Tom Ammiano's Record

Tom Ammiano's Record

Tom Ammiano has a record of demonstrated leadership. Elected in 1990 to San Francisco's School Board, he was elected President in 1993. He became a Supervisor in 1994. Last year, by winning the most votes of any candidate for Supervisor, he was elected President of the Board.

He has fought for the neighborhoods, tenants' rights, affordable housing and a compassionate solution to the problem of homelessness. Also high on his agenda: improving MUNI and transportation, economic justice and economic development that benefit all citizens of the City. He has championed campaign finance reform, consumer protection, human rights, and the environment.

Tom firmly believes that the day to day business of government and policy deliberations should be accessible to everyone.

Open Government

Tom fights to ensure open government so everyone can have a fair and informed say in how our city is run.
He authored the 1997 voter approved Prop.G that requires political consultants to file public disclosure reports.
Tom sponsored District Elections for the Board of Supervisors, returning San Francisco to a more democratic, neighborhood based system, limiting the power of big money.
Tom helped pass legislation to extend the principle of open government to non profits that receive city money.
He brought evening meetings of the Board of Supervisors to the neighborhoods.
He insured adequate staffing for the Ethics Commission, the City's political watchdog.
Tom authored the 1996 voter-approved Prop F to provide for full staffing of the Office of Citizen Complaints to provide civilian oversight of police activities.

Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods know what's best for them. Tom has always been there-personally and with the appropriate legislation. Tom will continue to support the neighborhoods as Mayor.
As Mayor he will appoint neighborhood advocates - not developer interests- to serve on the City's Planning Commission and other important boards.
He wrote the legislation passed by the voters that brings us District Elections next November. As Mayor, Tom will ensure a smooth and fair transition.

Tenant's Rights and Affordable Housing

Tom has relentlessly pushed for and supported successful legislative efforts to limit abuses of Owner-Move-In evictions that displaced thousands of San Francisco renters including scores of longtime senior and disabled tenants.
He co-authored the Boards' moratorium on owner move-in evictions of seniors, people with disabilities, and the chronically ill.
Tom is a leading advocate of affordable housing development.
Tom supports a moratorium on so-called 'live-work' lofts. He authored legislation that will protect residents from the oversized live-work developments and require live-work developers to meet the City's affordable housing requirements. He proposed legislation to classify the live-work lofts as residential housing instead of commercial buildings. This would lessen the density, allow neighbors more say and require developers to pay school taxes.
He worked with HUD to pursue higher rent allowances for rent subsidy programs for low income/ disabled tenants and people with AIDS, to attract more landlord participation in these programs.
Tom mediated neighborhood concerns about affordable projects in several City neighborhoods, resulting in the development of hundreds of units of affordable housing.
Tom convened a "Homeless in the Castro" neighborhood task force, including homeless individuals and area merchants, to discuss the neighborhood challenges of homelessness and create a responsive social services programs that can be duplicated in other City neighborhoods.

Homelessness

As Mayor, Tom will work with a broad coalition to bring compassionate and immediate support to the homeless. Tom meets regularly with the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness.
Tom opposes the Mayor's plan to reduce general assistance payments for recipients who do not to participate in work programs.
He vigorously opposed the Mayor's recent move to confiscate shopping carts from homeless citizens.
Tom has called for a survey of Social Service agencies and their locations. He proposes that all 11 districts share in providing services to the less fortunate.

