Pass: 126,023 / 56.36% Yes votes ...... 97,567 / 43.64% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

THE PROPOSAL: Proposition I is a Declaration of Policy that theMayor should appear in person at one regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors each month to engage in formal policy discussions with members of the Board.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote on this measure means:

If you vote "yes," you want it to be City policy that the Mayor should appear in person at one regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors each month to engage in formal policy discussions with members of the Board.

A NO vote on this measure means:

If you vote "no," you do not want it to be City policy that the Mayor should appear in person at one regularly scheduled Board meeting per month.

San Franciscans would benefit from regular communications, active policy discussions, and public dialogue between the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors.

ENCOURAGES OPEN PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSION

Prop I is an advisory measure that informs the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors that the people of San Francisco welcome the Mayor's presence at a monthly Board of Supervisors meeting to engage in formal policy discussion in an open and public setting. It would contribute to policy development in the City, encouraging the Mayor to formally give input on any pending initiative as it goes through the legislative process, and would allow the public to hear the various viewpoints among our City representatives on major policy issues. This would also allow the Mayor to give his or her input early and not wait until the end of the legislative cycle to express an opinion.

FOSTERS COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION FOR EFFICIENT GOVERNANCE

In the other 57 California counties, the County Executive regularly appear at their Board of Supervisors meetings, and many California mayors serve on their City Council. San Franciscans can benefit from more open communication between the City & County officials. Greater public communications between the Mayor and the Board members can improve the general workings of our government, especially in tackling the most pressing issues of our day. Whether it be housing, healthcare, clean streets, or the budget, increased communication can facilitate greater cooperation and coordination of efforts between the legislative and executive branches.

JOIN US IN VOTING YES ON proposition I!
SAN FRANCISCO PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION

Every San Francisco mayor in modern history has had an open door policy to the Board of Supervisors and Mayor Newsom is no exception. The proponents already have their question time in San Francisco. This is a proposed solution in search of a problem.

I would respectfully ask the four Supervisors who put this on the ballot to simply ask their questions directly rather than ask the voters to weigh in on a meaningless measure.

We have pressing priorities here in San Francisco that should be the focus of our Board of Supervisors. Our crime rate is too high. Our rate of investment in basic services is too low. There are too many potholes. And there are too few police on the streets.

The proponents note that in many California cities mayors also serve directly on legislative bodies. But in those places, usually the smaller cities, the mayors have a vote. I have not heard any member of the Board of Supervisors suggest Mayor Newsom, or any future mayor, be given a vote on our esteemed body.

Let's call Proposition I what it really is + pure politics.

We need to deal with serious issues before we spend any more time and money debating a meaningless advisory measure that was rushed to the ballot in an election year.

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier

Proposition I is the most recent example of Supervisors playing politics instead of focusing on real issues. It calls for the Mayor to attend Board of Supervisors meetings so that his political opponents can argue with him.

We have much greater priorities to address as San Franciscans. The homeless problem still requires our attention. Muni needs long-overdue upgrades. Our streets have too many potholes. And our schools have too many children struggling to keep up. We need to make sure our elected officials work together on these issues. The last thing we need is divisive political stunts like Proposition I.

What is deeply troubling is that Proposition I is one of several measures put on the ballot this year to further political agendas instead of debate on fair public policy. These unnecessary political games cost San Francisco taxpayers more than $1 million in additional election costs.

But that's what happens when you let politics trump sound public policy.

If Supervisors have a question for the Mayor, they should just ask it. They don't need permission from the voters; they simply need a willingness to work together with the Mayor.

The last thing we need in San Francisco is more political stunts and more political theater. But that's what this misguided policy will create. No matter how you feel about the current Board of Supervisors or the current Mayor, it just does not make sense to have Proposition I on the ballot.

Please join me in voting NO on Proposition I. Let's keep our government institutions in balance, and focus on solving real problems.

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier

PROMOTE OPEN AND PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSION!

San Franciscans will benefit from public dialogue between the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors. While the Mayor may have backroom dealings with his appointees and personal friends on the Board of Supervisors, it is important that open communications take place between the Mayor and all the members of the Board and that these discussions take place with full sunshine and view of the public.

While the Charter provides for the Mayor to be heard with respect to any matter at any meeting of the Board of Supervisors our current mayor has not attended any meetings to present his policy priorities. Former Mayors including Willie Brown, Frank Jordan and Art Agnos have made budget presentations and delivered State of the City addresses in the Board Chambers during Board meetings.

San Franciscans suffer from the lack of communication between our key officials. Regular dialogue, especially between those who have different opinions and ideas, can go a long way in increasing understanding, and improving cooperation between the different arms of government, especially in tackling the most pressing issues of our day.

Often decisions are made because of expedient politics and not the public good. Important public policy discussion must not be done behind closed doors and our elected officials should not fear organic public discourse. San Franciscans deserve full transparency and forthrightness in the development of our City's laws and regulations.

SAN FRANCISCO PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION