Should I go over everything and everyone? Probably. But I'm not gonna. Here's a breakdown of the State Measures though
PROPOSITION 1: Housing Programs and Veterans’ Loans Bond
What is it?
This allows the state to raise $3 Billion in bond money to invest in housing infrastructure. Specifically, low-income housing, veteran assistance, Emergency housing for homeless children, emergency housing for victims of domestic abuse.
How to pay for it?
......the $3 billion in bond money
(But B, I don't know what a Bond is. So this is still confusing. ) - Click here please: What is a Bond
Why Would you vote for it?
Housing in California is damn expensive, a majority of the new housing is being built at a premium, so they people that need the housing the most are getting the least access to it. This bill will help veterans, homeless children, working families and diversify the investment options in
Why would you vote against it?
There are concerns that this would be paid for with a new property tax. The belief is this will also allow more dense, high rise buildings in neighborhoods because. There's worry about a lack of required parking, as well as not liking the proposal because it isn't large enough
How I'm voting and why?
I'm voting for it. The arguments against it are misrepresenting the bill itself. This bill is not a new tax. I think Housing is going to need to be multifaceted in it's approach, housing dedicated to low income residents is needed. Mortgage assistance for veterans and low-moderate income Residence is also a boon. As the economy turns, investment in infrastructure is going to help quell the damage.
The worry about dense housing is one of the main reasons we have housing issues in the Bay Area- People whose property values went up, don't want more people moving in, so more housing can't be built. All that mindset does is exacerbate the problem.
California DOES have an unfair property tax law, but, this has nothing to do with that. A huge portion of this bill is providing affordable loans to veterans and their families- loans that that will be paid back.
Prop 2- Authorizes Bonds To Fund Existing Housing Program For Individuals with Mental Illness. Legislative Statute.
What is it?
We already voted for a tax on millionaires to help pay for services for individuals with mental illnesses, this Prop says that we can use some of that money for housing.
How to pay for it?
This bill is about allocation of current money, not raising new money.
Why Would you vote for it?
Comprehensive care includes environment and life stresses, providing care without housing is ignoring a huge factor of necessary care.
Why would you vote against it?
The only real opposition seems to be from people that think there isn't enough money in mental health services currently, so they'd rather a separate bill to raise more money.
How I'm voting and why?
I'm voting for it. Though there is more money needed for services, utilizing that money properly is important.
PROPOSITION 3: Water Infrastructure and Watershed Conservation Bond Initiative
What is it?
Allows the State to raise $8.8 Billion in a general Bond to pay for water infrastructure.
How to pay for it?
An $8.8 billion General obligation bond.(But B, I forgot what a bond was. Sigh, damn it. Here)
Why Would you vote for it?
The bill supports water infrastructure projects that are desperately needed. About half this money would go to public infrastructure(waterways/dams/etc) and the other half would go to providing water quality infrastructure to low-income communities.
Why would you vote against it?
The Conservation groups that vote against this are worried about the lack of budget oversight, regulatory rules that protect all environmental impact, is assertively against the revisions that made it more investor friendly. Would want a similar bill that has all of these things built in.
How I'm voting and why?
I'm voting for it. I believe the concerns for these are valid, however, California's current environmental protection laws are strong, and while we wait for something perfect, infrastructure deteriorates, costing us all more money and while undercutting the environment. Let's jump and adjust.
PROPOSITION 4: Children’s Hospital Bonds Initiative
What is it?
It would raise 1.5 billion in general obligation bonds to support the construction, modernization, and repair of Children's Hospitals.
Why Would you vote for it?
You support the expansion of children's Hospitals.
Why would you vote against it?
Ideologically you don't like the idea of the public taking care of children's healthcare. Or, fiscally, you don't like the idea of California utilizing another bond measure for the same 8 hospitals we voted for bonds to support(we voted for a bond to support these hospitals 14 years ago)
How I'm voting and why?
I'm voting for it. These hospitals need the funding because they are some of the most successful in the country, expanding their care and availability is vital.
PROPOSITION 5: Property Tax Transfer Initiative
What is it?
This bill would amend the State Constitution to allow how buyers who are older than 55, disabled, or own contaminated/destroyed property to transfer their tax assessment from their old home to a new home, no matter the value of that new home.
How to pay for it?
The current estimate for annual property tax loss for schools is $150 million/year that will grow to $1 Billion/year
Why Would you vote for it?
Anything to undercut property taxes
Why would you vote against it?
This avoids the real problem with California's property tax laws while allowing for a serious abuse of the system. The provision specifically of "Over 55 years old"is way too broad and
How I'm voting and why?
I'm definitely voting against. it. Is funding schools through property taxes inherently discriminatory and a huge portion of why there's so much disparity in America? Yes. Is the answer to make sure schools get less money? No.
