A number of top San Francisco officials publicly threw their support behind Proposition 1 on Tuesday, saying they hope voters will do the same come March as California attempts to address its homelessness crisis .
Mayor London Breed and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins were among the San Francisco leaders who rallied in support of Prop. 1 on Tuesday at Dore Urgent Care Clinic, a mental health crisis clinic in the South of Market neighborhood.
Prop. 1, a measure championed by former San Francisco mayor and current California Gov. Gavin Newsom that appears on the March 5 ballot, asks voters to approve a $6.4 billion bond for treatment beds and housing units meant for people with mental illnesses and addiction. It would also raise funding for mental-health services.
Opponents have said that Prop. 1 is a misguided attempt at tackling one of the state’s most pressing issues . Of its many requirements, Prop. 1 would mandate counties to spend 30% of their Mental Health Services Act funds on housing. Some counties would have to draw money from other programs to meet fulfillments, with the California Legislative Analyst’s Office estimating the measure would shift $140 million in tax revenues from counties to the state.