When Sean Starkey, field deputy for Councilmember José Huizar, gave an update recently on Rock the Boulevard, an initiative to improve the safety and appearance of Eagle Rock Boulevard, he noted that passage of Prop. 6 on the November ballot would cut into the money available to carry out the improvements.
Prop. 6 is the measure to repeal the increase in the state gasoline tax and other vehicle fees enacted in 2017. The new revenue from the increases is being used for road repairs and transportation needs.
The California Democratic Party’s executive board opposes the gas-tax repeal and the state Republican party supports it. Opponents of repeal have heavily outspent supporters.
There are 11 statewide propositions on the Nov. 6 ballot and, like Prop. 6, they all have local impacts. Here’s a rundown:
Rent Control: Prop. 10, if passed, would repeal a longstanding state law that restricts what city governments can do to control rents, allowing local leaders to pass rent control ordinances tailored to local needs. For example, local officials could decide to require rent-controlled units to stay rent controlled after tenants move out. Tenant groups, which have been active in Northeast L.A., say local rules will increase the supply of affordable apartments. Landlords say local rules would cut into the money they need to maintain their buildings. The California Democratic executive board has endorsed Prop. 10 and the state Republican party opposes it. Activist supporters of local rent control are being far outspent by industry opponents.
Dialysis: Prop. 8, if passed, would require kidney dialysis clinics to issue refunds for revenue above a certain amount. Patients advocates who support the measure are being way outspent by healthcare companies who oppose it. The state Democratic executive board supports Prop. 8; the state Republican party opposes it.
Animal welfare: Prop. 12, if passed, would set standards for confining hens, pigs and veal calves and would ban the sale of products from animals confined in too-small spaces. Supporters, including the Humane Society in California, say that Prop. 12 improves on California’s existing rules. But some animal rights activists are opposed because they are against animal confinement. Supporters of the measure have raised much more money than the opponents. The state Democratic executive board has endorsed Prop. 12 and the state Republican party opposes it.
Taxes: Prop. 5 would expand property tax breaks available to homebuyers age 55 or older or severely disabled. Supporters, including the real estate industry, say it will foster home selling, while opponents have said it will deprive local governments of needed revenue. Supporters have far outspent opponents. The state Republican party supports Prop 5, while the Democratic executive board opposes it.
Workplace: Prop. 11 would let private-sector ambulance companies require workers to remain on call during paid breaks, essentially setting in stone the way things have always been done. But recent lawsuits by some private-sector emergency workers have challenged the on-call requirement, so their employers are using a ballot measure to give it the force of law. Employers have outspent the employees. The state Republican party is in favor. The state Democratic executive board is opposed.
Bond issues: Propositions 1, 2, 3 and 4 are bond issues to raise money for housing programs, homelessness prevention, water infrastructure and hospitals for children, respectively. Both Democrats and Republicans were neutral on Prop. 3, the water bond. The state Democratic executive board supports the other bond issues, and the state Republican party is generally opposed.
Light: Prop. 7 would authorize the legislature to enact permanent daylight saving time, if the federal government allows. Democrats are in favor and Republicans probably are, too, but they don’t have an official position because their convention took place before the measure was on the ballot. No money has been spent for or against Prop. 7.
T.A. Hendrickson, a native of Eagle Rock, is the editor of the Boulevard Sentinel and a former member of the Editorial Board of the New York Times.
I absolutely support Prop 12 because it explicitly mandates that animals be less confined than they are currently. Prop 12’s cage-free housing and improved space requirements would reduce suffering for millions of farm animals and improve public health. It’s no wonder California family farms and veterinarians, animal shelters, food safety groups, farmworker organizations, and animal protection charities endorse a Yes on Prop 12. Check out http://www.yeson12ca.com for more information on this common sense proposition.