With the recent November 5 ballot, there are many varying opinions on different issues in the state. The students and adults of SHC express what they believe, what they think will happen, and how this will affect their lives now that the local election has been decided.
Mayoral Election
On November 5, the people of San Francisco voted for a new mayor: Daniel Lurie. SHC students, in the heart of the city, will inevitably be affected by this change, but how does an adult feel about that? In Mr. Jim Jordan’s opinion, since “our school is right in the middle of the most urban part of the city I think we will start to see some improvements and hopefully it won’t just be police sweeps… I’m hopeful that in a year or two we’ll start to see this neighborhood be more revitalized.” He believes that the school will be affected in a positive way, making it safer in the areas outside of the school. With the alarming 8,300 unhoused people on the streets of San Francisco there is an increase of danger around SHC, but Jordan is hopeful that Lurie’s mayoral term will enforce protocols to not only help the students of SHC, but also anyone suffering from homelessness. Furthermore, he adds that Lurie knows the school very well and even wears green to the Bruce Mahoneys!
Prop K: The Student Opinion
There has been controversy all over the city regarding the citywide ballot measure: Prop K. A yes to this proposition would convert the Great Highway, which runs along the ocean on the West of the city, into a park. When asked how this prop would affect the students of SHC, Daniel Kutner ‘26 expressed that he, along with many other students “take the 28 bus down 19th and that would directly affect the bus, and also students who drive on 19th or on sunset to get to school will have to wake up much earlier and leave much earlier, just to get to school at the same time.” His concern is that the traffic from the Great Highway will not be gone, but rather worsened on streets like 19th Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. Many citizens, such as Isabel Merriman ‘26, believe that this conversion will benefit the environment and make it safer for pedestrians and bikers. Merriman believes that “it will help San Francisco become more adaptive to the effects of climate change.” The main argument to change the Great Highway was that the ocean was eroding the road. With it being directly next to Ocean Beach, there are strong waves and wind bringing danger with bikes and cars at the same time. There is no doubt that this proposition directly relates to climate change and how San Francisco responds determines the support that they receive from the people of the city. This proposition was eventually determined as a yes, voting for the modification. While there are varying opinions, this election has been decided, and it will be interesting to see what the people vote for next.
The San Francisco Youth Commission
Have you ever wondered why SF Muni is free for anyone under eighteen? Or why there is financial support for youth-led projects? The San Francisco Youth Commission is a body of teenage students who has brought these initiatives into the city. These students are elected into political positions and aim to represent and inform the mayor about the youth of San Francisco. SHC Junior, Gabrielle Listana is the district 6 youth commissioner and member of the organization’s Transformative Justice Committee, along with being the Vice Chair of the SF Youth Commission. While her major role as Vice Chair is “helping with executive function…and overall just ensuring that the Youth Commission runs smoothly, and supporting the Chair,” Gabbie disclosed that the Youth Commission’s overarching role is to listen to youth voices “and [be] the bridge between the supervisors and the mayor.” As a member of the SF Youth Commission, Gabbie, along with sixteen other teenagers has influenced the lives of San Francisco’s juvenile community.
Minimum Wage for a Small Business Owner
One of the recent issues on the ballot was the statewide measure to raise the minimum wage in California to $18. Though someone who is paid minimum wage may appreciate this measure, business owner’s are less enthusiastic. Diana Zogaric, owner of Shaws Candy and Ice Cream understands the struggles that might come with being paid minimum wage, but “as a small business owner it’s also very very hard to keep my business afloat with ‘reasonable prices’ while having to pay such a high minimum wage.” Diana explains that as the minimum wage goes up, her profit goes down, and the cost of living (housing, food, clothing, etc.) goes up. She cannot pay her workers that much without raising the prices in her shop as well. Diana’s is only one opinion on minimum wage. A working student may feel differently about this issue.
Minimum Wage for a Student Worker
Many students at SHC have jobs, and almost all of those students get paid minimum wage. Laurence De Vries-Ravano, a junior at SHC and Starbucks employee, believes that he makes more than he should. “I think the state minimum wage should be raised to something similar to what I’m making right now,” Laurence expresses, “something like the San Francisco minimum wage, which is $18.70 an hour, because many people struggle to live on minimum wage.” While he explains that the state minimum wage should be raised, he also believes the city’s minimum wage of $18.67 an hour should stay the same. As a student and minor, he does not pay rent or utilities at his home, and without these added costs, he gains more money than the average adult who works minimum wage. On the 2024 ballot, California voters rejected the bill to raise the state minimum wage to $18 an hour, maintaining the current minimum wage of $16 an hour.
