Mayor Lurie, Sup. Mandelman Introduce Ballot Measures Aimed at Reforming City Charter

"San Franciscans deserve a City Hall that works for them, not for insiders or special interests. Our city charter is so bloated that it slows down basic services, breeds corruption, and wastes taxpayer dollars. San Franciscans elected me to clean up City Hall, and these reforms will strengthen accountability, deliver better results, and end the excuses."

"The most controversial proposal would make it significantly harder to qualify local ballot initiatives. The measure would increase the signature requirement for citizen initiatives from roughly 2% to about 8% of registered voters and require a majority of supervisors—six of the 11 members, instead of four—to place a measure on the ballot."

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman filed notices to gather signatures for three major charter reform measures targeting the November 2026 ballot. The proposals aim to overhaul city contracting rules, restrict the initiative process for ballot measures, and expand mayoral authority over departments and commissions. Supporters argue these reforms streamline government and improve accountability by reducing corruption and waste. However, labor leaders and critics contend the changes concentrate executive power and limit public participation. A particularly controversial proposal would increase citizen initiative signature requirements from 2% to 8% of registered voters and require six supervisors instead of four to place measures on the ballot, while eliminating the mayor's unilateral authority to place initiatives.

Read at sfist.com