Jane Kim for School Board
Oct 18, 08:10 PM
November 4th, 2008 Election Calendar
Early Voting Now!
You can vote early at the basement of City Hall!
Monday-Friday: 8am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 4pm
October 20th: Last day to register to vote.
October 28th: Last day to request an absentee ballot. For more information about absentee voting, see the Department of Elections website.
November 4th: Election day! Polls are open from 7am to 8pm. Anyone can vote in City Hall.
Where is my polling place? Click HERE.
Picture Above: Jane, after being sworn into office on Friday, January 5th, with student Queena Chen.
An Overview of the Board of Education
To learn more about San Francisco’s Board of Education and access agendas, minutes, notices, archives of BOE meeting webcasts, click HERE.
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Blog
Oct 17, 12:25 AM | Author: jane kim | Category: politics
My November 2008 Endorsements
Voting in San Francisco has begun and absentee ballots are out!! It’s a BIG ballot with many important races and ballot measures. The following are my endorsements for November 4th, 2008 Election.
President
Barack Obama!!!
“I am excited and honored that Jane is supporting our efforts to change the way politics is done in America,” said Obama. “Jane embodies the type of leader for a new generation and is a great example of change we can believe in.” November 25, 2007
Board of Education
To find out why I love these three candidates so much, read THIS.
Sandra Lee Fewer
Norman Yee
Barbara Lopez
Community College Board
Chris Jackson
Milton Marks
Bruce Wolfe
Board of Supervisors
D1: Eric Mar
My colleague and a School Board member for the past 8 years. A former immigration rights attorney and ethnic studies professor at SFSU, Eric has been a progressive voice and staunch community advocate on the Board.
D3: David Chiu
Yes, a former roommate and good friend. Intelligent and policy-oriented, David has been a strong supporter of affordable housing and tenant rights issues and is one of the most active people I know in the community.
D5: Ross Mirkarimi
As a supervisor, his commitment has kept him at the office long after his other colleagues have left for the day. Ross has been instrumental in supporting and passing a lot of important legislation regarding clean energy, violence reduction and affordable housing.
D9: 1st Choice: Mark Sanchez
Also a colleague and School Board member for the past 8 years. Mark has been a great leader as President. He facilitated unifying the Board and bringing a strong Superintendent and team who are trying to bring real reform to SFUSD.
2nd Choice: David Campos or Eric Quezada
Two great candidates as well. Rank all three of them!
D11: 1st Choice: John Avalos
John is a community activist, former labor organizer and an experienced policy writer. As a legislative aide in City Hall, John has written some of our most important legislation supporting low- to moderate-income families in San Francisco.
2nd Choice: Randy Knox
BART Board
Tom Radulovich
Local Propositions
There are 22 propositions on the ballot this year! Wow. I have highlighted KEY measures first.
Key Measures
Proposition A: SF General Hospital Bond—> YES, YES, YES!!!
The Mayor and all 11 Supervisors support this measure.
Proposition B: Affordable Housing—> YES, YES, YES!! and YES!!
We need to invest city dollars in affordable housing for low and middle-income residents and families in San Francisco.
Proposition H: Clean Energy Act—> YES, YES. YES
A diverse group of folks including Fiona Ma, Ross Mirkarimi, Bevan Dufty, Mark Leno and Carol Migden are supporting this measure which will require the City to transition from fossil fuels to clean, non-nuclear, sustainable energy production at affordable rates.
Proposition N: Change the Real Estate Transfer Tax—-> YES
This measure is designed to close loopholes in the city tax code and bring some badly needed new revenue into San Francisco’s coffers. The proposal would increase to 1.5 percent the transfer tax on the sale of property worth more than $5 million.
Proposition M: Protecting Tenants Rights—> YES, YES, YES
Proposition Q: Modifying the payroll tax—-> YES
Another measure that would close a major loophole in the city tax code. The proposal would bring at least $10 million a year into the city and stop certain types of businesses from ducking their share of the tax burden. Supported by the Mayor and 10 Supervisors.
Proposition U: Defund the War in Iraq—> YES
Proposition V: Bringing Back JROTC to SFUSD—> NO
All Measures
Proposition C: Prohibit City employees from serving on Commissions—-> No
Proposition D: Finance Pier 70 Redevelopment—> No position
Proposition E: Increase number of signatures to recall Supervisors—> Yes
San Francisco’s low signature threshold for removing an officeholder makes it subject to abuse. This measure would bring the City Charter into conformity with state law, raising the signature threshold from 10 percent of registered voters to 20% in most supervisorial districts.
