No On Housing Scam

On March 2, 2004, 70 percent of San Franciscans saw through the deceptions, and into the hidden costs, of Proposition J, and overwhelmingly voted it down.

The measure would have allowed the developers of two high-rise towers to do an end-run around the traditional planning process, and gain exemptions from existing height limits, density controls, and public review. In exchange, the developers say they would have designated 25% of these units as "workforce" housing.

But "workforce" was defined as those making between 80 and 120 percent of the area's median income. This means that individuals making as much as $77,000 ($110,000 for a family of four) would have been eligible for subsidized housing in these units. How many nurses, teachers and firefighters (the workforce that Prop J claimed to help) do you know who make that much?

Our City played a key educational role in the 'No On Prop J' campaign. Our field team did extensive outreach to voters in the Potrero Hill, Bernal Heights, Lower Haight, Castro, and Noe Valley neighborhoods, and Our City volunteers helped the 'No On Prop J' campaign pass out literature all over the city.

Congratulations to the huge coalition of groups from all over San Francisco, which came together to defeat Proposition J!