On Super Tuesday, voters in San Francisco approved ballot measures that severely weakened the influence of the left by requiring drug testing for welfare beneficiaries, increasing police powers, and easing limitations on commercial real estate development.
Voters have made it obvious that San Francisco can no longer be considered a progressive city, as the San Francisco Chronicle announced boldly in its front-page headline on Wednesday morning.
It stated:
“At least for the time being, San Francisco is no longer a progressive city. Not after ballot initiatives to increase developer funding were leading and expected to prevail, and voters backed measures on Tuesday to relax police limitations and test welfare users for drug use. Voters also supported a moderate group of candidates to lead the Democratic County Central Committee in the area; their endorsements have the potential to permanently alter San Francisco’s electoral landscape. Progressives gained all but two of the DCCC seats four years ago.”
Voters responded to a surge in criminal activity in the city that started prior to the Black Lives Matter movement’s attacks on law enforcement and resulted in short-lived attempts to “defund” local law enforcement. Retailers are leaving the city in large numbers as a result of the crime epidemic.
As of Wednesday morning, Measure E, which gave law enforcement more authority and permitted the deployment of drones and security cameras, was ahead by a margin of around 60% to 40%.
By an even larger margin of 63% to 37%, Measure F, which mandates drug testing for recipients of city public assistance services, was ahead.
Measure B, which would have increased taxes to fund more police personnel, was the only ballot item pertaining to law enforcement that was unsuccessful.
By around a 54% to 46% margin, Measure C, which lowers real estate transfer taxes and facilitates the conversion of commercial to residential real estate, was leading.
Additionally carried out was Measure D, which establishes stricter ethical regulations for city employees.
In another attempt to raise the standard of public education, Measure G passed, requiring algebra by the eighth grade.
Since 2022, when voters in San Francisco dismissed left-wing district attorney Chesa Boudin as well as three members of the public school board, the city has been rebelling against left-wing control.