Improved MUNI andTransportation

Tom knows first hand how important a dependable transportation system is to San Francisco. Tom rides MUNI daily.
He was a strong proponent of the winning Prop. E: MUNI reform. As Mayor he will effectively implement the will of the people to make MUNI a reliably effective transportation system.
As Mayor he will appoint transit professionals to oversee MUNI. Tom will work with a broad coalition of professionals, riders and workers to make MUNI the best public transportation system in the United States.
Tom will work to relieve traffic congestion. He supported Prop. I, the Octavia Boulevard plan to route traffic more efficiently, while preserving the neighborhood. As Mayor he will implement further traffic calming and congestion relieving measures.
Tom has always been a supporter of pedestrians and bicyclists. He endorses a citywide bicycle network.
Tom initiated the transportation analysis of closing Market Street to cars in order to improve MUNI service and pedestrian/bike safety along Market Street.
Tom supported extending the Caltrain commuter rail line downtown in order to eliminate commuter autos from City streets.
Tom initiated the transportation analysis of extending the historic streetcar line into Golden Gate Park
Tom fought the gag rule imposed on MUNI employees who wanted to bring system problems to public attention.
Tom called for citywide installation of electronic parking meters that accept quarters, nickels & dimes and debit cards.

Economic Justice

Tom sponsored legislation guaranteeing workers under contract with the City a living wage that will allow them to afford to continue living in San Francisco.
He co-authored the Equal Benefits Ordinance requiring City contractors to provide the same benefit packages to domestic partners of their employees as to spouses. Well over 90% of City contractors have complied with the ordinance.
Tom insisted that all domestic partners, regardless of sexual orientation, be covered by the Ordinance.
Sponsored legislation to prevent banks from charging customers twice for withdrawing money from ATM machines.

Economic Development

Tom sponsored the 1995 voter-approved bond for the Moscone Center expansion that was vital to keeping S.F.’s convention center competitive in the U.S. convention market.
San Francisco is experiencing the biggest technological and financial boom in this century. Little of this money is trickling down to San Franciscans. Tom will make sure that the current economic boom will also benefit San Francisco's infrastructure: schools, libraries, neighborhood and community facilities. Tom wants to make sure that all San Franciscans benefit from this economic boom.
Tom supports 'The Peoples Budget' drawn up by a host of progressive groups that prioritizes social programs and housing.
Tom demanded that revenue from the special state tax that banks pay instead of local property and business taxes be returned to local governments to support local services. Assemblywoman Migden is now pursuing such Bank-in-Lieu legislation in the Assembly that would result in $27 million in annual revenue to the City.

Campaign Finance Reform

Tom is among the City's most steadfast proponents of clean government.
As Mayor there will be no backroom deals.
Tom does not meet with paid lobbyists.
He supported the Sunshine Initiative, campaign finance reform, and ethics reporting for political consultants.

Consumer Protection

Tom authored the legislation and led the successful vote for Prop. F, banning double ATM fees.
He won major concessions in the recent cable franchise battle including free Internet access for schools.
Tom authored legislation to protect consumers against scanning overcharging at retail outlets.

Human Rights

Tom has been unwavering in his support for working people, seniors, women, people of color, youth, the disabled, gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities and immigrants.
He authored the City's Burma ordinance prohibiting City contracts with businesses that do businesses in Burma, which has a violent, oppressive military dictatorship.

Health

Tom sponsored 'treatment on demand' for the homeless and drug addicted.
He supported Prop. A, to save Laguna Honda Hospital.
Tom has introduced legislation that would require all City health facilities, hospitals, and home health care workers to use state-of-the art hypodermic needles with safety features that will drastically reduce the incidence of needlesticks.
Tom mediated between Act-Up and Kaiser Permanente, resulting in more comprehensive and specialized AIDS services for Kaiser members.
As Mayor, Tom Ammiano will keep 'Quality of Life' issues on the table.

Environment

Tom has been a consistent advocate for environmental protection and justice.
Tom opposes commercialization of all parks and supports traffic calming measures within Golden Gate Park. He is against the proposed massive parking facility which will bring more traffic into the Park. He supports increased public transit to, and within, Golden Gate Park.
Tom will ensure adequate budgets for the maintenance of all City parks.
The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters and the Green Party has endorsed Tom for Mayor.
He was named the 1998 Environmental Legislator of the year by the San Francisco League of Conservation Voters.
Tom authored legislation requiring the City to purchase ultra-low or zero emission vehicles and institute energy /water efficiency in construction of City facilities. The legislation also calls for cleaning up the MUNI fleet and improving air quality at the San Francisco Airport.
Tom is authoring legislation mandating higher energy and water efficiency and indoor air quality standards for new municipal buildings.



