My thoughts regarding offices and propositions on the November 2024 ballot
Federal Offices
President and VP
Kamala D. Harris and Tim Walz – for democracy, the Constitution, the rule of law, personal liberty and bodily autonomy, the health of our planet, a check on dictators, a Supreme Court that supports liberty
Senate
Adam B. Schiff (Both short term and full term) – Defended democracy in the House of Representatives
Pasadena and PUSD
PUSD District 4
Scott Harden
State Senator – District 25
Sasha Renée Pérez
State Assembly – District 41
John Harabedian
US Representative – District 28
Judy Chu
Measure PL – Retrofit Pasadena Central Library for Earthquake Soundness
Yes. The cost is a little steep for this, at almost $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value, but I consider the Pasadena Central Library to be an important anchor of this community and worth the extra cost per year.
Measure PA – How to Fill Vacancies on the City Council
Yes. Clarifies procedures and residency requirements for filling vacancies on the city council.
Measure PB – Provisions for Mayoral Vacancy
Yes. Sets procedures to handle any potential disability of the city’s mayor.
Measure PC – Term Limits
Yes. Limits council members and mayor to “only” three terms in office.
Measure PF – Organize Retirement Board
Yes. Allows an old retirement board to continue being staffed despite aging beneficiaries of the program.
Measure PR – Update Rent-Control Ordinance
Yes. Some changes to the new rent-control ordinance will fix a few provisions and also provide oversight of its board’s activities.
PUSD Measure EE – Hire Teachers, Build Labs, Enhance Courses
Leaning Yes. An extra $90 per year from each property in the district?
PUSD Measure R – Construction Bond
No. OK… This one costs too much. It would raise property taxes by $300 to $1,000 per year for the next 35 years. Ask for money for smaller specific projects, and I might say “yes.”
Los Angeles County Offices and Measures
District Attorney
Nathan Hochman – This has more to do with how Gascon runs the DA’s office than it does with perceptions of crime in LA County.
Judge – Office 39
Steve Napolitano
Judge – Office 48
Ericka J. Wiley
Judge – Office 97
Sharon Ransom
Judge – Office 135
Steven Yee Mac
Judge – Office 137
Tracey M. Blount
Measure G
Yes. Expand the LA County Board of Supervisors to nine members. This should provide better representation for such a large county. It also provides for the election of a sort of county mayor (chief executive).
Measure A
No. This is an increase in sales tax, which is already too high of a burden on lower-income residents of LA County.
Statewide propositions
State Measure 2 – Bonds for Public School and Community College Facilities
Yes. About $25 per year per Californian for school and community college construction, upgrades, and repairs. Seems fair. And it got onto the ballot by a bi-partisan vote of the legislature.
State Measure 3 – Right to Marriage
Yes. Remove unconstitutional provisions of the California Constitution. This one had unanimous support from the legislature.
State Measure 4 – Bonds for Water, Wildland, Coastal Areas
Yes. Provides funds ($13 per Californian per year) to address issues that would cost a lot more later if we wait.
State Measure 5 – Change Threshold for Local Approval
Yes. This would allow local communities to raise funds for certain uses with a 55% or higher approval vote (instead of the current two-thirds requirement).
State Measure 6 – End Prison Slave Labor
Yes. Involuntary servitude just seems wrong. …so much so that no one submitted any argument against this proposition.
State Measure 32 – Statewide Minimum Wage
No. A single fairly high minimum wage for the entire state seems unwarranted. Let counties and cities determine what works best in their jurisdictions.
State Measure 33 – Allow Local Communities to Determine Their Own Rent-Control Policies
Leaning Yes. Passing this measure would allow cities to enact (or not enact) rent-control measures that they deem appropriate to their local needs. But economists worry about disincentives to build housing.
State Measure 34 – Restrict Spending By AIDS Healthcare Foundation
No. This initiative would have the intended effect of stopping the AIDS Healthcare Foundation from spending money on advocacy campaigns. It is not clear whether it would apply to any other organizations.
State Measure 35 – Make Existing Healthcare Tax a Permanent Statute
No. This would enshrine in statute a tax on which the legislature currently needs to vote every few years. Having it be decided every few years makes it more adaptable to circumstances that may arise. Annual fiscal effects should be minimal.
State Measure 36 – Make Certain Crimes Felonies
No. Restarts the failed war on drugs.
== Anything below this line is not my own content ==