How I'm voting and Why on the California Special Election's Propositions

My recommendation for how to vote in the California special election this May is simple: NO on everything!!!

Proposition 1A: State Budget – NO

Though 1A adds 5-year taxes, it will also make permanent the many crippling budget cuts CA is making in the recession and impose a tight spending cap. We can’t afford to have our budget hobbled again. NO


Proposition 1B: Public Education Funding - NO

Only works if 1A passes. Can’t we do this through the Democratic state legislature instead of taking 1A’s poison pill? NO


Proposition 1C: California State Lottery - NO

The lottery ceases to go towards education and we borrow 5 billion dollars against future revenues. Why would we do this again? NO


Proposition 1D: Transfer of Child Development Funds - NO

This one sneakily masquerades as benefits for CA’s children. Not so! It allows funds being put towards services for young children to be spent elsewhere. NO


Proposition 1E: Transfer of Mental Health Funds – NO

Uses funds dedicated to mental health towards the state deficit. NO NO NO NO!


Proposition 1F: Pay Raises for State Officials - NO

Though I sympathize, this breaks the underlying progressive principle of wage increases mirroring cost of living. Under this prop. State legislators and constitutional offices can’t get pay raises in a deficit. This Proposition attempts to blame the pay of our legislators rather than their actions, and is a distraction from the real problems facing CA. NO

CA Supreme Court hearings on Prop. 8 This Thursday!

The wonderful Emma Ruby Sachs has an awesome article up on HuffPo summarizing how the trial will proceed on Thursday. The convoluted California constitutional law at work in this case is fascinating. Definitely check it out!

You can watch the proceedings at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8viewing.htm this Thursday! History in the making folks!

Los Angeles County Voting Guide March 3rd

Today, March 3rd, there are city, school and local measures and candidates that are up for deciding! Everyone I've talked to has no idea who 90% of the people on the ballot are. Turnout in these kind of elections is abysmal, so I thought I'd do a good deed and put out an LA County Voting Guide for today's elections! Full disclosure: I live in Alameda county. I hope some of you will vote my way by proxy =).

A -Yes
B - Yes
C - Yes
D- Yes
E - NO

Mayor - "Zuma dogg"
Attorney - Noel Weiss
Controller - Wendy Greuel
Trustee 2 - Reddock
Trustee 4 - Candaele
Trustee 6 - Pearlman
Trustee 7 - Santiago

Thanks to the Courage Campaign's excellent voter guide for information on the ballot measures.

All of the candidates (even "Zuma Dogg") were closely evaluated by me, myself and I with help from the candidate directory @ Smart Voter and the candidates' web sites.

And remember: GO OUT AND VOTE!!!!