Propostion B opposition

By Ramsey ElQare
The Guardsman

San Francisco’s Proposition B unfairly hurts the lowest paid workers and their families by increasing the cost of health care and decreasing their retirement benefits by lumping everyone in the same flat rate.

If Prop B passes it will undermine collective bargaining between of San Francisco and its employees, and would create a flat rate for all employees’ retirement benefits and heath care costs regardless of their income level.

The system was originally designed to be equitable. While a flat rate seems fair, by taking a closer look at who it will affect, the reality is that it creates an unfair and unequal system. A City College professor has a different pay scale then a police officer. This proposition lumps teachers, custodians, gardeners, librarians, nurses, firefighters, police officers and other city employees together.

Prop B’s proponents claim the city is in a deficit and needs to balance the budget. The city is in a budget crisis, but so are the people, and it’s unfair to balance the budget on the backs of workers and their families who are struggling financially. There needs to be a wider analysis that looks into how the budget is spent, instead of just turning to the workers and taking it out of their pockets.

It would cost single mothers with one child up to $5,600 more per year, in addition to what they are already paying in heath care costs, while the city will only save less than 2 percent.

This proposition is shifting the deficit from the city to families. The cost of living in San Francisco is among the highest in the country. Prop B will make it impossible for working families to live in the city. It seems like a high price to pay for less than 2 percent savings.

Vote no on Proposition B.