			Tom Ammiano's Record

		Tom Ammiano has a record of demonstrated leadership. Elected in 1990 to San Francisco's School Board, he was elected President in 1993. He became a Supervisor in 1994. Last year, by winning the most votes of any candidate for Supervisor, he was elected President of the Board. He has fought for the neighborhoods, tenants' rights, affordable housing and a compassionate solution to the problem of homelessness. Also high on his agenda: improving MUNI and transportation, economic justice and economic development that benefit all citizens of the City. He has championed campaign finance reform, consumer protection, human rights, and the environment. Tom firmly believes that the day to day business of government and policy deliberations should be accessible to everyone. Open Government Tom fights to ensure open government so everyone can have a fair and informed say in how our city is run. He authored the 1997 voter approved Prop.G that requires political consultants to file public disclosure reports. Tom sponsored District Elections for the Board of Supervisors, returning San Francisco to a more democratic, neighborhood based system, limiting the power of big money. Tom helped pass legislation to extend the principle of open government to non profits that receive city money. He brought evening meetings of the Board of Supervisors to the neighborhoods. He insured adequate staffing for the Ethics Commission, the City's political watchdog. Tom authored the 1996 voter-approved Prop F to provide for full staffing of the Office of Citizen Complaints to provide civilian oversight of police activities. Neighborhoods Neighborhoods know what's best for them. Tom has always been there-personally and with the appropriate legislation. Tom will continue to support the neighborhoods as Mayor. As Mayor he will appoint neighborhood advocates - not developer interests- to serve on the City's Planning Commission and other important boards. He wrote the legislation passed by the voters that brings us District Elections next November. As Mayor, Tom will ensure a smooth and fair transition. Tenant's Rights and Affordable Housing Tom has relentlessly pushed for and supported successful legislative efforts to limit abuses of Owner-Move-In evictions that displaced thousands of San Francisco renters including scores of longtime senior and disabled tenants. He co-authored the Boards' moratorium on owner move-in evictions of seniors, people with disabilities, and the chronically ill. Tom is a leading advocate of affordable housing development. Tom supports a moratorium on so-called 'live-work' lofts. He authored legislation that will protect residents from the oversized live-work developments and require live-work developers to meet the City's affordable housing requirements. He proposed legislation to classify the live-work lofts as residential housing instead of commercial buildings. This would lessen the density, allow neighbors more say and require developers to pay school taxes. He worked with HUD to pursue higher rent allowances for rent subsidy programs for low income/ disabled tenants and people with AIDS, to attract more landlord participation in these programs. Tom mediated neighborhood concerns about affordable projects in several City neighborhoods, resulting in the development of hundreds of units of affordable housing. Tom convened a "Homeless in the Castro" neighborhood task force, including homeless individuals and area merchants, to discuss the neighborhood challenges of homelessness and create a responsive social services programs that can be duplicated in other City neighborhoods. Homelessness As Mayor, Tom will work with a broad coalition to bring compassionate and immediate support to the homeless. Tom meets regularly with the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness. Tom opposes the Mayor's plan to reduce general assistance payments for recipients who do not to participate in work programs. He vigorously opposed the Mayor's recent move to confiscate shopping carts from homeless citizens. Tom has called for a survey of Social Service agencies and their locations. He proposes that all 11 districts share in providing services to the less fortunate. Improved MUNI andTransportation Tom knows first hand how important a dependable transportation system is to San Francisco. Tom rides MUNI daily. He was a strong proponent of the winning Prop. E: MUNI reform. As Mayor he will effectively implement the will of the people to make MUNI a reliably effective transportation system. As Mayor he will appoint transit professionals to oversee MUNI. Tom will work with a broad coalition of professionals, riders and workers to make MUNI the best public transportation system in the United States. Tom will work to relieve traffic congestion. He supported Prop. I, the Octavia Boulevard plan to route traffic more efficiently, while preserving the neighborhood. As Mayor he will implement further traffic calming