Ballot Recommendations for the November 6th Election

Live Oak Elementary School District - Jeremy Ray & Heather Rhodes
Santa Cruz County Board of Education - Sandra Nichols
Santa Cruz City School District - Sheila Coonerty, Patty Threet, & Claudia Vestal
Soquel Union Elementary School District - Lynette Hamby, Tory Tupper Delfavero, & Judy McGooden
Santa Cruz City Council - Cynthia Mathews, Don Lane, & Micah Posner
Vote YES on Measure N - County Transient Occupancy Tax Measure
Vote YES on Measure P - City of Santa Cruz Desalinization Measure
Vote YES on Measure Q - City of Santa Cruz Transient Occupancy Tax Measure

Prop. 30 – YES
Prop. 31 – NO
Prop. 32 - NO
Prop. 33 – NO
Prop. 34 – YES
Prop. 35 - NO
Prop. 36 – YES
Prop. 37 - YES
Prop. 38 – NO
Prop. 39 – YES
Prop. 40 – YES

Voters in California are once again faced with making major decisions about the future of our state through the initiative process. Whether you are deciding how we will pay for critical services, the death penalty, human trafficking, or genetically modified foods, this election provides an opportunity for you to have a say. Please take advantage by participating in the November 6th election. I am sharing this overview with you to help in your decision-making process.

Prop. 30 – Jerry Brown’s Tax Proposal.
Gov. Jerry Brown's tax measure would temporarily increase taxes for the wealthiest Californians to help close the budget gap, with money going to support schools and local public safety programs. After years of trying to balance the budget with cuts only, we need to look at raising some revenues. Failure to pass this measure could result in devastating cuts to our schools. Supporters include virtually all levels of school governance, the State Sheriffs Association, CDF Firefighters, the League of Women Voters, the CA Labor Federation, and the CA Medical Association. Vote YES on Prop 30.

Prop 31: State Budget Process
Prop 31 would introduce a two-year budget cycle, place limits on the state legislature's ability to tax and spend, and give local government greater control over public programs. While there are good government reforms in this measure, this initiative has dangerous weakening of state environmental regulations. This environmental deregulation is so bad that local Treasurer Fred Keeley has walked away from the initiative even though he sits on the board that developed it. Don’t be fooled. VoteNO on Prop 31.

Prop 32: Political Contributions
Prop 32 would make key changes to California's campaign finance rules. Finance reforms at the state and national levels are desperately needed but anti-union forces are trying once again to silence working families. Although it appears that corporations and unions face the same restrictions, this initiative would in fact create an unfair playing field by allowing businesses to actively participate while handicapping labor. Voters have previously turned down these restrictions on labor three times. Vote NO on Prop 32.

Prop 33: Auto Insurance Rates
Prop 33 is another failed initiative that is being brought back under a new disguise. Voters passed Prop 103 in1988 that placed caps on increases for anyone seeking insurance. The insurance industry is funding this initiative to appear as though they are seeking to give discounts while removing the caps for increases that are currently in place. I don’t think insurance companies should make the rules. Vote NO on Prop 33.

Prop 34: Death Penalty Repeal
Prop 34, the SAFE California Act, will replace California’s death penalty with a sentence of life in prison with out the possibility of parole as the maximum punishment for murder. This means convicted murderers will remain behind bars forever – with no risk of executing an innocent person. The Legislative Analyst's official report on this initiative says the state will save $130 million each year without releasing a single prisoner. Supported by a host of government bodies, elected officials, major newspapers, and faith and community leaders. Vote YES on Prop 34.

Prop 35: Human Trafficking/Sex Offender
Prop 35 would introduce much stiffer penalties for convicted sex and labor traffickers, in addition to expanding the definition of human trafficking. While I think we should do all we can to stop human trafficking, this measure creates a whole new group of people who could be prosecuted under this initiative, would burden the sex crimes database with more names than could actually be tracked, and limit fair trials for some and undermine good prosecution for others. Vote NO on Prop 35.

Prop 36: Three Strikes Law
Prop 36 would amend California's Three Strikes Law to shorten the sentencing for some nonviolent offenders. As we have seen with state prison realignment, we have overcrowded prisons that do nothing to make us safer. This proposition would require that the final strike be for a violent offense. Supporters include District Attorneys in both LA and San Francisco, the NAACP, and papers throughout the state. Vote YES on Prop 36.

Prop 37: Genetically Modified Foods
Supporters want to label food that contains genetically engineered material to give consumers more knowledge and choices about what they eat. This proposition requires labeling of food sold to consumers made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specified ways. It prohibits marketing such food, or other processed food, as 'natural.' Vote YES on Prop 37.

Prop 38: Molly Munger's Tax Proposal
Prop 38 would raise the income tax rate on most Californians to help pay for schools and pay down the state's hefty education bond debt. A competing proposal with Prop 30, this initiative would tax most Californians and would give schools more money. Whichever proposition gets the most votes will decide what our tax rates will be. In an effort to build support for only one, most educational, political (including both the Democratic and Republican parties) have endorsed 30 but not 38. I agree and encourage you to vote NO on Prop 38.

Prop 39: Multistate Business Tax
Prop 39 would change the way multi-state businesses pay taxes in California. The increased revenues would benefit schools and help pay for clean energy retrofitting and alternative energy programs in California. Proposition 39 closes a loophole by forcing out-of-state corporations to pay their fair share in CA taxes, bringing in much-needed state revenue that will be invested in clean energy and energy efficiency projects, create good-paying jobs, and help fund our schools. Prop 30 would generate $1 billion in new funding for the state. Vote YES on Prop 39.

Prop 40: Redistricting
Prop 40 is a referendum on California's newly redrawn state Senate districts, but the original proponents are no longer seeking to reject them. If you want to know why the state Republican party is in such disarray look no further than the mess they created in Prop 40. They didn’t like the outcome of the redistricting that was done by a voter-approved Redistricting Commission and lost in court to have it overturned. They paid to put this measure on the ballot but now have decided to not support it. If you want to maintained the independent redistricting completed by the Redistricting Commission: Vote YES on Prop 40.