Policy and Advocacy: Electoral
November 2024 Endorsements
Support
California voters strongly support building housing that is affordable for low- and middle-income families and developing critical public infrastructure like roads, transit, water, and fire stations. But state law currently restricts the ability of local voters to approve local bonds for their communities. Prop 5 empowers local voters to approve bonds with a 55% vote and requires strict accountability and oversight.
Yes on Measure T – City of San Mateo: City General Plan Amendment Measure
Measure T gives San Mateo voters an opportunity to provide more housing that is affordable for working families, seniors, veterans and essential workers such as teachers, nurses and first responders. Additionally, Measure T allows San Mateans to sustainably plan for new housing by locating it near existing infrastructure, transit hubs, jobs, and shops along El Camino Real and near Caltrain stations where it will promote economic growth and transit use. By locating affordable housing near transit, Measure T will help reduce vehicle trips, traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. We urge San Mateo voters to support Measure T to ensure there is certainty in expanding housing opportunities to those in our community.
Yes on Measure JJ – City of East Palo Alto: Initiative to Amend Parcel Tax Ordinance
Measure JJ is a minor revision to the City of East Palo Alto’s (EPA) Measure L, a tax passed by voters in November 2022. JJ will ensure the housing priorities in Measure L are honored. If passed, Measure JJ proposes reallocating the 2.5% tax on gross receipts for certain rental properties to specifically fund affordable homeownership opportunities and preserve existing affordable housing. This existing tax, which cannot be passed onto tenants, will yield $1.45 million annually, funding initiatives such as temporary rental assistance to protect residents from displacement and homelessness. MidPen enthusiastically supports this measure as it furthers preservation of existing affordable housing and strengthens tenant protections to prevent displacement.
Oppose
NO on Proposition 36 – State of California: Allows Felony Charges and Increases Sentences for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes
Proposition 36 is an extreme measure that would cost taxpayers up to $750 million a year and divert funds from drug treatment, rehabilitation and victim services. The measure goes beyond changing the reforms of Proposition 47 in 2014 as it would impose harsher criminal penalties. A 2022 report by the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice showed the positive impact that various programs supported by Prop 47-related funding had on services to reduce homelessness, improve employment outcomes, and help people get connected with mental health services. Prop 36 would strip away direly needed funding for these services and instead spend millions and return California to an era of mass incarceration. We urge voters across the state to reject false solutions like Prop 36 and vote NO.
March 2024 Endorsements
Support
Prop. 1 would authorize issuance of $6.38 billion in general obligation bonds to build new behavioral health-related housing and treatment facilities across the state. In addition to modernizing the 2004 Mental Health Services Act, the measure would require 30% of the funding to support housing intervention programs. While we believe the root cause of homelessness is lack of affordable housing or disruptions in income, demand for mental health services and emergency department discharges to psychiatric care are at an all-time high. This funding would shore up all levels of government to reduce homelessness. Additionally, augmented resources to support behavioral health would enhance the feasibility and efficacy of permanent supportive housing—a housing solution that MidPen embraces and ambitiously pursues in alignment with our Strategic Plan.
City and County of San Francisco – Proposition A: Affordable Housing Bonds
Prop A. would authorize the City of San Francisco to issue $300 million in general obligation bonds to fund the construction, development, acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable housing for extremely-low-, low-, moderate-, and middle-income households. The measure would not increase property taxes because of how the City manages their authority to issue of new bonds—cycling in newly authorized bond issuances as older ones retire, and with a goal of pricing to maximize yield. Funds generated by the bonds would substantially add to San Francisco’s affordable housing stock and the City’s overall housing supply. In our view, this is a meaningful measure with no downsides: $270 million of the bond would assist San Francisco’s low-income households. The additional $30 million would be for households needing safe and stable housing and currently experiencing trauma-related homelessness, street violence, domestic violence and abuse, sexual abuse and assault, or human trafficking; this would overwhelmingly assist women.
County of Santa Cruz – Measure K: ½ Cent Sales Tax for Local Services
Measure K would generate additional funds to support affordable housing development, community services, and infrastructure improvements. The sales tax rate will increase from 9% to 9.5% in the unincorporated areas of the County. Estimated revenue generation is between $5 to $7.5 million in Fiscal Year 2024-25, and approximately $10 million in subsequent years. The measure would fund relief for natural disasters like wildfires and floods, aid frontline workers, repair streets, support affordable housing and other critical public infrastructure, and provide mental health services. Per the 2023 “Out of Reach” report by the National Low Income Husing Coalition, the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area is the most expensive place in the Country to be a renter. This revenue is vital for scaling up the affordable housing pipeline and delivering critical infrastructure improvements.
City of Santa Cruz – Measure L: ½ Cent Sales Tax for Local Services
Measure L would generate $8.3 million annually to address some of the City’s most pressing challenges by providing additional funds to support community services and infrastructure improvements. This measure would increase sales tax from 9.25% to 9.75% within City limits. The measure would support reducing homelessness, environmental conservation, and the enhancement of public safety and infrastructure. and is expected to generate an additional $8.3 million annually.
Oppose
City of Santa Cruz – Measure M: Housing for People Initiative
Measure M proposes an increase in the inclusionary housing requirements from 20% to at least 25%. While on its face this would seem aligned with MidPen’s mission to produce more affordable housing, we have grave concerns about up ticking the inclusionary requirement beyond a level financially feasible for our development partners. The math is simple: if no housing is built, then a 25% inclusionary requirement would yield zero affordable units. Measure M would also require voter approval for height and other development standards—the very same metrics that often need to be adjusted to make denser housing work. This proposition is misleading and not aligned with the public’s goal to produce more affordable housing. It does a disservice to voters by failing to respect a pragmatic approach to inclusionary housing requirements, and it lacks flexibility in the planning requirements commonly modified in service of steady affordable housing production. We urge voters to reject this measure for missing the mark and making unrealistic promises.