San Franciscans vote Tuesday, November 3, in an election with consequences well beyond City Hall. The ballot includes contests for state and local offices, ten city propositions, and a regional transit measure. For residents trying to understand what is at stake, a few local decisions stand out.

Transportation, the future of the Upper Great Highway, and the balance of power inside city government are all on the ballot. Some measures would change how services are funded; others would reshape who has authority to make decisions. The details matter more than campaign slogans.

One useful way to read the ballot is to ask three questions of each proposal: What changes if it passes? What stays the same if it fails? And who would pay for or oversee the result?

Transit funding and everyday commutes

Proposition H proposes a parcel tax for Muni operations. Regional Measure RTM seeks additional regional transit funding through a sales tax. Supporters emphasize service stability and the importance of reliable transit for workers, riders and local businesses. Critics question the tax burden, spending oversight and whether agencies have made sufficient reforms. Because the measures differ in scope, voters should review each separately.

Sunset Dunes and the Great Highway

Proposition G revisits the Upper Great Highway debate, proposing weekday private-vehicle access while retaining elements of Sunset Dunes Park. The disagreement reaches beyond one roadway: it concerns coastal recreation, west-side travel patterns and the kind of public space the city wants to preserve.

Who runs city government?

Proposition A proposes a collection of changes to city departments and commissions. Proposition F would expand mayoral authority over executive-branch departments. Supporters describe the proposals as ways to streamline decision-making; opponents raise questions about oversight and concentrated power. These are structural choices whose effects could extend beyond the current administration.

Other choices deserve attention

Proposition B concerns a municipal finance corporation that could become a step toward a public bank, while other measures address housing finance, ballot rules and contracting. Voters also choose supervisors in Districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, along with school and college board seats and other offices.

Rather than rely on a single endorsement, compare the official voter pamphlet's impartial summaries and fiscal analyses with arguments from both sides. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Sources: San Francisco Public Press election guide; San Francisco Public Library voter information; California official proposition guide.