Proposition F: Eliminate odd year elections—-> No position
Proposition G: Retirement Credit for Unpaid Parental Leave—-> Yes
Proposition I: Create an Independent Rate Payer Advocate—-> No
Proposition J: Create a Historic Preservation Commission—-> No position
Proposition K: Decriminalize prostitution—-> No position
Proposition L: Community Justice Center—> No
Proposition O: Emergency Response Fee—-> Yes
Proposition P: Politicize the Transportation Authority Board—-> No
Proposition R: Memorialize the George W. Bush Sewage Plant—-> No position
It’s humorous! You decide if you like the humor or not.
Proposition S: Half-Hearted Restriction of Budget Set-Asides—-> No
Proposition T: Free and Low-Cost Substance Abuse Treatment—-> Yes
State Propositions
Proposition 1A: High Speed Railroad—> YES, YES, YES!
This measure will create jobs and fight global warming. I can’t believe we don’t have it already!
Proposition 2: Fair Treatment of Farm Animals—-> Yes
Proposition 4: Parental Notification and Wait Period for Abortion—>NO, NO, NO
Really, again? It already lost once, why bring it back on the ballot?
Proposition 5: Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act—> YES!
Treatment versus incarceration. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst estimates that Prop. 5 will save California $2.5 billion or more. Prop. 5 safely eases prison overcrowding by investing in drug treatment – which costs much less than prison – for youth and nonviolent offenders.
Proposition 6: Prison Spending—> NO, NO, NO
Wasteful and dangerous. The New York Times has come out against it. Prop. 6 will cost state taxpayers more than ONE BILLION in the first year, threatening state funding for schools and health care.
Proposition 7: Badly Written Clean Energy—> No
Proposition 8: Ban on Same Sex Marriage—>NO, NO, NO
This ballot measure is unconstitutional and mean-spirited. Vote No.
Proposition 9: Restrictions on Parole—> NO, NO, NO
Misguided and bad legislation.
Proposition 12: Veterans Bond Act—> Yes
Thanks for making it all the way to the bottom! Please volunteer or donate to the above local races as well. We are at risk of losing some important local seats—if we lose these seats, many things that we love about San Francisco and perhaps take for granted, will be in jeopardy. We still have much work to do. Let’s support the above candidates to make sure that work continues.
Jane
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Sep 22, 07:38 PM | Author: jane kim | Category: politics
Sandra Lee Fewer, Barbara Lopez and Norman Yee for School Board!
Many folks have been asking me who I am endorsing for the Board of Education this November 2008.
I will be writing up all my endorsements in the next few weeks, but for now, I wanted to promote these three EXCELLENT candidates. They are the ONLY candidates who have dedicated their careers to working with, advocating for and serving the families and youth of San Francisco’s public schools. They will be incredible and valuable members to the Board.
Sandra Lee Fewer
Sandy is the Director of Education Policy and Parent Organizing at Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth where she has advocated on behalf of low-income African American, Latino, Pacific Islander and Asian American families for 7 years. She is a parent of three SFUSD students/graduates. Sandy and her ENTIRE family are products of SFUSD. She has served on 10 school site councils, was appointed to 5 SFUSD committees and has been the PTA President or Vice-President for 21 years! Wow, that was a mouthful. She is, by far, one of the most knowledgeable and experienced candidates I have seen for the Board of Education in the past 8 years.
Barbara Lopez
Barbara, “Bobbi,” is the Family Education Organizer at the Tenderloin Housing Clinic where she has organized and advocated for Latino families and students in SFUSD. She previously worked at La Raza Centro Legal representing children in disciplinary and special education hearings. She is incredibly knowledgeable about education issues, violence prevention issues and issues facing our immigrant communities. Over the summer, Barbara lost one of her students, a Mission High School freshman, to unnecessary violence. She will bring experience, policy ideas, passion and voices of immigrant families (often least heard) to the Board. Did I mention she is the only queer, latina AND bilingual Spanish-speaking candidate? If she wins, she will be the only lesbian elected official in San Francisco and the only Latina and bilingual Spanish speaking Board of Education member.
Norman Yee
Many of you already know Norman. He is a current Board of Education member and former President and Vice-President. He successfully led our Superintendent search last year (with great results—Carlos Garcia!) and is a thoughtful, committed and caring Board member. Norman has devoted 35 years of his career to serving the community and is most known for his time as Executive Director of Wu Yee Children’s Services. He is THE advocate of early childhood education and has taught me a lot! He is a former teacher, parent of two SFUSD graduates and a SFUSD graduate himself.
Please support these three candidates. Check out their websites, donate and volunteer! In a field of 15 good candidates, they are simply THE BEST. And they will bring the voices of many families to the Board of Education.
Thanks Beto for pushing me to do this today!
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May 12, 03:03 AM | Author: jane kim | Category: politics
Jane's Endorsement for June Election
Yes, it’s another one of those years… when we have THREE elections! Can you keep up??
Here are my endorsements for June, 2008.
YES on A, NO on 98!
