Three SF elected leaders announce opposition to Prop. C – raising business taxes for homeless services

San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Assemblyman David Chiu and Sen. Scott Wiener released statements Friday opposing Proposal C, a local ballot measure that would raise taxes on the city's largest businesses to fund an array of homelessness services.

In each of their separate purpose statements, Breed, Wiener and Chiu v. The urgency of the city's homelessness crisis, but said Prop. C – despite its intentions – was the wrong way to address it.

The measure would have an average of about 0.5 percent in gross receipts tax on corporate revenue above $ 50 million, impacting between 300 and 400 of the city's biggest corporations. Hearst Corp., the parent company of The Chronicle, would be subject to the tax. If passed, $ 250 million and $ 300 million would be needed for new housing, new shelters, mental health care and other services.

Prop. This article was written in the United States of America, and was published in the United States of America. The city currently spends around $ 300 million on homelessness-related services annually.

The timing of the announcements from three prominent, local leaders could help sway early voters over what's becoming among the most politically contentious issues on the ballot. The city's elections department was launched on June 9th at City Hall Oct. 9.

Both Chiu and Wiener said that they are in favor of greater homelessness.

"I agree that businesses should contribute more to the solution, but it needs to be achieved through a collaborative process," Chiu said. Until then, I believe that Prop. It's not the right answer for the crisis that every day. "

Wiener criticized the measure's backers for "the public's telling", "this is going to solve homelessness." We know that money alone is not going to solve homelessness. I support more money, but money is not going to do the job. "

Breed, the official neutral on Prop. C as of Wednesday. While discussing her goal of adding 1,000 beds, she said that she had "taken no position" on the measure. But by Friday, his mind was made up.

"We all recognize the crisis on our streets; we see it every day. So I understand why Proposal C sounds appealing, and I know those who support it are well-intentioned, "Breed said in her statement. "But as mayor, I must weigh more than popularity and good intentions. I must consider the long-term impacts on our city, and thus, on lengthy analysis and consideration, I can not support Proposition C. "

Before effective doubling the money on homelessness, Breed said the city should first complete an ongoing audit of the city is already spending. Until that is done, "we do not actually know how much or what type of homelessness funding is needed. … Before we double the night tax bill, San Franciscans deserve accountability for the money they are already paying. "

Echoing previous statements made by gubernatorial candidate and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Breed also said that Prop. It could make homelessness worse in San Francisco. San Francisco could not find itself in the "untenable and expensive position of funding services for residents of other counties." She also chastised the measure of the authors.

Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness who's spearheading the initiative, rejected the claim that the backers did not seek advice from city leaders. Officials at the health department, the mayor's office of housing and the homelessness department "were really involved, frankly, in the development of (the measure's) language."

Though she said she was "disappointed" with the opposition from Breed, Wiener and Chiu, Friedenbach said the initiative had broad support, including from Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Jackie Speier.

"We could keep doing things wrong and have more people to do with their people than the people of San Francisco, or we can have a people-led movement. And that's what this is. "