Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco

The logo of the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco, which depicts an eagle clutching two plungers; above the eagle's head appears the motto, E Pluribus Anus.

The Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco (Presidential Memorial Commission for short) was a voter group that sponsored a satirical but real ballot initiative to rename the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant, a wastewater treatment plant in San Francisco, California, after United States President George W. Bush.

Ballot initiative

The initiative is to place the following referendum before San Francisco voters in the general election in November 2008:

George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States

Through grassroots organizing and public appearances, organizers obtained more than 12,000 signatures,[1] and on July 17, 2008 the measure was qualified for the November ballot. It will appear on the November 4th, 2008 San Francisco ballot as Proposition R.[2] The measure is a legally binding ordinance initiative with the same effect as a law enacted by the Board of Supervisors. If passed by a simple majority, the name change will take effect upon the inauguration of the next President on January 20, 2009.

Opposition


The local Republican Party announced its intention to campaign against the measure,[3][4] which it described as "loony bin direct democracy."[1] Officials with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which owns the plant in question, rejected the comparison with President Bush and defended their plant's environmental record.[1]

The ballot pamphlet argument against Proposition R urged San Franciscans to vote against the measure, arguing that, in light of the recent bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it would be more appropriate to name the local bankruptcy court or a consumer credit counseling center after Bush.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Marisa Lagos (2008-06-24). "Satire at the ballot box to 'honor' Bush". San Francisco Chronicle.
  2. ↑ Marisa Lagos (2008-07-18). "George W. Bush Sewage Plant plan is on ballot". San Francisco Chronicle.
  3. ↑ "SF Group Plans Unconventional Presidential Honor". KCBS News. 2008-06-20.
  4. ↑ "San Franciscans Want to Put President Bush's Name in the Toilet". Fox News. 2008-05-29.
  5. ↑ http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/elections/Nov2008_VIP_EN.pdf
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