What the Measure Would Do

Proposition B would authorize the City of San Francisco to issue $390 million in general obligation bonds to fund infrastructure and upgrades that would benefit public health and post-pandemic recovery, specifically focusing on community health and medical facilities, shelter to reduce homelessness, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and outdoor public gathering spaces.

The expenditure plan would distribute the funds as follows:

• $205.1 million for public health infrastructure
• $50 million for supportive shelter for homeless families
• $63.9 million for street safety improvements
• $71 million for public spaces, such as Harvey Milk Plaza, Powell Street, and the cable car turnaround

San Francisco’s policy is to issue new bonds only as older ones are retired or as assessed property values increase. Therefore, Prop. B would not increase property tax rates. An existing Citizens’ Oversight Committee would audit use of the bond funds every year.

The Backstory

San Francisco has a sophisticated but aging network of public infrastructure and resources. The city routinely modernizes this infrastructure by issuing general obligation bonds. The city’s Office of Capital Planning assesses the needs for future general obligation bonds and sequences the bonds accordingly.

Investments in key city functions such as hospitals, streets, and shelters were stretched to their limits during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now up for renewal or consideration in upcoming general obligation bonds. Some priorities funded by Prop. B, such as the Chinatown Public Health Center, have not had any improvements since 1967.

Upgrades to outdoor public gathering spaces have been included in Prop. B for several reasons: their increased use during and after the pandemic, extensive community support for them, the availability of private matches for public funding, and the important role that public realm improvements play in post-pandemic downtown and economic revitalization efforts.

Prop. B includes funding for the following projects:

• Public health: Renovating and expanding the Chinatown Public Health Center, relocating City Clinic, and making critical repairs to the city’s two largest public health institutions: Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Laguna Honda Hospital
• Street safety improvements: Transforming high-traffic sidewalks, intersections, and streets to create a safer and more enjoyable environment for bicyclists and pedestrians; supporting critical traffic safety and road design upgrades; and improving Sloat Boulevard to enhance traffic flow and provide safer access to the San Francisco Zoo
• Shelter for homeless families: Constructing, renovating, or acquiring sites for family housing and shelter
• Revitalizing public spaces: Improving San Francisco’s outdoor civic spaces, including Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro, Powell Street, and the cable car turnaround

This measure was placed on the ballot by Mayor London Breed. As a general obligation bond, Prop. B needs a two-thirds vote to pass.¹

Equity Impacts

Investments in Chinatown Public Health Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and City Clinic would increase access to quality care for marginalized communities. Currently, these communities face significant health disparities, in large part due to gaps in access and in culturally competent care. The investments provided by Prop. B would benefit tens of thousands of monolingual Chinese patients, LGBTQ+ patients, people experiencing homelessness, and adults in need of inpatient psychiatric care.

Pros

• It is a best practice for cities to continually reinvest in existing infrastructure to ensure that public resources remain in a state of good repair and are up to the challenges of the day. This bond prioritizes many of the issues post-pandemic San Francisco faces, which include family homelessness, street safety, public health, and economic revitalization.
• The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is unable to deliver on the city’s commitment to zero traffic deaths² without money to build safer infrastructure, such as crosswalks, protected bicycle lanes, and other traffic calming measures.
• The availability of private funds and state funds to supplement public investment in outdoor civic spaces would make local taxpayer dollars go further. For example, Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro has been able to fundraise in the community and secure state grants, which would add to the bond investment in the space.

Cons

• San Francisco has many pressing capital needs that compete for relatively few spots in the capital planning cycle. This bond measure, like any general obligation bond, could impact the city’s ability to fund other important priorities.