Bay View Voters Guide: It’s time to claim our political and economic power

Editorial by Dr. Willie Ratcliff – Voters Guide follows

It’s time for Black people to wake up and use the power that set us free. We have not claimed our victory.

We did not have the power to free ourselves from slavery, but we did lots of praying and we joined the Union Army. My family joined under the name Ratliff. My dad, Willie Ratcliff, and my uncle, Leo Meharry Ratcliff, M.D., served in World War I, too – fighting to free our people.

We can get started now on claiming our victory. We can get started on repairing our political power. We all must start turning out to vote. We can’t turn out at 20 percent or less and expect the power structure to meet our demands – or even our most basic needs.

Let us show our resolve by getting our community ready to vote, then voting 100 percent in November. Oct. 20 is the last day to register for the Nov. 4 election.

We can move at the same time to meet our own needs by investing in our community to create sufficient jobs and wealth to anchor ourselves right here so we cannot be moved. Our biggest barrier to economic power since 1863 has been and remains today lack of access to capital.

For the last three years a group of businesses and workers has been putting a plan together for us to claim our victory. We set up Rising Sun Investments LLC to raise capital – pooling our resources to invest in projects in our community. We set up Rising Sun Developers LP to develop those projects and put our people to work so they can provide a good living for their families.

Our prospectus for the purchase of common stock should be ready later this month. In order for this plan to work with no delays, we need all hands on deck. We need the churches, households and organizations to get on board.

Let us show our resolve by getting our community ready to vote, then voting 100 percent in November. Oct. 20 is the last day to register for the Nov. 4 election.

Let’s talk about winning political and economic power. Contact me direct at 415-571-1722 or willieratcliff@gmail.com.

Bay View Voters Guide for Nov. 4 election

Candidates

California Assembly District 17: David Campos

Superior Court Judge Office No. 20: Daniel Flores

San Francisco Board of Education: Shamann Walton, Hydra Mendoza, Emily Murase

San Francisco Community College Board, four-year term: Anita Grier, John Rizzo, Thea Selby

San Francisco Community College Board, two-year term: William Walker

San Francisco Supervisor, District 10: Malia Cohen

Richmond City Council: Jovanka Beckles, Eduardo Martinez, Gayle McLaughlin

Richmond Mayor: Tom Butt

California Propositions

Prop 1, Water Bond: Yes

Prop 2, Budget Stabilization: Yes

Prop 45, Healthcare Insurance Rate Changes: Yes

Prop 46, Medical Negligence Lawsuits: Yes

Prop 47, Criminal Sentences, Misdemeanor Penalties: Yes

Prop 48, Indian Gaming Compacts: Yes

San Francisco Propositions

Prop A, Transportation and Road Improvement Bond: Yes

Prop B, Adjusting Transportation Funding for Population Growth: Yes

Prop C, Extending Children’s Fund and Public Education Enrichment Fund, Creating Council: Yes

Prop D, Retiree Health Benefits: Yes

Prop E, Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax: Yes

Prop F, Pier 70 Height Limit Increase: Yes

Prop G, Additional Transfer Tax on Residential Property Sold Within Five Years of Purchase: Yes

Prop H, Retaining Grass Athletic Fields in Golden Gate Park: Yes

Prop I, Athletic Field Renovations Determined by Increased Anticipated Usage: No

Prop J, Increase Minimum Wage to $15 Per Hour: Yes

Prop K, Increase Affordable Housing by 10,000 for Low to Moderate Income Households by 2020: Yes

Prop L, Change Transportation Priorities to Favor Motorists: No