from Barak, see barakgila.com for more of my writing

Why vote?

• It only takes 5 minutes to register to vote in California, do so here
• Sick of gerrymandering and the electoral college? Local and state ballot props are by popular vote and are less partisan: your vote counts!
• Is your rent too high? Prop D would make it easier to build homes, which would put downward pressure on the price of housing. Half of the Board of Supervisors is on the ballot, so you can vote in pro-housing legislators.
• Ambitious and/or ethical? If you might ever get involved in politics, your voting record (which is public) is super important! Just ask the EA who ran in Oregon. Wouldn’t you rather live in a world in which educated, reasonable people like you voted? By deciding to vote, you’re creating that world.
• Finally, young people and renters vote at a fraction of the rate older people and homeowners do, so by voting you'll be helping to correct that imbalance and ensure your interests are heard.

Overview

This time, I’ve decided to mostly leave the writeups to some organizations (in this priority order)

• the SF Standard (voter guide) — a new publication, funded by a Sequoia VC and his journalist wife)
• YIMBY Action (sf endorsements; all endorsements) — the increasingly nationwide nonprofit advocating for building more housing of all types, in all cities
• the SF Chronicle (guide / endorsements) — our paper of record
• GrowSF (endorsements) — a centrist, pro-growth group which advocates for more housing, ferris wheels in Golden Gate Park, recalling Chesa Boudin, DA, recalling the school board, slow streets, outdoor dining for restaurants, and other civic issues.

I still opine on some issues, so feel free to comment/ask if one of my endorsements seems misguided.

Candidates

Voter-nominated (via top-two primary) offices, state and local

Governor: Gavin Newsom, Democrat

Lieutenant Governor: Eleni Kounalakis, Democrat

Secretary of State: Shirley Weber, Democrat

Controller: Lanhee Chen, Republican

Chen was endorsed by the LA Times and the Orange County register. In this watchdog role, I’ll support a non-insane Republican, even though I’d be very surprised if one won statewide office.

Chen was nominated to the Social Security Advisory Board by President Obama, and served on it for four years. He was policy director for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. He now leads the board of directors of a nonprofit healthcare system in the Bay Area, teaches public policy at Stanford, advises businesses and government clients as a consultant, and invests in early-stage companies.

Treasurer: Fiona Ma, Democrat

Attorney General: Rob Bonta, Democrat

Bonta has been great on enforcing housing laws and cracking down on cities that (at times, proudly) violate it.