This is a Presidential year, which typically means a high voter turnout, which also means a long ballot with federal, state and local measures on the ballot.
Federal and State we endorse:
President: Barack Obama
U.S. Senator: Diane Feinstein
Congress: Henry Waxman
State Senator: Fran Pavley
State Assembly: Betsy Butler
A few words about Fran Pavley, who is a preeminent member of our State Senate with a national reputation. Her environmental bills have set the standard for the nation and needless to say there is some very heavy industrial and polluter dollars coming in to oppose her. Fran, a former schoolteacher is unique in her effectiveness.
For the Assembly I’ve changed my mind. In the primary I endorsed Bloom but I’ve reconsidered. This time I’ve endorsed Betsy Butler because I’ve come to believe that she is a very capable legislator with considerable clout and a high degree of organization.
If you happen to be a Republican you’re probably not going to want Obama, Feinstein or Waxman. However, you might want to think about Pavley and Butler. Malibu has a lot of problems with state agencies (i.e. Coastal Commission) and the truth is that the Republicans have almost no clout in the legislature. Malibu needs a couple of heavy hitters in Sacramento.
Prop 30 Education tax
If this doesn’t pass there is an automatic cut to the education budget of $5,591,000,000 (see your voters pamphlet). We are already 43rd out of 51 states plus DC in funding for public education, which positions us between North Dakota and Tennessee. The national average for dollars spent per pupil (K through 12) is $10,826. California spends $8,689 per pupil (K through 12). This isn’t fiscal prudence, this is simply suicide. California was formerly the golden state and our education system was the best, but not anymore. Starving it won’t make it better. Vote YES
Prop 31 Two year budget and budget reform
Basically this is a good idea and we should have done it years ago. Not only is it a long overdue attempt at budget reform but it will also shift some dollars to the local governments which is desperately needed. Vote YES
Prop 32 Political Contributions by Payroll deduction
This is one of those clever propositions that sound like it’s balanced but it is not. It’s very much a one-sided attempt to cut off the funds that go to the Democrats to give the Republicans a financial leg up on future ballot propositions. These days (post the Citizens United case) money is all important in politics and this is an attempt to severely tilt the playing field. Vote NO
Prop 33 Auto insurance scam
Here is another proposition from a major Insurance industry billionaire who yet again comes up with a ballot proposition to try and give his company a competitive edge and then shamelessly extract some additional premium out of his customers while claiming he’s actually cutting rates. All the consumer good guys are against it, Consumer Federation of California, Jamie Court and Harvey Rosenfeld of Consumer Watchdog, Consumer’s Union and Consumer Reports, etc. Vote NO
Prop 34 Repeals death penalty It repeals the death penalty and replaces it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. As currently applied the death penalty is expensive, unevenly applied, frequently racist in its application, and as some of the innocence projects have shown, has put innocent men and woman to death. Least you think this is some sort of softheaded liberal crusade look at some of the endorsers of the proposition. Gil Garcetti, former LA County D.A., a former warden of death row, former Attorney General John Van de Kamp and others. Vote YES
Prop 35 Human Trafficking
A good proposition for a vicious crime. Current sentences are much too light. Vote YES
Prop 36 Modifying Three Strikes
Essentially the third strike should be for serious or violent offenders and offenses. Currently it’s not. This would standardize and unify the system statewide so sentences would not be so disparate in different counties. This is a sensible proposition which is why it’s supported by LA County DA Steve Cooley, San Francisco DA George Gascon (former LAPD), Jeffrey Rosen DA Santa Clara County, Police Chief Charlie Beck of Los Angeles. When the best in law enforcement agree that something is good then I believe the voters should trust their judgment. Vote YES
Prop 37 Genetically Engineered Food Labeling
I suspect there is good genetic engineering and bad genetic engineering. The only way to tell the difference is if you know what’s been done and that requires that the producers or manufacturers tell us and that means labeling. Sensible proposition. Vote YES
Prop 38 Education Tax #2
This is the Molly Munger financed proposition to create a tax to save education in opposition to Gov. Brown’s Prop 30 which seems much more balanced. Vote NO
Prop 39 Multistate Business Tax
This closes a loophole that never should have been created in the first place. If a multistate corporation has sales in California it should pay sales tax on that business just as any California corporation would have to pay tax on their sales in California. Vote YES
Prop 40 Overturning Senate Redistricting
I blew this one last time and got it backwards but some sharp-eyed readers pointed it out to me. A Yes vote means that you approve the new Senate redistricting draw up by the Citizens Commission. Vote Yes
For Los Angeles County District Attorney
We endorse Jackie Lacey, who is an experienced District Attorney and legal administrator. She was the #2 person under DA Cooley, and is well respected in the legal community with a reputation for being smart, evenhanded and fair.
County Measure A – County Advisory Election
Asking the voters if they would prefer to have the Assessor appointed rather then elected. Earlier I recommended a Yes vote and the day after the Assessor was arrested and will soon be standing trial. I had nothing to do with it. Vote YES
County Measure B – Adult Actors Condoms Measure
Apparently some citizens want to make sure that actors in the porno industry wear condoms. This sets up an entire structure for the County Health Department to oversee and enforce condom and sexual health regulations in the porno industry. The only way I see this being enforced is if the health Department stages unannounced raids on the filming sites and then makes everyone show and tell. There are just some things that government just should not touch, so to speak. I don’t believe the state of Virginia should be sending probes into woman’s vaginas anymore then I believe that County officials should be conducting “short arm inspections” at San Fernando Valley movie sites. It’s a silly proposition put forth by a bunch of academics. Vote NO
County Measure J – Imposes certain sales tax from 2039 -2069
I’ve read this proposition and supporting documentation several times and it still makes absolutely no sense why we should be imposing a tax now for something 27 to 57 years from now. I just can’t figure out why going out that far would be a good thing. Anything that obtuse I just vote NO
Measure ES – Bond Issue to upgrade and repair Mal-SM Schools
A $385 million bond issue to upgrade and repair the Malibu –Santa Monica schools. Malibu is guaranteed $77 million in the language of the bond, so no one can try and weasel out of paying us. Santa Monica HS is falling apart and there are also major repairs and changes that we need at Malibu High School and other local schools. Vote YES
Santa Monica-Malibu School Board
There are six people running for the school board and only three openings. It strikes me that all six candidates are capable and serious and under the circumstances I make no recommendation.