Yesterday, all across our nation, voters cast their ballots in historic numbers. We don’t yet know all the final election results with many ballots still to be counted, but we do have some election results on local races. Here in the Bay Area, voters had the chance to support measures that will make significant impacts on our water, open space, housing development, and transit.
Here are initial election results on measures Save The Bay Action Fund endorsed to make the Bay Area more resilient, sustainable, and equitable: TOTALS as of November 4th at 1:30pm
Yes on Caltrain Measure RR – WIN
Yes – 70.4% (67% needed for passage) No – 29.6% Voters in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco rallied to save Caltrain by passing Measure RR. The Bay Area needs a thriving public transit system to get people out of cars, ease traffic, and reduce pollution. Caltrain had been on the brink of a shut down due to the loss of riders during the Covid-19 pandemic as more workers stayed home. But with this new funding, Caltrain can continue to provide vital services along the Peninsula, and meet the system’s future needs.
Yes on Santa Clara Valley Water Measure S – WIN
Yes – 75% (67% needed for passage) No – 24% Santa Clara County voters have made a significant investment in the county’s water supply by passing Measure S. This measure will allow Valley Water to meet the county’s fresh water needs, provide better flood protection using nature-based solutions, and keep trash and other pollutants out of local creeks and the Bay. By making these investments now, Santa Clara County residents will ensure that Valley Water is prepared to continue to meet these critical needs in the face of climate change.
Yes on Santa Clara Valley Open Space Measure T – WIN
Yes – 81% (67% needed for passage) No – 18% Santa Clara County voters have enthusiastically supported more open space by passing Measure T. With this victory, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority will have funds to preserve additional open space that will provide healthy outdoor recreational opportunities, as well as important protections against urban sprawl into areas at higher risk for wildfires. The Open Space Authority will also be able to improve access to the valley’s nature for all communities, ensuring that equitable access is a priority.
No on San Mateo Measure Y – (Close Race)
No – 50.5% Yes – 49.5% Voters in San Mateo are narrowly rejecting exclusionary housing limits that have been in place for more than 30 years. With Measure Y failing, San Mateo can move toward a more equitable and sustainable model for housing development by allowing for increased heights and densities. This will be critical for San Mateo to meet its regional housing requirements, and to do so in a way that can prioritize denser development near transit and in the downtown areas. By putting more housing in these areas, we can get people out of cars, ease traffic, and reduce pollution.
Yes on Proposition 15 – (Close Race)
No – 51% Yes – 48.3% California voters appear to be rejecting reforms of the state’s property tax system in order to raise additional funds for schools and local governments. Cities struggle to finance projects that can improve water quality in the Bay and guard against climate change risks like sea-level rise and wildfires. Prop 15 would have provided critical funding to make our communities more resilient to these challenges.
