2026 VOTER GUIDE

This measure would authorize the establishment of a Municipal Finance Corporation that will transition to a Public Bank. It would create the framework for how the Public Bank would operate, but it would not provide a source of money to fund the bank. The Public Bank will create financing tools and lending products to invest in San Francisco’s investment priorities like affordable housing, small business, and climate sustainability. It will only support socially beneficial projects located in or serving San Francisco and be restricted from lending to fossil fuels, weapons manufacturers, private prisons, and detention centers. Laying the groundwork for the Public Bank will allow GLIDE community members, and all of San Francisco, to benefit from investment in future affordable housing and climate justice projects.

This measure would increase the amount of funding the City of San Francisco must put into the Housing Trust Fund each year, which would increase the amount of money to build, buy and preserve affordable housing. The amount of money put into the fund will grow about to about $125 - 160 million per year (currently about $50 million is put in every year). The measure would also make sure the Housing Trust Fund exists for longer by extending the sunset date from 2023 to 2058. Increased funding is necessary for increased affordable housing, which is vital for GLIDE clients and the broader community.

This measure would increase the required number of voter signatures to place an initiative on the ballot. If this measure passed, in order to qualify for the ballot, organizers would have to collect approximately 42,500 signatures. The current requirement is about 10,600 signatures. This measure would also eliminate the ability of the Mayor or four or more members of the Board of Supervisors to place a measure on the ballot without a vote of the Board. This measure would make it more difficult for community members to engage in direct democracy by getting measures on the ballot. It would require more funding to gather more signatures, which would be challenging for community-led campaigns with small budgets.

Proposition H is a San Francisco parcel tax, and the Regional Transit Measure is a sales tax in five Bay Area counties, including San Francisco, that would fund public transit. Without the money from these taxes, the Bay Area will likely see devastating cuts to public transportation, including BART stations closing, Muni bus lines cut, and transit hours reduced. GLIDE staff, clients and community members rely on public transit for work, school, errands, and more, and they would be severely harmed by a collapse of the Bay Area’s public transit system.

This measure would require that money from San Francisco’s transfer tax on real estate deals worth over $10 million must be spent on affordable housing and eviction prevention. Right now, the money from the transfer tax can be spent on anything, but this measure would require that at least 60% of the money be spent on affordable housing production programs, at least 25% on acquisition or rehabilitation of affordable housing, and at least 10% on tenant stabilization/homelessness prevention programs. Together, this investment would preserve, protect, and produce more affordable housing in San Francisco, which is a key need for GLIDE clients and staff unable to afford current rent.

Sellers of foreclosure properties currently do not pay San Francisco’s transfer taxes, which are imposed when real estate changes hands. This measure would undo that exemption/loophole to raise more funding for San Francisco. The foreclosure tax would still not impact single-family homes, condos, and small properties with fewer than five residential units. Closing this loophole would increase the funds available from the transfer tax. If Proposition I also passes, this will increase the dedicated funds for affordable housing, benefiting GLIDE’s community members.