Leno Backs San Francisco Affordable Housing Measure

Assemblymember Mark Leno speaks during a Prop B mobilization
kick off event held Saturday in San Francisco.
Photos and Video by Luke Thomas

By Luke Thomas

September 7, 2008

An affordable housing measure on the November ballot has garnered the support of Assemblymember Mark Leno.

Proposition B, if passed by San Francisco voters in November, would set in stone over the next fifteen years a fixed annual set aside of 2 1/2 cents of each $100 of assessed property value for the development of affordable housing.

Speaking during a Prop B mobilization kickoff event attended by scores of volunteers on Saturday, Leno said Proposition B “is about a battle for the very heart and soul and for the fabric of San Francisco because we’re asking the question, ‘Who gets to live in San Francisco?’ – and we know that we want a very diverse city, that’s the beauty of San Francisco. It’s what’s made us the great City that we are.

“We need housing for our teachers, and for our social workers and for our child care providers… and dental assistants and nursing assistants, and all of the folks who make up the fabric of San Francisco.

“Prop B is a very thoughtful and reasonable way to secure, identify, and stabilize ongoing monies for affordable housing and I think it’s very cleverly designed so that we take just 2 ½ cents of every $100 of assessed property value and dedicate that to housing needs.”

Luke Thomas

Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

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