Voters Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected Proposition D, a measure strongly opposed by Rescue Muni, San Francisco's transit riders' association. "This is a great victory for Muni riders," said Andrew Sullivan, the organization's chair. "Voters listened to Rescue Muni and refused to repeal any of the reforms they voted into place six years ago."

"Voters spoke loud and clear: don't turn back the clock," said Daniel Murphy, Rescue Muni's vice chair. "San Franciscans want accountability, and they don't want the Board of Supervisors running Muni by proxy." Proposition D would have split the appointments between the mayor and the Board of Supervisors. "The current system, by which the mayor appoints and the Board of Supervisors confirms, is the right balance."

"Voters paid attention to the people who worked to reform Muni in the first place, and saw they opposed this measure, and voted against it," Sullivan said. "This is an amazing victory. The 64% 'no' vote is the largest percentage received by either side of a seriously contested city proposition on Tuesday's ballot. Voters said no by an even bigger margin than the 61% by which they approved Propositon E in the first place. That's a ringing endorsement of Proposition E."

Rescue Muni leaders thanked Mayor Gavin Newsom, SPUR, the Chamber of Commerce, Plan C, and the Democratic and Republican Parties for joining the riders' organization in opposition. "Proposition E was proposed by a broad, citywide coalition, and we were delighted to see a similar coalition come together to fight this attempt to undo it," said Sullivan.

"Finally, this issue is settled," Murphy said. "Now it's time for everyone to move forward together, working with the MTA on a vision for better transit. Now's the time to put this charter amendment wrangling behind us and start the hard work to improve the Central Subway plan and build a rail-ready Bus Rapid Transit system on Geary. The voters have spoken."

Rescue Muni is a transit riders' organization for customers of Muni. It was founded in 1996 by Muni riders seeking to improve the system's reliability, service, and safety. The organization conducts an annual riders' survey, serves as a citizens' watchdog group for Muni, and promotes expansion of transit service in San Francisco. Rescue Muni co-sponsored November 1999's Proposition E for Muni reform after circulating its own charter amendment earlier that year and participating in City Hall negotiations. Rescue Muni is an independent, nonpartisan group.