and congestion relieving measures. Tom has always been a supporter of pedestrians and bicyclists. He endorses a citywide bicycle network. Tom initiated the transportation analysis of closing Market Street to cars in order to improve MUNI service and pedestrian/bike safety along Market Street. Tom supported extending the Caltrain commuter rail line downtown in order to eliminate commuter autos from City streets. Tom initiated the transportation analysis of extending the historic streetcar line into Golden Gate Park Tom fought the gag rule imposed on MUNI employees who wanted to bring system problems to public attention. Tom called for citywide installation of electronic parking meters that accept quarters, nickels & dimes and debit cards. Economic Justice Tom sponsored legislation guaranteeing workers under contract with the City a living wage that will allow them to afford to continue living in San Francisco. He co-authored the Equal Benefits Ordinance requiring City contractors to provide the same benefit packages to domestic partners of their employees as to spouses. Well over 90% of City contractors have complied with the ordinance. Tom insisted that all domestic partners, regardless of sexual orientation, be covered by the Ordinance. Sponsored legislation to prevent banks from charging customers twice for withdrawing money from ATM machines. Economic Development Tom sponsored the 1995 voter-approved bond for the Moscone Center expansion that was vital to keeping S.F.’s convention center competitive in the U.S. convention market. San Francisco is experiencing the biggest technological and financial boom in this century. Little of this money is trickling down to San Franciscans. Tom will make sure that the current economic boom will also benefit San Francisco's infrastructure: schools, libraries, neighborhood and community facilities. Tom wants to make sure that all San Franciscans benefit from this economic boom. Tom supports 'The Peoples Budget' drawn up by a host of progressive groups that prioritizes social programs and housing. Tom demanded that revenue from the special state tax that banks pay instead of local property and business taxes be returned to local governments to support local services. Assemblywoman Migden is now pursuing such Bank-in-Lieu legislation in the Assembly that would result in $27 million in annual revenue to the City. Campaign Finance Reform Tom is among the City's most steadfast proponents of clean government. As Mayor there will be no backroom deals. Tom does not meet with paid lobbyists. He supported the Sunshine Initiative, campaign finance reform, and ethics reporting for political consultants. Consumer Protection Tom authored the legislation and led the successful vote for Prop. F, banning double ATM fees. He won major concessions in the recent cable franchise battle including free Internet access for schools. Tom authored legislation to protect consumers against scanning overcharging at retail outlets. Human Rights Tom has been unwavering in his support for working people, seniors, women, people of color, youth, the disabled, gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities and immigrants. He authored the City's Burma ordinance prohibiting City contracts with businesses that do businesses in Burma, which has a violent, oppressive military dictatorship. Health Tom sponsored 'treatment on demand' for the homeless and drug addicted. He supported Prop. A, to save Laguna Honda Hospital. Tom has introduced legislation that would require all City health facilities, hospitals, and home health care workers to use state-of-the art hypodermic needles with safety features that will drastically reduce the incidence of needlesticks. Tom mediated between Act-Up and Kaiser Permanente, resulting in more comprehensive and specialized AIDS services for Kaiser members. As Mayor, Tom Ammiano will keep 'Quality of Life' issues on the table. Environment Tom has been a consistent advocate for environmental protection and justice. Tom opposes commercialization of all parks and supports traffic calming measures within Golden Gate Park. He is against the proposed massive parking facility which will bring more traffic into the Park. He supports increased public transit to, and within, Golden Gate Park. Tom will ensure adequate budgets for the maintenance of all City parks. The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters and the Green Party has endorsed Tom for Mayor. He was named the 1998 Environmental Legislator of the year by the San Francisco League of Conservation Voters. Tom authored legislation requiring the City to purchase ultra-low or zero emission vehicles and institute energy /water efficiency in construction of City facilities. The legislation also calls for cleaning up the MUNI fleet and improving air quality at the San Francisco Airport. Tom is authoring legislation mandating higher energy and water efficiency and indoor air quality standards for new municipal buildings.