This is the time of year when newspapers and magazines flagellate their way through endorsements. We don't do that as a matter of course, but did want to participate. So this year we decided to look at the decisions, and the decisioneers, that shaped this year's ballot. We wanted to go back into the kitchen and see how these monstrous pies were made rather than just suggesting which one to eat once they're served. That meant looking at the money, at where and who it came from. That meant discerning the less-than-visible influences that put people and propositions on the ballot. That meant figuring out how it connected.
It also meant being selective about how we wrote about this election. We don't cover every last thing on the ballot — we looked at the most contentious races, or the most suspicious ones. We cover some of the races for office and many of the state and local measures. We posit a few questions. Hopefully, this helps you develop a more fully formed perspective of the political scene in San Francisco and the state beyond. Maybe it makes you a smarter voter. But the ideal outcome would be that you understand how the parts of the system fit together a little better, now and in future elections — how politicos dig themselves in, how ballot measures put their best face forward, how tech is applying the venture capital mode to politics, and how Big Soda just will not stop, ever.
Read the rest @ SFWeekly
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