The third door that 16-year-old Rowan Gleser knocked on was abruptly slammed in Gleser’s face.
“I can’t believe you rang my doorbell twice on a Sunday afternoon,” the person behind the door said, Glaser recalled. “I’m voting against whatever you’re campaigning for.”
It was one of the International High School junior’s first times canvassing, and the cold response was jarring. But, Gleser said, the community of people behind Yes on L, a volunteer-led campaign, buoyed them.
Amid the onslaught of granular election news, it’s easy to forget that many San Franciscans like Gleser have become politically active for the first time. Several of these — including a transplant from Canada, a disability advocate, and a Reno native who has given up their car — have rallied behind Prop. L, which would tax ride-hailing and autonomous vehicle companies to fund Muni.
Gleser can’t vote, but has a “personal stake” in the campaign: Like many young people, Gleser relies on Free Muni for Youth to get to school, and knows that the 21 and 6 lines could be cut if funding isn’t there.
So Gleser has stepped up to spread the word to friends — and even teachers — who turn out to be surprisingly “uninformed,” Gleser said. But the path forward is not without roadblocks.
Sometimes, the high schooler is saddened by “misleading” attack ads. Prop. L has a direct competitor in Prop. M, which would restructure the taxes of businesses like ride-hailing companies. Prop. M will nullify Prop. L if it receives more votes.
Gleser takes solace in the fortitude of fellow Prop. L volunteers.
The first time Gleser met Lian Chang, one of the four public transport advocates who are leading the Prop. L campaign, Chang appeared on her bike with a Prop. L button maker holstered to the side. Their mood, Gleser recalled, instantly brightened.
Other Prop. L volunteers shared similar experiences.
Jerry Li, 27, says he’s always been interested in politics and public transport. Not until September, however, did he ever take action. When Li learned about Prop. L during transit month, the Canadian transplant got involved mostly because he wanted to build ties to a local community.
It worked. Li said he went from only reading the New York Times to reading local news every day.
Prior to learning about Prop. L on Instagram, 38-year-old Vicky Bhundhumani said the last time she was politically involved was when she was high school student body president. Now, she plans date nights around filling out ballots.
Bhundhumani, who works at a dog daycare, said her experiences as a person with disability underscored the importance of public transportation.
“There are so many people who have a disability that you don’t even see,” Bhundhumani explained.
Growing up in Reno, Cardayell Morgan had to drive 12 miles to and from high school. Three years ago Morgan sold that car, moved to San Francisco, and never looked back.
Since scanning a QR code on a flier posted by Yes on Prop. L two months ago, Morgan has knocked on almost 500 doors to spread the word. It changed Morgan’s cynical outlook: The 25-year-old software engineer no longer thinks of government as a “rigged system.”
“I can’t put into words how much this has made me feel like people can create change,” Morgan said.
Next, Morgan would like to see a BART line run through the Richmond. Everyone has a dream.
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