The Yes on A victoryLots of celebration at the Yes on A/No on H party at El Rio. Robert Haaland, who ran the field campaign, was justifiably exuberant -- the passage of A and defeat of H, which appears all but certain, was a demonstration that even in a low-turnout election, progressives can prevail. The labor-and-environmental-backed campaign did an extensive absentee-voter effort, extensive get-out-the-vote and effective mail. It helped that Sup. Aaron Peskin helped raise more than $400,000 for the battle.
Peskin said the results were a great victory for the battle against global warming, which is true -- but it was also a victory for the president of the board -- and for the idea that policy in San Francisco remains centered at the Board of Supervisors.
The polls that political consultants rely on show that the board's popularity is low compared to the mayor -- but on the ground, where it mattered, that wasn't the case tonight.
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Comments (4)
This was hardly a "progressive" victory. Moderate groups like SPUR, Plan C and Rescue MUNI all supported Prop A strongly. This was a victory for those who believe in smart urban planning - and they exist left and center.
Posted by Mike | November 7, 2007 12:05 AM
The "professional" campaign was in support of Prop A, and it is barely squeaking by. Given that Prop A, parking provision aside, is a tepid effort at MUNI reform, one would think that if the campaign were effective one would see similar outcomes for A and H.
The "professional" campaign paid little attention to Prop H, which was soundly defeated, collapsing on its own weight, few pro and many anti endorsements, and the knowledge that it was a Republican ploy.
Low turnout elections have the potential to skew outcomes wildly, as each vote comprises a greater share of the total and slightly higher turnout by organized subgroups can sway the outcome.
Transit First Rules!
Posted by marc | November 7, 2007 09:39 AM
i'm confused-- are they even done counting all the votes? if not, and prop a is close to 50-50 right now (that's how it looked on sfgov.org's vote tally page) then how can they know for sure that a passed?
Posted by amar | November 7, 2007 04:16 PM
They don't, but the poll voters normally break more progressive than the absentees and early voters. So if a measure can be considered progressive, and it passes in the absentees, then you might think it will pass in general.
Same for H. The only people who would vote for it are closeted republicans mailing it in from the outer, outer Sunset. So if H loses that vote, it's headed for defeat in general.
Posted by Jeffrey W. Baker | November 7, 2007 05:07 PM