Progressive Analysis of the November 2007 Election

Without a Green to challenge the corporate Democratic establishment running San Francisco, the election could have been a disaster. But thanks to an issues-oriented campaign that relied on a rare coalition of environmentalists and labor, voters made a profound statement choosing transit over traffic, even when the “transit” choice was complicated and not ideal, and the “traffic” choice was a simple appeal to San Franciscans’ frustrations with parking problems.

What happened? And what’s next? The panel will discuss the implications of the approval of Proposition A, with its substantial transfer of authority to the unelected Municipal Transportation Agency, as well as the resounding defeat of Proposition H, the parking measure, and the momentum that gives us for stronger measures to reduce car subsidies. Will the Green Party work to amend Prop A in another transit reform measure to better adhere to our values? What is our role in the efforts to keep the coalition of labor and environmentalists together?

Sponsored by the San Francisco Green Party.

The all Green Party panel will include the following:
Marc Salomon, electoral analyst, County Council member, SF Green Party
Dave Snyder, Transportation Policy Director of SPUR and Livable City Board member
Sue Vaughan, County Council member, SF Green Party
Sarah "Fred" Sherburn-Zimmer, labor organizer
John Rizzo, College Board member and Sierra Club leader