State Senate, District 3
CAROL MIGDEN
She’s the incumbent, she has a LONG history as a progressive elected official, she’s a woman, and she’s smart. She deserves another term.
State Assembly, District 13
TOM AMMIANO
Former public school teacher, stand up comedian and father of the current progressive family of electeds in San Francisco. Did I mention he’s funny? Thank you Tom, for bringing the Rainy Day Fund, to the ballot. SFUSD is $19 million happier for it, no thanks to our Governor. Read about that HERE.
CA State Propositions
Proposition 98: “Abolition of rent control”—> NO, NO, NO
Yes, you read correctly. This proposition eliminates rent control in the State of California. What?? For real? Vote No.
Proposition 99: “Eminent domain reforms”—> Yes
For an objective run down of both propositions, check out Smartvoter.org
San Francisco Local Propositions
Proposition A: Invest in our Teachers!! Parcel Tax
YES, YES, YES!!!
It’s a lower school parcel tax than most cities and this investment by San Francisco homeowners will go directly to investing in our teachers and school technology. YES!
Proposition B: City Retirees Benefit Reform—>YES!
Everyone supports this policy—all 11 Supervisors, the Mayor, the Democratic and Republican Party. This proposition would modify health benefits for City employees – so that those who worked less than five years don’t get lifetime perks that bankrupt the City.
Proposition C: Denying Benefits on Not-Well-Defined Terms—> No
According to current law, a police officer or a firefighter convicted of a crime involving “moral turpitude” loses his or her pension, unless he or she retires before being convicted. Prop C closes the loophole to apply to convictions after retirement, for crimes committed while on duty.
Closing this loophole sounds good because it would save the City money, but “moral turpitude” has historically been defined in discriminatory ways by conservative judges and lawmakers. The crimes that result in a City employee losing retirement benefits should be better defined before amending the current law.
Proposition D: Supporting Diversity on City Commissions—> Yes
Prop D would make it City policy to seek more women, people of color, and people with disabilities to serve on City boards, commissions, and advisory bodies.
Proposition E: Board Approval of SF Public Utilities Commission Appointees—> Yes
Proposition F: Require Affordable Housing in Bayview Hunter’s Point Development—> YES, YES, YES!!!
Prop F would set City policy on affordable housing in future development of Candlestick Point and Hunters Point. It would require that before leasing or selling the property to developers, the City would require that half of the housing to be developed would be “affordable” to a range of income levels that are consistent with existing City law per the Housing Element in the General Plan but not met by the competing Prop G.
Proposition G: No Accountability to our communities—> NO, NO, NO!!!
I heard someone say F is for Fairness and G is for Greed. It’s a much easier way to remember.
Prop G is a very deceptive measure. It proports to create parkland, when it actually builds luxury condos on parkland. It proports to add jobs and clean up toxics, but the only one cleaning up here is Lennar. It guarantees luxury housing, but makes affordable housing OPTIONAL.
Environmentalists are also opposed to this measure based on the fact that imbedded within the proposal are plans to build a highway over a wetlands restoration area and to convert open space to parking lots. Housing advocates, transit groups, and progressive organizations oppose Prop G.
The Sierra Club, the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, Chinese Progressive Association, POWER, St. Peter’s Housing, SF Green Party and the SF League of Conservation Voters in OPPOSES Prop G.
Proposition H: Vague Campaign Committee Reform—> No
Prop H would prohibit people doing business with the City from giving any campaign contributions to elected officials responsible for approving the contracts. This sounds like a good idea, except it is not genuine. The Mayor’s office negotiates most City contracts, but formal approval is done by the Board of Supervisors. Prop H would hterefore prohibit contributions to the Board, but not prohibit contributions to the Mayor! This proposition is poorly written and vague.
For a run down of the Pro’s and Con’s of each measure, click here.
* San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee*
I have bolded the names of individuals that I have personally worked with and know well. There most likely many other good candidates, but I did not know all of them personally. Also, these short titles do not do the candidates justice.
13th Assembly District
I really love everyone on this list. I wholeheartedly endorse them!!!
Bill Barnes, prolific progressive policy writer
David Campos, former SFUSD general counsel and police commissioner
David Chiu, attorney and community advocate
Chris Daly, supervisor extraordinaire
Howard Grayson, LONG-TIME community activist from the Civil Rights Movement to the Gay Liberation
Michael Goldstein, community activist extraordinaire
Robert Haaland, SEIU organizer and community activist
Joe Julian, community activist
Rafael Mandelman, harvey milk democratic “THE” club president
Aaron Peskin, board of supervisor president
Eric Quezada, housing activist
Debra Walker, artist and tenant activist
12th Assembly District
Emily Drennen, transportation activist
Eric Mar, board of education member
Jake McGoldrick, supervisor
Giselle Quezada, community activist
The Green Party County Central Committee is uncontested this year and not on the ballot.
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