Proposition K (Prop K) for the November 2024 election cycle has been and will continue to be CADC's defining issue. As the election results have shown, CADC has reflected the Chinese and West Side voter sentiments. CADC also witnessed firsthand how Prop K has caused a cultural war and become a major distraction ruining the chances of many moderate candidates. Prop K also threatens to break apart the coalition that has been coalesced together gingerly in the past decade.

CADC believes permanently closing the 2.7-mile Great Highway to cars under Prop K will change the demographics of the West Side and fundamentally reduce the chances for large Chinese & AAPI families living in the neighborhoods that depend on this lifeline-like road. Therefore, in the past election cycle, CADC had ranked moderate mayoral and supervisor candidates based on their No on K stance.

As made evident by the election results, the Prop K map resembles the mayoral map. The solo major Yes on K mayoral candidate won North Eastern and Central parts of the city, similar to the Yes on K results. (https://x.com/sf_cadc/status/1855120616351056176?s=46 ). For a long time, CADC has defended the upswing of public safety and downswing of homelessness - our city is coming back. But once our community found out that Prop K was authored and blessed behind our back, we could no longer defend the candidate.

Prop K’s closure of the Great Highway will hurt 20,000 working people a day that depend on it to go to work, take kids to school and get elders to clinics. For many people in the community, the impact of the permanent closure goes beyond longer commutes, it could result in job losses, life-or-death situations during emergencies, and the displacement of families due to financial burden.

On the other hand, the sole Progressive mayoral candidate rode on the No on K train to make inroads into the West Side. As late as early September, there was hardly anyone among the No on K supporters who ranked this candidate at all. But after he came out for No on K on September 18th, some people started to ranked this candidate #3, then #2. And within a few weeks, many people ranked him #1, coincided with his late surge.

One major moderate mayoral candidate made No on K as his campaign platform and rallying backdrop. Another announced his No on K stance as early as July and eventually garnered the solid support on the West Side and South Side into mayorship.

The biggest disappointment is the distribution of the Prop K map. The lower left half of the city that uses the Great Highway overwhelmingly voted against Prop K, while the parts that are further away from this critical road and probably hardly use it at all, voted for its closure. The fact that nearly 65% of District 4 voters voted against Prop K clearly shows Supervisor Joel Engardio who authored the legislation, quietly submitted it last minute without notifying his constituency and door knocked for it, is out of step with his district. Not only has he lost the trust of the district that he barely won by 439 votes in 2022, his political future is in serious jeopardy when the Sunset community that we are in touch with feels disrespected and angry for the “betrayal”.

The Moderate faction took 10 years to build. It started in the days when parents, tech professionals and the Chinese/Asian communities came together around 8th Grade Algebra. Then amplified by younger tenants, small property owners and Chinese/Asian communities rallied around more housing. The moderate faction stayed together during the dark days of March 2016 when DCCC almost completely fell into the hands of the Progressives. The Moderates finally regained power in March 2024 riding the miracles of the 4 recalls and the sentiment for change - change for excellent public education and strong public safety. CADC has been around every step of the way.

Yet Prop K single handedly made half the city into single issue voters. Prop K divided the community over cars vs. bicycles instead of supporting both as well as all modes of transportation. Prop K broke the communities that bonded on the same side of the recalls. Prop K won the citywide votes and suppressed the Sunset and the Richmond Districts. It won the battle but lost the war. It has sunk the newly arrived Moderate controlled Board of Supervisors into an unknown future. Is it worth it?

As the leading group in the Moderates for Chinese Americans, CADC stands in the crossroad. As we led 10 No on K rallies in the short 3 months between July and October, we felt our desperate cries for the survival of our community were ignored and dismissed. We have to ask, how much more do we cry before our voice is heard? When will our existence matter? Where do we go from here? (https://x.com/sf_cadc/status/1855219154820698304)

About Chinese American Democratic Club
Since 1958, Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC) has been empowering the Chinese American community and uplifting families and young people in San Francisco. As the oldest political club in the United States for Chinese Americans, CADC has been on the forefront of advancing the Civil Rights movement, anti-discrimination efforts, and the recent Stop Asian Hate campaign.