Tag: propositions

We previously published Alfred Twu’s beautifully illustrated guide to the California propositions, but I (Marga Lacabe) personally voted differently in a few.  So here are my personal recommendations:

Prop 1: YES

It authorizes $4 billion in affordable housing bonds. We have a housing affordability crisis in California and this is a logical way to address it.

Prop 2: NO

It authorizes $2 billions in bonds, to be paid back by an existing tax on millionaires, to fund supportive housing for people with mental health issues.  The Green Party believes this is a giveaway to building interests and that there are more economical ways to provide this housing.  I’m unsure enough to vote against it.

Prop 3: NO

We just passed a water bond in June, but agriculture and dam interests are hoping we’ve forgotten.  This one would authorize almost $9 billion in bonds to pay for specific projects supported by the interests behind this bond.  The Sierra Club opposes it.

Prop 4: YES

It authorizes $1.5 billion bond for children’s hospitals expansions and retrofits.

Prop 5: NO

It provides property tax breaks for the rich.  Bad idea.

Prop 6: NO

It repeals the gas tax.  While I’m usually opposed to regressive taxes, the gas tax is used to fund transportation projects.  Moreover, from an environmental/climate change point of view, we need higher gas taxes to discourage needless driving and gas-chugging vehicles.

Prop 7: NO

This proposition would have California adopt year-round daylight savings time.  I wouldn’t oppose it if the whole country moved to it – but I don’t like the idea of being in a different time zone than the rest of the West Coast for half the year.

Prop 8: NO

This proposition essentially limits the profits commercial dialysis companies make to 15% over costs.  The danger here is that this will lead companies to inflate costs in ways that would not benefit patients and to close clinics in areas where most of the residents are in public assistance.  Dr. Ron Birbaum offers a solid analysis of the measure.

Prop 10: YES

It eliminates the state-wide prohibition on municipalities passing rent stabilization ordinances.

Prop 11: NO

It allows companies that employ paramedics to not pay them for breaks when they are on call.

Prop 12: YES

This measure sets minimum amounts of room for chickens, pigs and some cows.  The problem is that the space allotted is still too low, but it’s higher than current regulations so it’s a step in the right direction.

This Guide was prepared and illustrated by Alfred Twu.

Prop 1 would authorize $4 billion in affordable housing bonds – enough to fund 100,000 homes.
California Democratic Party, labor unions, and many community groups have endorsed Prop 1.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_1,_Housing_Programs_and_Veterans%27_Loans_Bond_(2018)

Back in 2004, California passed an extra 1% income tax on millionaires to fund mental health services. Prop 2 would allocate some funds from that tax to authorize a $2 billion bond to fund supportive housing.
California Democratic Party, labor unions, and many community groups have endorsed Prop 2.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_2,_Use_Millionaire%27s_Tax_Revenue_for_Homelessness_Prevention_Housing_Bonds_Measure_(2018)

Prop 3 would authorize an $8.877 billion bond for water projects. While there are some good projects in the mix, most of the funding is earmarked for projects benefiting those that helped pay to get this massive barrel of pork on the ballot, including big ag and dam interests. The Sierra Club recommends a No vote. We just passed a water bond in June 2018 – let’s reject Prop 3 and come back in 2020 with a better plan. The California Democratic Party did not take a position on Prop 3.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_3,_Water_Infrastructure_and_Watershed_Conservation_Bond_Initiative_(2018

Prop 4 would authorize a $1.5 billion bond for children’s hopsital expansions and retrofits.
California Democratic Party has endorsed Prop 4.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_4,_Children%27s_Hospital_Bonds_Initiative_(2018)

Currently, property taxes in California are based on price at time of purchase, with a below-inflation annual increase. However, when people move and buy a new home, usually they will have to pay full taxes. Currently, there are exemptions for people over 55. Realtors put Prop 5 on the ballot to expand the number of exemptions.
California Democratic Party and unions oppose Prop 5, as nearly all the benefit would go to the rich, and schools and local governments would lose up to $1 billion a year each.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_5,_Property_Tax_Transfer_Initiative_(2018)

Prop 6 would repeal the recent 12-cent/gallon gas tax. This would remove $3-5 billion a year in transportation funding from bridges, highways, and transit.
California Democratic Party and unions oppose Prop 6.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_6,_Voter_Approval_for_Future_Gas_and_Vehicle_Taxes_and_2017_Tax_Repeal_Initiative_(2018)

Prop 7 would allow the state to extend Daylight Savings Time to be year-round, eliminating the time changes. Sunrise and sunset would be later in the winter than currently.
California Democratic Party endorses Prop 7.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_7,_Permanent_Daylight_Saving_Time_Measure_(2018)

Currently, private clinics provide most kidney dialysis services. Prop 8 would limit their profits to 15%, and require any additional money to go back into services or lowered prices. Labor unions want clinics to address problems of understaffing. The California Democratic Party also endorses Prop 8.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_8,_Limits_on_Dialysis_Clinics%27_Revenue_and_Required_Refunds_Initiative_(2018)

Prop 9 is a *****ing dumpster fire that a billionaire paid to get on the ballot, only to have the courts declare it unconstitutional. Please don’t sign any more of his ballot measures to divide California into multiple states.

Prop 10 would repeal Costa-Hawkins, allowing cities to pass stronger forms of rent control, such as vacancy control (no rent increases between tenants), rent control on single family houses, and rent control on buildings built after 1995.
The California Democratic Party, tenant and community groups, and unions endorse Prop 10. East Bay for Everyone also endorses Prop 10, YIMBY Action was divided among Yes and No and did not reach a consensus.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_10,_Local_Rent_Control_Initiative_(2018)

Prop 11, funded by private ambulance corporation AMR, would give ambulance companies an exemption from labor laws, allowing them to require staff to be on call during their lunch breaks. What could possibly go wrong? Unions and the California Democratic Party oppose Prop 11.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_11,_Ambulance_Employees_Paid_On-Call_Breaks,_Training,_and_Mental_Health_Services_Initiative_(2018)

Prop 12 sets minimum cage sizes for chickens, cows, and pigs. The Humane Society and the California Democratic Party endorse Prop 12. Meat corporations oppose it, PETA also opposes it because they don’t think it goes far enough and are concerned it might give consumers a false sense that things are OK.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_12,_Farm_Animal_Confinement_Initiative_(2018)