Post election update (12/01/2024): The election postmortem is well underway and this year provided plenty of material for reflection. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), infrastructure performed exceptionally well in state and local elections citing the billions of dollars that voters approved or renewed at the ballot box. However, the approval rates among ballot measures impacting city development reflect nuanced voter priorities.
While the rising cost of living was a significant concern for many voters, it’s notable that many still showed a willingness to tax themselves to sustain critical investments in infrastructure. Today, we’re revisiting the four ballot measures we discussed in October to explore how they fared and what their outcomes mean for the future of cities. See the italicized updates in each section below:
As election season heats up, we’re exploring local ballot measures that will shape the future of our communities—especially when it comes to land use, infrastructure investments, and housing. With hundreds of local initiatives on the table, I’ve sifted through dozens of land use and infrastructure measures to give you insights into key issues communities are grappling with. These ballot measures are hoping to
Increase resources via bond issuances and new tax structures. For instance, Charlotte’s three ballot measures aim to issue $400 million in bonds for infrastructure, housing, and neighborhood investments. (all three measures these passed!)
Prioritize investments that mean the most to voters. In Honolulu, voters will decide whether to allocate 0.5% of property tax revenues to a new Climate Resiliency Fund. (voters approved with 57% of the vote)
Streamline processes to get projects done more efficiently. California’s Prop 5 aims to speed up projects by reducing voting thresholds from 67% to 50% for infrastructure and development initiatives. (this initiative failed 55% to 45%)
Out of all of those, I picked four that showed a range of voters topics. Here are four that could make meaningful change for the cities they are approved (or denied) in:
A New Infrastructure Financing Mechanism for Oklahoma?
This November, Oklahoma voters will have the chance to weigh in on a new type of infrastructure financing tool with State Question 833. This measure, which received overwhelming support in the state legislature, proposes the creation of Public Infrastructure Districts (PIDs). PIDs would allow property owners to fund public improvements by issuing bonds, which would be repaid through property taxes. However, the key here is that 100% of the property owners within a proposed PID must agree to its creation.
Although property taxes for these PIDs would be capped at 10 mills (or $10 per $100,000 of assessed property value), some critics have voiced concerns over the measure’s vague language and potential lack of safeguards. And, opponents worry that PIDs may complicate future efforts to pass larger city- or county-wide bond measures. Despite these uncertainties, supporters argue that PIDs could offer much-needed resources for affordable housing and other critical public infrastructure projects.
Oklahoma’s State Question 833, which proposed the creation of Public Infrastructure Districts (PIDs), failed to gain voter approval. With 62% voting "nay," Oklahomans opted to stick with citywide financing tools for infrastructure improvements. Taxation fatigue appears to have played a significant role, with voters showing reluctance to layer additional property taxes on top of existing burdens.
Outcome: Failed, 62% to 39%
Will voters upzone South Pasadena to increase housing stock?
While much of the country grapples with housing supply chains, California has taken aggressive steps by issuing mandates for cities to increase their housing supply. To build its required 2,067 units by 2029, South Pasadena is asking voters to eliminate building height limits in certain areas to promote development and diversify housing options.
With South Pasadena’s well known local charm and low profile, it’s not hard to see why this ballot measure has sparked heated debate. Headlines like “South Pasadena… Way of Life is Being Tested” capture the concerns of those worried that these changes could alter the character of the city. Beyond that, opponents fear supporting this ballot measure will take away residents' future ability to vote on building height restrictions.
Supporters of this measure trust in South Pasadena’s Housing Element and argue that this measure is necessary to avoid legal consequences. If the measure doesn’t pass, South Pasadena risks being subject to the "Builder’s Remedy," a legal tool that could give developers the authority to bypass local zoning and design standards, potentially reshaping the city without much local input.
South Pasadena voters chose to approve upzoning measures aimed at increasing housing stock, with 58% supporting the initiative. Renters and housing advocates saw this as a critical step toward creating more opportunities for affordable housing and pathways to ownership in the community.
Outcome: Approved, 58% to 42%
Nashville tests voters with Mobility initiative- will it work this time?
Nashville’s "Choose How You Move" initiative, led by the city’s mayor, aims to improve transit frequency and focus investments in four key areas: sidewalks, signals, service, and safety. These investments are definitely warranted as the city faces a population boom, growing traffic congestion, and increasingly dangerous streets.
This measure, backed by a proposed half-cent sales tax surcharge projected to raise $100 million annually for 15 years, translates to about $6 per month for Nashvillians. Learning from Nashville’s failed 2018 ballot measure for light rail transit, the "Choose How You Move" initiative has pivoted away from transit rhetoric, embracing a more multimodal approach. We will find out on November 5th if that makes a difference.
Nashville’s scaled-back transportation initiative, Choose How You Move, succeeded with strong voter approval. Learning from the failure of the 2018 transit referendum, this effort focused on practical investments in roads, sidewalks, and multimodal infrastructure. The smaller scope earned the Mayor and the city a double-digit win.
Outcome: Approved, 65.5% to 34.5%
NYC’s waste problem is going to the voters- will they decide to expand sanitation services?
New York City’s waste problem is hard to ignore—you can smell it on most summer days. While the stench is unpleasant, the city’s waste mismanagement has contributed to a growing rat problem. This prompted Mayor Adams to appoint a Rat Tsar in 2023. And that wasn’t all—NYC commissioned a $4 million study to tackle the issue head-on. The results, published this summer, delivered a clear solution: containerization (surprise surprise). No more piles of trash bags left on sidewalks for rats to feast on.
The Mayor’s office has already launched a containerization campaign, but this November, voters will decide whether to expand the Department of Sanitation's powers to enforce these policies citywide. The ballot measure would grant the department greater jurisdiction and enforcement abilities to manage containerization across the city. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Well, not quite. The proposal includes provisions that would also give the Department of Sanitation the authority to ticket street vendors. This raises concerns for vendors who are already struggling to operate in an increasingly tough city environment.
New Yorkers decided to tackle their city’s waste problem by expanding the Department of Sanitation’s powers to enforce containerization and ticket street vendors. With 62% voting in favor, the city takes a significant step toward managing its waste and reducing its rat problem, though concerns remain about the impact on street vendors.
Outcome: Approved, 62% to 38%
These measures are just some examples of what you could find on your own election ballot. There’s still time to dive into your local ballot measures. I highly recommend checking out Ballotpedia.org, my go-to resource during election season. Let’s make sure we’re all ready to shape the future of our cities!
Original article was posted on October 22, 2024.