Caltrain has lost significant ridership and subsequent funding during the COVID-19 pandemic, but after Tuesday’s election, it may receive a lifeline and long-term financial support.
Measure RR, which requires a two-thirds vote from three Bay Area counties, looks like it will comfortably pass with 100% of precincts reporting.
As of early Wednesday morning, San Francisco County reported 74% in favor of the measure, San Mateo County with 72% in favor and Santa Clara County with 67% supporting it.
Prop. 22
Drivers for app-based companies like Uber, Lyft and DoorDash will likely remain independent contractors in California after the state’s voters approved Proposition 22, according to unofficial elections results Tuesday night.
About 58% of voters said “yes” to Prop. 22, which classifies drivers as contractors rather than employees, who typically receive more benefits than contractors.
Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash supported the measure, while labor organizations, teachers and firefighters opposed the measure.
S.F. Board of Supervisors
Four incumbent San Francisco supervisors appeared to have secured their spot on the Board of Supervisors during Tuesday night’s election while two new supervisors will also join the board.
In District 1, which includes the Richmond district, candidate Marjan Philhour is in the lead, but Connie Chan is trailing by just 43 votes after ranked-choice voting, preliminary results showed.
In District 7, made up of areas like West Portal and Stonestown, Myrna Melgar has taken the lead with over 53% of the vote with Joel Engardio in second place.
San Francisco: Prop. B
Preliminary numbers early Wednesday showed most San Francisco voters appear to have approved Proposition B, which would create a new Department of Sanitation and Streets — separate from the city’s Department of Public Works.
According to the latest results, more than 60% of voters approved the measure, which needed just a simple majority to pass.
Under the measure, the new department will take over several of DPW’s duties, like street sweeping, cleaning sidewalks, removing graffiti and illegally dumped items, and maintaining sidewalk trash cans, street trees, city buildings and public restrooms.
San Francisco: Prop. D
San Francisco voters appear to have overwhelmingly approved Proposition D, which would create a Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board, according to the latest numbers early Wednesday morning.
The results show more than two-thirds voted in favor of the measure, which needed a simple majority to pass.
In addition to creating an oversight board for the Sheriff’s Department, the measure would also create an inspector general position.
Sonoma County: Measure P
A Sonoma County measure to strengthen the office that oversees the Sheriff’s Office seemed on the way to approval based on the unofficial vote tally from county elections officials Tuesday night.
At about 10:15 p.m., with 427 of 668 precincts reporting, 67% of voters had cast their ballots in favor of Measure P.
The measure grants the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO), increased access to Sheriff’s Office personnel records and body camera footage during investigations involving deputies’ use of force, alleged bias, sexual harassment and assault, among other things.
Supporters hailed the measure as an important step in ensuring accountability and transparency from the county’s law enforcement officials by giving IOLERO the staff and budget it needs to property fulfill its intended function.
Oakland: Measure QQ
It looks as if 16- and 17-year-old students in Oakland schools will have a voice when it comes time to elect school board members, according to unofficial election results late Tuesday night.
Measure QQ, which was passing by a wide margin, gives them a voice provided the City Council adopts an ordinance allowing it.
Proponents of the measure were leading 67% to about 33%, unofficial results from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters showed late Tuesday night. A simple majority is required for the measure to pass.
Contra Costa County: Measure X
Voters in Contra Costa County, and three of its cities, approved new sales taxes or increases of existing taxes — tax measures local electeds say are all the more important because of the economic ravages the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to local budgets.
Based on “semi-official election night final” election totals in Contra Costa County, which operates its own hospital and health care program that has been stretched thin by the pandemic, voters approved Measure X, a countywide half-cent sales tax measure, by a 58.7% to 41.3% margin.
The measure will raise an estimated $81 million each year for 20 years to fund county hospital operations and community health centers, fire and other emergency responses and various social safety-net services. County supervisors have made it a point to say that no specific recipients have yet been designated to receive any Measure X funding.
