The Chron launched an interesting tool this week that lets you answer a series of questions about your opinions on key local issues, then tells you which mayoral candidate is closest to your politics.
Here’s how it works:
The Chron asked the major candidates to say whether they strongly agree, somewhat agree, are neutral, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with a series of policy questions.
In other words, the positions of the candidates are self-reported. I know this because a representative of one of the candidates explained it to me. So there’s no way for a candidate to say they were misquoted or that the Chron unfairly represented their position.
Some of the questions are pretty serious: “Police officers should have more latitude in how they enforce the law.” “Police should clear homeless encampments from SF’s public spaces.” Some are: “There should be a ban on making right turns on red lights in San Francisco.”
It’s kind of fun. Not surprisingly, on both axes, economic and social issues, I was far to the left of all the candidates.
But here’s one that was interesting, since other than Peskin the candidates have largely declined to talk about it:
Mark Farrell and Daniel Lurie both said they “strongly disagree” that limits on rent increases should be expanded to all units in San Francisco.
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This was a big issue at the Board of Supes, and Peskin was the leader on expanding rent control. Breed is going to have to take a position on it, since she has to sign or veto the legislation, which would greatly expand rent control if Prop. 33 passes.
Her position in the Chron tool: “somewhat agree.” That doesn’t tell us if she will sign the bill. She refused in July to endorse Prop. 33, repeating the landlord line that “even well-meaning regulations like rent control can create barriers to new housing.”
Peskin is the only candidate who said “strongly agree.”
I’m not sure Breed can use this to attack Farrell and Lurie, since she hasn’t taken a formal stand on the Peskin bill and has sided with the landlords on Prop. 33. But in a city of renters, it puts those two clearly in opposition to an expansion of rent control—and Peskin as the only candidate who strongly supports it.
