San Francisco Chronicle: S.F. voters surprisingly conservative on issues

S.F. voters surprisingly conservative on issues
Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, November 6, 2008



It sounds like a stereotypical San Franciscan's dream: spend big on affordable housing, explore public power, decriminalize prostitution, vote against the military in schools - and, like icing on the political cake, name a sewage treatment plant after George Bush.

But none of that happened.

Despite the city's far-left reputation, San Franciscans defeated a host of liberal ballot measures and voted in favor of keeping JROTC in the public schools. And perhaps even more surprisingly, 1 in 4 voters voted to ban same-sex marriage.

"There's a real, solid conservative vein in San Francisco," said political consultant Jim Ross, who said he saw numerous Yes on Prop. 8 lawn signs while driving through the west side of the city.

In addition to conservative Republicans, it is thought that support for the same-sex marriage ban came from some Latinos, African Americans, and Chinese Americans who may have voted for religious reasons. So why don't we hear from that portion of the city more often?

"If you're a conservative, a real conservative in San Francisco, you're so alienated and so marginalized, you just don't have a voice in the process," said Ross, who said he was especially surprised the affordable housing measure is losing. "I thought giving away affordable housing would be like giving away cold beer on a hot day," he said with a laugh. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/06/BAS713UU15.DTL&tsp=1

actually, vote rigging and gentrification are the two biggest thoughts i have explaining this. i can't imagine the corrupt machines would have forgotten about the city. that and gentrification again... did i mention gentrification?