Press Release: Speaker Emerita Pelosi, SF Democratic Party endorse Prop L: Fund the Bus

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and the San Francisco Democratic Party have endorsed Prop L, a local measure to fund Muni operations. They join a broad and growing list of endorsers including State Senator Scott Wiener, CA-15 U.S. Representative Kevin Mullin, eight members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, both the Alice B. Toklas and Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Clubs, SF YIMBY, League of Pissed Off Voters, Transport Workers Union Local 250A, and Teamsters Joint Council 7. 

Prop L received a supermajority of 21 out of 29 votes from the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee on Wednesday night, with eight members voting no and three abstaining.

“As our global population continues to grow, we need to make room for the next generation of San Franciscans to get where they need to go together, not isolated in private single-occupancy vehicles,” said Emma Heiken Hare, Vice Chair of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee. “I am proud to support Proposition L because I know that our City needs change and that change means more livability, more integration, and more investment in public infrastructure. Prop L is an investment in this change and an investment in our City's future.”

Prop L is expected to raise up to $25M per year for Muni operations, according to the City Controller, through a gross receipts tax on ride-hail and robotaxi companies like Uber, Lyft, and Waymo. 

The money would come at a time of financial crisis for transit agencies throughout the Bay Area. At a meeting of transit agency heads at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission on Friday, SFMTA Director Jeff Tumlin estimated that Muni would be forced to cut service by 20% if the smaller of two possible regional funding measures were to successfully pass in 2026.

“A vote for Prop L is a vote to ensure equity funding for programs that serve our youth, seniors, and low-income neighbors, including the Free Muni for Youth program,” said Bilal Mahmood, a member of the San Francisco Democratic Party who voted in favor of Prop L. “It’s our party’s priority to make it safer, easier, affordable, and more convenient for folks to use public transportation to explore our great city, and Prop L is a step in the right direction.”

“While Muni is facing severe cuts as federal pandemic funding ends, Prop L will raise enough funds to protect over 10 bus lines, and to keep more buses, trains, and paratransit running for San Franciscans who depend on it,” said Prop L proponent Lian Chang, Transit Organizing Director for the nonprofit Senior & Disability Action. “Muni is a lifeline for vulnerable San Franciscans, and we are delighted that Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the San Francisco Democratic Party have joined the growing list of organizations that support this necessary measure.” 

“San Francisco is a world class city and deserves world class public transit,” said Joe Sangirardi, a San Francisco Democratic Party member who voted in support. “A yes on L says YES to fighting climate change and YES to San Francisco's future!"

Campaign Manager Cyrus Hall said, “Over 100 people joined us for our ground campaign kick-off last Thursday. We’ve raised just over $230,000 to date, and with a triple-match giving campaign running for the next week, we hope that this show of support from the San Francisco Democratic Party and Speaker Emerita Pelosi will inspire a new round of donations and volunteer sign-ups to power our path to a win in November.”

The Yes on L campaign, which grew its volunteer base this spring while collecting over 17,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot, has begun canvassing voters. “As a daily Muni rider commuting to UCSF alongside thousands of my coworkers, I can't imagine our city without a reliable bus system—and it turns out, our neighbors feel the same way!” said Tasfia Rashid, a first-time canvasser and UAW 4811 member who joined the campaign’s first mobilization on Sunday. “The people I spoke with are eager to invest in cutting Muni delays, reducing car congestion, and creating a cleaner, greener San Francisco. Vote YES on Prop L to keep SF moving forward!”