condo lottery.  For many San Franciscans, this will effectively mean that they will never be able to own the units that they live in.  This is taking San Francisco in exactly the wrong direction, and Daly's legislation must be stopped.  The Daly legislation will be heard on November 8 before the Finance Committee of the Board of Supervisors (Chris Daly, Aaron Peskin, Tom Ammiano). You can visit the Board of Supervisors website at http://209.77.149.3/site/bdsupvrs_index.asp.

What can you do?  Send an email to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor, telling them to stop Daly's legislation now.  Or call Supervisors Daly (415-554-7970), Peskin (415-554-7450) and Ammiano (415-554-5144) to tell them that you oppose this legislation.  Best of all, come to the hearing on November 8 and tell the supervisors in person that this idea is all wrong!  The enemies of homeownership will certainly have dozens of advocates there, and unless many of you can show up, the board will continue to get the message that homeownership has little popular support.  Call Ken Cleaveland at BOMA if you plan to go to City Hall November 8th  for specific time and location.

Do You Know Your Local Police Station Captain?
If you haven't already done so, you need to get to know the Police Captain in your district. Consider inviting him/her to meet with your tenants to discuss safety and security issues. A number of BOMA members have already done this to great success. Consider sharing emergency contact information with a couple of neighboring buildings. Consider working out reciprocal arrangements with fellow BOMA Building members to operate out of their facility or to re-locate your tenants in the event of a major incident. Important: The police department advises that for this purpose, you work with a building 1/4 mile away from your property - not just across the street - as the objective here is to deal with an emergency far greater than a fire. SFPD has also requested BOMA buildings to provide them with floor plans and emergency evacuation routes when reporting an emergency. Therefore, it's advisable to have 15-20 copies of these ready to provide police/fire personnel in an emergency. Here are your current Station Captains in San Francisc

• District A/Central Station, 756 Vallejo Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
• Captain Stephen Tacchini, Tel: 415-315-2480. Email: sfpd.central.station@sfgov.org.
• District B/Southern Station, 850 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
  Lt. Doug Groston, Tel: 415-553-9275. Email: sfpd.southern.station@sfgov.org.
• District J/Tenderloin, 301 Eddy Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
  Captain Kathy Brown, Tel: 415-345-7300. Email: sfpd.tenderloin.station@sfgov.org.