PROPOSITION 6: Voter Approval of Future Gas and Vehicle Taxes and 2017 Tax Repeal Initiative
What is it?
This would repeal the gas/Diesel Tax increases and vehicle fees that were in 2017, and require voter approval(Currently this requires a two thirds chamber vote to do) for any fuel tax and vehicle fee increases. This would effectively cancel out the Road Repair and Accountability act of 2017, the huge transportation infrastructure plan for California to repair roads/bridges/etc
Why Would you vote for it?
You vote against any raise in taxes, you believe this is a regressive tax(A tax that hit's poor people the hardest), you believe any thing like this Act should require ballot propositions, like this one.
Why would you vote against it?
You support the current infrastructure plan. Voting yes on this eliminates billions in existing money marked for transportation projects, stops current construction, and there is no replacement to fix California's infrastructure
How I'm voting and why?
How do you feel about bad roads and traffic? Would you like roads to get worse and traffic to get worse? I'm voting No. Even if the argument is that this is going to cost the poor, California's road conditions cost it's residents $61 Billion/year. We are already paying for bad roads in extra gas and maintenance, not including the needs/time for better roads and bridges. If these were two separate bills, and not mixing oversight with current infrastructure, i'd have a more nuanced stance.
PROPOSITION 7: Permanent Daylight Savings Time Measure
What is it?
This would allow California to establish a permanent Daylight Savings Time....er...if Federal law allows it.
Why Would you vote for it?
You hate Daylight Savings Time
Why would you vote against it?
You love Daylight Savings Time, also, it would be darker for longer periods of time in the morning during winter.
How I'm voting and why?
I do what I want.
PROPOSITION 8: Limits on Dialysis Clinics' Revenue and Required Refunds Initiative
What is it?
Proposition 8 regulates how much an outpatient dialysis clinic can charge for kidney dialysis treatment.
Why Would you vote for it?
Patient care at some clinics is suffering. Gross overcharging is consistent in the field, these cost are passed on in the premiums to the rest of Californian's making insurance more expensive. This prop would also require clinics accept all forms of insurance, broadening accessibility in low income communities.
Why would you vote against it?
Arbitrary limits could fail to cover all cost to provide high quality health care. The verbiage in the bill has no requirement for rebates/reimbursements to be passed to the patient, only to the insurance company.
How I'm voting and why?
I'm voting no. I think the intent of the bill is great, but, the verbiage isn't clear enough to prevent rampant abuse by insurance companies. It creates an incentive funnel for poor care.
PROPOSITION 10: “Affordable Housing Act” Local Rent Control Initiative
What is it?
About 30 years ago California passed a law that eliminated a cities ability to adopt Rent Control; Rent Control would provide maximums on how much landlords can charge tenants for rents. This proposition would allow local governments to establish rent control as long as they don't prevent a fair rate of return for the landlord.
Why would you vote against it?
Rents are expensive yo, Californians are getting crushed by disparities in demand, supply, and
Why would you vote against it?
You think it will stifle investment and don't believe in regulating the market.
How I'm voting and why?
I'm voting Yes. Nothing is stopping investment in housing in California, specifically the Bay Area, for decades. If we built at this current pace we still would catch up to population demands for 30+ years. Also, this doesn't automatically push for rent control, but gives control to local residents on what they want for their communities. Micro-climates allow for better comparative examples of what works and what doesn't, if a community changes its mind.
PROPOSITION 11: Ambulance Employees Paid On-Call Breaks, Training, and Mental Health Services Initiative
What is it?
This prop would allow ambulance service providers to require their employees to remain "on call" during breaks as long as they are paid during those breaks. Employers would also provide more training to EMS working in mental health
Why would you vote for it?
Their argument is that this would continue a long-standing practice of emergency medical workers being reachable during their break.
Why would you vote against it?
You would like the courts and the State to determine labor practices and compensation
How I'm voting and why?
I'm voting No. For a couple of ideological reasons(Companies being able to subvert labor laws at will, etc) also, this feels like a cash grab. It looked like one from the start, to be sure I asked every EMS worker I know is vehemently against it.
PROPOSITION 12: Farm Animal Confinement Initiative
What is it?
This would ban the sale of meat and eggs from animals that are kept in areas below a specified number of square feet
Why Would you vote for it?
You would like to establish minimum space requirements for veal, pork from breeding pigs, and egg laying hens. If those space requirements aren't met this Prop would ban the sale of them. This would strengthen cage-free laws and humane animal treatment.
Why would you vote against it?
Prop 2 was already passed(See Here) requiring all these same things, this bill just pushes up the timeline. All that is going to do is push smaller farms out of the business because they can't meet these regulatory standards in time, and open mid-sized farms up to litigation
How I'm voting and why?
I'm actually still not sure about this one, leaning no.
Obama says "Don't boo, vote." Obama is a better person than I am. I will boo you if you don't vote.
Now go and vote, ya bum.