City and County of San Francisco
Arguments and Rebuttals
C
Shall the City be permitted to enter into a new naming rights contract for Candlestick Park, and shall it be City policy that fifty percent of any City revenue from the sale of those naming rights be used to fund directors of City recreation centers?
This disclaimer applies to the proponent’s argument, the rebuttal to the proponent’s argument, and the opponent's argument below. The Board of Supervisors authorized the submission of the following argument. As of the date of the publication of this Voter Information Pamphlet, the following Supervisors endorse the measure: Supervisors Alioto-Pier, Chiu, Chu, Dufty, Elsbernd, Maxwell and Mirkarimi; oppose the measure: Supervisors Avalos, Daly and Mar; take no position on the measure: Supervisor Campos.
PROTECT SAN FRANCISCO’S RECREATION CENTERS. VOTE YES ON C.
In today’s tough economic times, San Francisco needs every available option to provide necessary public services. In fact, we face a $300 million deficit next year.
Voting YES on Prop C will generate revenue without costing taxpayers a penny.
Proposition C allows the City to receive revenue in exchange for the naming rights of the football stadium at Candlestick Point, subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors.
Fifty percent of all revenue generated from any agreement will go to the City. No less than half of that will fund Directors of Recreation and Parks Department recreation centers. A conservative estimate for the value of an agreement is one million dollars per year – at no cost to taxpayers.
Yes on C protects neighborhood recreation centers and the directors who staff them.
Neighborhood recreation centers are essential in the lives of San Francisco neighborhoods, especially to children and families. And the heart and soul of our recreation centers – including Harvey Milk, Eureka Valley, Palega, Moscone, Eugene Field, Tenderloin, Upper Noe, Glen Park, Miraloma, Potrero and others – are our recreation center directors.
This past year, Directors of recreation centers faced massive layoffs and reduced hours. By opening the door to new revenue, Proposition C will help to ensure that these facilities have the necessary staff to remain open.
Yes on C is the right choice for San Francisco’s children, youth and families.
Proposition C is a smart, sensible measure that has real community benefits without raising fees or taxes. That’s why we’re asking you to join us and vote YES on Proposition C.
Supervisors Bevan Dufty, Sophie Maxwell*, David Chiu, Sean Elsbernd, David Campos*
San Francisco Democratic Party
Jose Cisneros, Treasurer
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
James Lazarus, President, RPD Commission*
OPPORTUNISTIC POLITICIANS ARE WORSE THAN STEROIDS IN BASEBALL!
Even though the voters have already spoken on Candlestick, opportunistic politicians think that they can hold Recreation Centers hostage to flip the vote.
The voters have already spoken!
In 2004, over 170,000 San Francisco voted in favor of naming our stadium “Candlestick Park” and preventing politicians from selling the name for quick cash.
It's not about Recreation Centers…
In the most difficult budget year since the Great Depression, the Mayor proposed some layoffs of Rec Directors. However, the Board of Supervisors rejected the cuts. We know how important Rec Directors are, and we won't allow them to be cut.
Regardless, there's absolutely no guarantee in Proposition C that monies would be used for Recreation Centers. That means that any proceeds from sale of naming rights could be used for any purpose - even to pad executive pay.
It's about sweetheart deals and political ambition.
The real reason Prop C is on the ballot is because the author is close friends with the York family. Yes, those people moving our 49ers to Santa Clara. Did the author not tell you that the York's will be getting half the profits? That's because he's running for Mayor.
It's Candlestick Park.
There's one great argument against Proposition C…
It's The Stick. It's our stadium. That's its name.
Supervisor Chris Daly
VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION C!
It's Candlestick Park, but you can call it The Stick.
Candlestick has amazing history. The Stick hosted All Star games and amazing pennant chases, including Willie Mays' 1962 run. No one will forget “The Catch”, but will we remember the companies we sold the naming rights to our stadium? For the record, it was 3Com and Monster. Real San Franciscans still called it The Stick, but we were mocked with “Dot Com Park”. Monster turned out to be a terrible employer - outsourcing 190 workers locally, and then refusing to provide any severance, including health coverage.
The voters have already spoken!
In response to this and the increasing trend of commercialization (remember Enron Field?), San Francisco voters adopted Proposition H naming our stadium “Candlestick Park” and preventing politicians from selling the name for quick cash. Over 170,000 San Franciscans voted in favor!
Don't let slippery politicians subvert democracy.
In this off-year election, voter turnout is expected to be low. There may be fewer total voters this November than the 170,000 that supported Prop H. Slippery politicians realize this and are using the current budget crisis and the cause of Recreation Directors to repeal Prop H.
When times are tough, San Franciscans show what we're made of.
When Ronnie Lott had his pinky crushed, he didn't leave the game for long. He had it taped up and got back in there to help the 49ers win a playoff berth. There's no denying that we have a budget crisis, but we have to put on some tape and get back into the game. San Francisco has a $6.6 billion budget. We should make Recreation Directors a priority, cut elsewhere, and keep The Stick named Candlestick Park.
Supervisor Chris Daly
PROTECT OUR REC CENTERS. VOTE YES ON C!
Supervisor Chris Daly is clearly a 49ers fan. But what about supporting the thousands of San Francisco youth who play everyday at our Recreation Centers?
Yes on C helps real San Francisco families
Instead of arguing over what a “real San Franciscan” ought to call a football stadium, let’s support a proposition that gives real San Francisco families a place to play.
Youth and families depend on recreation centers for tot time, basketball and scarce ball fields. This measure is important to preserving the free spaces middle class families use every day.
Yes on C protects our Recreation Centers
Last year, San Franciscans overwhelming supported a bond measure to renew and revitalize our parks and recreation centers. This investment is now being threatened by a lack of funding for staff.
Today, 200 full-time employees staff recreation centers. In 2000, there were 600 full-time employees. Many of the cuts have disproportionately affected the kids in neighborhoods where positive, programmed spaces are needed most.
Yes on C supports the right priorities
In tough economic times, providing recreation to youth at no cost to taxpayers is the right priority. That’s we ask to you vote YES on Proposition C.
Gavin Newsom, Mayor
Arguments printed on this page are the opinion of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency. Arguments are printed as submitted. Spelling and grammatical errors have not been corrected.