{"id":206480,"date":"2026-03-06T01:08:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T01:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/206480\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T01:08:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T01:08:11","slug":"do-you-support-a-tax-to-fund-muni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/206480\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you support a tax to fund Muni?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to our weekly \u201cMeet the Candidates\u201d series, in which we ask local candidates who have filed to run for office to respond to a question in 100 words or fewer. Answers will be published each week.<\/p>\n<p>District 4 covers the area from 19th Avenue to Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park to Lakeshore. It includes the Sunset, Parkside and Lakeshore neighborhoods.<\/p>\n<p>Mayor Daniel Lurie and transit advocates are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kqed.org\/news\/12074874\/amid-bid-to-save-bay-area-transit-muni-gets-a-campaign-of-its-own\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">starting to gather signatures<\/a> for a November parcel tax ballot measure to increase parcel taxes on San Francisco properties beginning in July 2027 for 15 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The tax would generate about $150 million per year for Muni, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If passed, single-family property owners would pay $129 a year, multifamily residential property owners would pay $249, and non-residential properties would pay $799 annually. For property owners with bigger square footages, the charges would increase per square foot.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Senior homeowners over 65 would be exempt from the tax, or entitled to a reduction. But rent-controlled property owners could pass down half of the tax to their tenants, including senior tenants, capped at $65 per unit.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>District 4, which includes the Outer Sunset, is among the areas with the highest number of single family homes, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/sfplanning.org\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/reports\/2021_Housing_Inventory.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2021 report from the Planning Department<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While most single-family homeowners are required to pay just $129 a year, some residents might be reluctant to pay more taxes to support Muni services \u2014 in District 4, <a href=\"https:\/\/missionlocal.org\/2025\/06\/explore-san-francisco-neighborhoods-in-data\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">38 percent of households own a car<\/a>, and over 50 percent own more than two vehicles.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This week, we asked the candidates: Do you support the parcel tax on November\u2019s ballot to fund Muni? Why or why not?<\/p>\n<p>Mission Local color codes the answers to yes\/no questions. A green background means the candidate answered yes, a red background means no, and a yellow background means that the candidate dodged the question.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Gee-Green-640x640.png\" alt=\"Illustration of a woman with long dark hair, glasses, and hoop earrings, wearing a black blazer over a light shirt, set against a light green circular background.\" class=\"wp-image-835689\" style=\"width:262px;height:auto\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Natalie Gee<\/p>\n<p>Job: District 10 legislative aide<\/p>\n<p>Age: 40<\/p>\n<p>Residency: Renter, living in District 4 since 2021<\/p>\n<p>Transportation: Driving, walking and Muni<\/p>\n<p>Education: Bachelor\u2019s degree from San Francisco State University<\/p>\n<p>Languages: English, Cantonese<\/p>\n<p>Yes. Families across the Sunset depend on frequent, reliable Muni service to get to work, school, and appointments. Strong public transit reduces congestion, improving safety and quality of life.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Without this measure, we risk service cuts and eliminated lines that would hurt working families and isolate seniors who rely on transit to stay independent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Revenue solutions should include carve-outs for fixed-income seniors. But our elected\/appointed officials cannot keep asking everyday San Franciscans to fund public services while lobbying to repeal taxes on the wealthiest corporations. I\u2019ve been clear that everyone needs to pay their fair share, especially the ultra-rich.<\/p>\n<p>Endorsed by: Former Mayor Art Agnos, Assemblymember Matt Haney, Supervisor Connie Chan, Myrna Melgar, Jackie Fielder, Shamann Walton, Chyanne Chen, Former Supervisor Gordon Mar, IFPTE 21, SEIU 1021, AFT 2121, San Francisco Tenants Union \u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.votenataliegee.com\/endorsements\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Greco-Green-640x640.png\" alt=\"Cartoon illustration of a person wearing a green beanie and red plaid shirt, with a light green background inside a circular frame.\" class=\"wp-image-835694\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Jeremy Greco<\/p>\n<p>Job: Campus coordinator at Presidio Hill School<\/p>\n<p>Age: 54<\/p>\n<p>Residency: Renter, living in District 4 since 2001<\/p>\n<p>Transportation: Driving<\/p>\n<p>Education: Bachelor\u2019s degree from San Francisco State University<\/p>\n<p>Languages: English<\/p>\n<p>Yes, but I have concerns. I support fully funding Muni. But we have to be honest \u2014 this constant cycle hurts working people.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Groceries are up. Healthcare costs are up. Families feel squeezed at every turn. Working families should not be repeatedly asked to pay more while services are threatened. That\u2019s not stability \u2014 that\u2019s corporate greed shaping our priorities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While this parcel tax asks more of larger properties, we still need a long-term revenue strategy that truly shifts the burden to billionaires and large corporate landlords. Homeowners and renters in District 4 deserve a system that puts working people first.<\/p>\n<p>Endorsed by: N\/A<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Lee-Red-640x640.png\" alt=\"Cartoon illustration of a man in a suit and tie with dark hair, shown from the shoulders up, inside a pink circular frame.