SF voters approve $412M earthquake safety bond

SAN FRANCISCO

Measure B passed with more than 79 percent of the vote, according to complete unofficial results from the city's elections department.

The money will be used to renovate and make seismic upgrades to the city's auxiliary water supply system; to build, repair and retrofit fire stations; and to build a new Public Safety Building in Mission Bay that would house police headquarters, the Southern District police station and a fire station.

The Public Safety Building would replace the current facilities at the antiquated Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St.

The measure allows an increase in property taxes to pay for the bonds.

The measure, which required a two-thirds vote to pass, had wide support from city officials, including Mayor Gavin Newsom and most of the Board of Supervisors, police Chief George Gascon and fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White.

The measure as originally introduced was $652 million, but $240 million -- which would have funded a new forensic sciences center for the medical examiner's office and crime lab -- was later removed.

Seventy percent of San Francisco voters also approved Measure A, renewing a $32.20 parcel tax for seismic and fire safety repairs at public schools.

Voters turned down Measure C, which would have given the Board of Supervisors say over the appointment of some members of the city's Film Commission, who are all currently appointed by the mayor. The vote was 54 percent to 46 percent to reject the measure.

Measure D, which will change the way retirement benefits are calculated for new city employees, was approved by nearly 78 percent of voters. Proponents argued the retirement benefits the city was paying its employees under the current system are unsustainable.

Measure E requiring disclosure of the Police Department's annual budget for security to city officials and visiting dignitaries was approved with more than 55 percent of the vote.

San Franciscans voted down Measure F to allow additional provisions for tenants to postpone rent increases if they become unemployed, and approved a Measure G affirming city policy to locate the northern terminus of the planned San Francisco-Los Angeles high-speed rail line at the city's downtown Transbay Transit Center.

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