SPUR Says “No on H” in Fall Election Recommendations

The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) has released its fall recommendations, and has joined a diverse group of San Francisco citizens and civic organizations in rejecting a “blank check” for the Board of Supervisors and saying “NO” to Prop. H.

For almost 50 years, SPUR has brought together experts and concerned citizens to tackle urban policy in a non-partisan and independent. manner. It concentrates on good planning, sustainable development, transit, and good government initiatives that benefit all San Francisco residents.

Its recommendations each election cycle are notable because SPUR spends a significant amount of time working with board members, volunteers and staff to research each issue and hear all sides. Then a measure must get a 60% “yes” or “no” vote from the SPUR board.

SPUR’s assessment of the measure need no annotation - some excerpts are provided here. (You can read the entire document at SPUR’s website, URL listed below. )

-"Prop. H uses the excitement of clean energy as a hook toward an ultimate goal of municipalization. However there is no evidence that the City and County of San Francisco would be more effective at securing renewable energy than PG&E already is. The reality of market conditions is that meting them will be very difficult and may be impossible.”

-"Most of the provisions in Prop. H do not need voter approval and have no place in the City’s Charter. Approving a study, setting renewable energy goals and making statements about intent to maintain benefits all could be done by ordinance.”

-"Prop. H either inadvertently or intentionally gives the Board of Supervisors the authority to issue revenue bonds to acquire utilities that are not related to clean energy. This could include gas, cable, telephone, or wireless systems.”

-"In the event that San Francisco were to municipalize its energy system there is no guarantee that rates charged by a public utility would be fair or less expensive than PG&E’s. Because municipal utilities’ rates are not regulated by the state, there is no enforcement mechanisms, such as penalties, to ensure that rates are equitable. Rate payers might not benefit from a shift from one monopoly provider to another, and likely would end up paying more than they would have paid PG&E for electric service.”

The facts speak for themselves - the more people read the actual text of the measure, they more they realize that Prop. H is nothing more than a blank check for the Board of Supervisors to pursue politics, wrapped up in the good intentions of clean energy. It says one thing and does another. Voters should reject the measure and tell politicians it’s time to stop playing games with our power system.

On The Web:

http://www.spur.org/newsletter_archive.shtm