\" class=\"wp-image-835701\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>David Lee<\/p>\n<p>Job: Educator at Laney College and San Francisco State University<\/p>\n<p>Age: 57<\/p>\n<p>Residency: Homeowner, living in D4 since September 2025<\/p>\n<p>Transportation: Driving, biking, public transit and walking<\/p>\n<p>Education: Bachelor\u2019s degree from Hamilton College, master\u2019s and doctorate degree from San Francisco State University<\/p>\n<p>Languages: English. Can understand Cantonese, Mandarin and Toishanese, but limited fluency.<\/p>\n<p>I oppose the Muni Parcel Tax. We have to hold SFMTA accountable for their budget. SFMTA has neglected the Westside for many years. We have one of the worst public transit services in the city. And now you want us to bail you out? This is a hard no!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m all for public transit and I\u2019m occasionally a Muni user \u2014 this parcel tax is not the solution. I believe we can find better solutions to save muni. We should be taxing the companies who are trying to kill off public transit like Waymo and Zoox \u2014 not San Francisco\u2019s residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This \u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/newspack-missionlocal.s3.amazonaws.com\/mission\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/D4-Meet-the-Candidates-03-05-2026-Lee.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Endorsed by: Retired judge Quentin Kopp, Lillian Sing, Julie Tang, Supervisor Chyanne Chen, Former Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Sandra Lee Fewer, Sophie Maxwell, Former SFPD Commander Richard Corriea<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Wong-Green-640x640.png\" alt=\"Illustration of a smiling person with short dark hair wearing a light gray suit, white shirt, and red tie, set against a light green circular background.\" class=\"wp-image-835704\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Alan Wong<\/p>\n<p>Job: Current District 4 Supervisor \/ Commander in California\u2019s National Guard<\/p>\n<p>Age: 38<\/p>\n<p>Residency: Renter. Born and raised in District 4, and moved back to District 4 from Inner Sunset in October 2025<\/p>\n<p>Transportation: Driving, walking and public transit<\/p>\n<p>Education: Bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of California, San Diego; master\u2019s degree from University of San Francisco<\/p>\n<p>Languages: English, Cantonese<\/p>\n<p>I support the Muni parcel tax because reliable public transit is essential to San Francisco\u2019s future. Growing up in the Outer Sunset, my family did not always have a car and depended on Muni metro or buses to get to work and grocery shopping in Chinatown, and for me to attend Hoover Middle and Lincoln High School.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stable funding is critical, but accountability matters too. Riders deserve service that is safe, clean, frequent, and on time. This measure helps prevent devastating cuts while we continue improving reliability and rebuilding public confidence in our transit system.<\/p>\n<p>Endorsed by: Mayor Daniel Lurie, GrowSF, San Francisco Police Officers Association, San Francisco Democratic Party, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, State Controller Malia Cohen, Congressmember Kevin Mullin, Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, Former Mayor Willie Brown, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto \u2026 read more <a href=\"https:\/\/alanwong.com\/endorsements\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/alanwong.com\/endorsements\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Chow-Red-640x640.png\" alt=\"Illustration of a smiling man with glasses, short gray hair, and wearing a suit and tie, set against a pink circular background.\" class=\"wp-image-835686\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Albert Chow<\/p>\n<p>Job: Owner of Great Wall Hardware, president of People of Parkside Sunset<\/p>\n<p>Age: 59<\/p>\n<p>Residency: Homeowner, living in District 4 since 1978\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Transportation: Driving and walking<\/p>\n<p>Education: Bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of California, Berkeley<\/p>\n<p>Languages: English, semi-fluent in Cantonese<\/p>\n<p>Many residents are already struggling with the high cost of living and cannot afford another tax.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>SFMTA has not prioritized improving transit for District 4 residents, instead they have pushed projects that have hurt businesses and made it harder to get around.<\/p>\n<p>As I go door to door everyday, I hear growing concerns about the cost of this tax without hope that it will truly improve transit. I will stand with my district and oppose this tax until we get meaningful improvements to our transit system that actually help seniors, families, and those who rely on Muni daily.<\/p>\n<p>Endorsed by: Retired SFPD Commander Richard Corriea, Retired SFPD Commander Peter Walsh, President of United Irish Cultural Center Liam Reidy<\/p>\n<p>Candidates are rotated alphabetically. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. Do you have questions you\u2019d like to ask the candidates? Email <a href=\"https:\/\/missionlocal.org\/2026\/03\/sf-district-4-election-muni-parcel-tax\/mailto:junyao@missionlocal.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">junyao@missionlocal.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You can register to vote <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sf.gov\/register-to-vote\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome to our weekly \u201cMeet the Candidates\u201d series, in which we ask local candidates who have filed to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":185195,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[35072,86268,101,103,102,104,106,105,18069],"class_list":{"0":"post-206480","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-francisco","8":"tag-election-2026","9":"tag-meet-the-candidates","10":"tag-san-francisco","11":"tag-san-francisco-headlines","12":"tag-san-francisco-news","13":"tag-sf","14":"tag-sf-headlines","15":"tag-sf-news","16":"tag-sunset"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=206480"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206480\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/185195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=206480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=206480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=206480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}