NOVEMBER 2024 VOTER GUIDE
YES ON PROP H
Retirement Benefits for Firefighters
ENDORSE-O-METER SAYS: YES
This measure lowers the retirement age for firefighters from 58 to 55. This is an attempt to reduce the high rates of cancer among firefighters by reducing the amount of time they spend exposed to carcinogens in their equipment and environment. More than 300 current and former San Francisco firefighters have died in the past decade from cancer, another 200 have been diagnosed in the past six years, and San Francisco’s women firefighters are diagnosed with breast cancer at a rate of six times the national average. We’re voting yes because the health of our first responders should be a top priority.
The Context
The Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance earlier this year banning dangerous “forever chemicals” in turnouts (firefighter uniforms)—one step toward making a dangerous job safer. This measure, authored by Supervisor Catherine Stefani with Supervisors Myrna Melgar and Ahsha Safaí, builds on that momentum by lowering the retirement age for firefighters from 58 to 55. Supervisor Stefani says these increased benefits are needed due to the increased health risks firefighters face on the job, including higher rates of cancer compared to the general population.
The Money
The Controller’s fiscal analysis found that this measure would cost San Francisco approximately $3.7 million in the first year of implementation, with costs increasing annually over 16 years.
Additional Details
The version we’re voting on has been amended to make it much less expensive than the original version, by removing a key clause that changed the final dollar amount firefighters would have their pensions based on.
Support & Opposition
As you’d expect, firefighters support increased retirement benefits. Firefighters Local 798 is supporting this measure, along with measure author Supervisor Catherine Stefani, District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, and District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí.
Mayoral candidates Mark Farrell, Aaron Peskin, Ahsha Safaí and Daniel Lurie have all said they support this measure.
District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen tried to kill this ballot measure in the Rules Committee, and Mayor London Breed opposed this measure after she lost the endorsement of San Francisco Firefighters Local 798, the union representing the city’s firefighters.
Other Organizations That Share Our Endorsement: The San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee.
Paid for by TogetherSF Action. Not authorized by any candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.