Pass: 108,907 / 56.97% Yes votes ...... 82,268 / 43.03% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Summary Prepared by the Ballot Simplification Committee:

The Way It Is Now: San Francisco is establishing a registry of legacy businesses (the Registry). To be considered for the Legacy Business Registry, a business or nonprofit must meet three criteria:

• It has operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years, and either was founded or currently has its headquarters in San Francisco;
• It has contributed to the neighborhood's history or identity; and
• It is committed to maintaining the physical features or traditions that define the business or nonprofit.

The Proposal: Proposition J would create a Legacy Business Historic Preservation Fund, which would give grants to businesses listed in the Registry and to building owners who lease property to those businesses for at least 10 years.

Legacy Businesses could receive an annual grant of up to $500 per full-time equivalent employee in San Francisco.

Building owners who lease space in San Francisco buildings to Legacy Businesses for terms of at least 10 years could receive an annual grant of up to $4.50 per square foot of leased space.

Proposition J would also expand the definition of Legacy Business to include businesses and nonprofits that have operated in San Francisco for more than 20 years, have significantly contributed to the history or identity of a neighborhood and, if not included in the Registry, would face a significant risk of displacement because of increased rents or lease terminations.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote on this measure means:

A "YES" Vote Means: If you vote "yes," you want to establish a Legacy Business Historic Preservation Fund, which would give grants to Legacy Businesses and to building owners who lease space to those businesses for terms of at least 10 years. You also want to expand the definition of a Legacy Business to include those that have operated in San Francisco for more than 20 years, are at risk of displacement and meet the other requirements of the Registry.

A NO vote on this measure means:

A "NO" Vote Means: If you vote "no," you do not want to establish a Legacy Business Historic Preservation Fund and you do not want to expand the definition of a Legacy Business.