ELECTION Candidates, 19 propositions are on ballot

| October 24, 2024 | 0 Comments

For local readers, the most interesting and contentious runoff election races probably are two — the U.S. Congress 30th District seat long held by U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (now running for U.S. Senate) and the Los Angeles County District Attorney race, where Nathan Hochman is challenging incumbent George Gascón. Some Larchmont Chronicle readers also get to vote for a city councilmember for Council District 10.
Significantly, there also are 19 ballot propositions (county, city, school district and state) asking local voters for permission to enact numerous new laws and, in some cases, taxes.
And, of course, there is a U.S. President election.

County, city, school and state measures are on the ballot

The following are the 19 ballot propositions on local Nov. 5 ballots. They are listed here in the following order: Los Angeles County, City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Unified School District and State of California.

Los Angeles County Measures

There are two Los Angeles County Measures on local ballots. Each requires a majority vote of 50 percent+1.

Measure G would amend the Los Angeles County Charter to create a County Executive person to be elected at-large throughout the county. It also would create an independent Ethics Commission to restrict lobbying and investigate misconduct. Further, Measure G would increase the Board of Supervisors from five elected members to nine elected members and make other changes. Opponents include Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Kathryn Barger, the LA County Firefighters & Sheriffs and the Community Coalition.

Measure A: Named the Homelessness Services and Affordable Housing Ordinance, this county measure is intended to create affordable housing, support home ownership and provide rental assistance as well as increase mental health and addiction treatment, among other services. If approved, it would replace the existing quarter-cent sales tax, under Measure H, which expires in 2027, with a new half-cent sales tax indefinitely. It would raise an estimated $1.1 billion yearly. Supporters include Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles and Women’s & Children’s Crisis Shelter. Opponents include Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, former County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and Jack Humphreville.

City of Los Angeles Measures

Five Los Angeles City and two LAUSD measures are on the ballot, and all but one require a majority vote of 50 percent+1 to pass. The $9 billion school bond, Measure US, requires a 55 percent majority to pass.

Measure DD would create an independent redistricting commission to redraw the City Council district lines every 10 years. California Common Cause is among supporters; no opposition was submitted.

Measure HH would amend the City Charter to require that commission appointees file financial disclosures, clarify the Controller’s auditing authority and expand the City Attorney’s subpoena power, among other changes. Councilmember Paul Krekorian supports; no opposition was submitted.

Measure II would amend the City Charter to clarify that El Pueblo Monument and the Los Angeles Zoo are park property, include gender identity in non-discrimination rules, clarify the Airport Commission’s authority to establish fees and make other changes. Councilmember Paul Krekorian supports; no opposition was submitted.

Measure ER would amend the City Charter to establish a minimum annual budget for the City Ethics Commission and increase its authority over spending decisions and hiring. It would also require the City Council to hold a public hearing on Commission proposals and increase penalties for violations of City laws. Councilmember Paul Krekorian supports; no opposition was submitted.

Measure FF would amend the City Charter to allow peace officers employed by the Police, Airport, Harbor and Recreation and Parks Departments to transfer membership and service to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Plan. Mayor Karen Bass is among supporters. No opposition was submitted.

Learn more about city Measures DD through FF at tinyurl.com/yc7pnh2k.

Los Angeles Unified School District Measures

Measure LL would amend the City Charter to establish an independent redistricting commission to redraw Board of Education district lines every 10 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Common Cause and LAUSD Board President Jackie Goldberg support. No opposition was submitted.

Measure US would authorize  $9 billion in bonds to update school facilities. Measure US requires 55 percent of the votes to pass. This is the largest bond put on the ballot by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Property taxes would rise about $273 a year for a median-priced ($1 million) home within the school district, according to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA). According to the Los Angeles County Registrar / Recorder, the measurement for the additional tax is 2.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, so, for a home in local neighborhoods assessed at $1,500,000, property taxes would rise approximately $375 per year. HJTA opposes the bond, along with former County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and Jack Humphreville. Supporters include Yolie Flores of Families in Schools, Gene Hale of the LA AfAm Chamber, and Ernesto Medrano of the LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council.

Learn more at tinyurl.com/3xjw3t4v.

State of California Measures

Prop. 2 would authorize $10 billion in bonds to repair, upgrade and construct new facilities at K-12 public schools, community colleges and career technical education programs. California Teachers Association is among the proponents, while the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association opposes.

Prop. 3 would amend the state Constitution to recognize the right to marry, regardless of sex or race.

Prop. 4 authorizes $10 billion in bonds to fund various programs promoted as addressing climate risks. Clean Water Action supports; Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association opposes.

Prop. 5 would lower voter-approval requirements for local bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure including road and transit expansions, parks and more. The measure proposes 55 percent voter approval, rather than the current two-thirds approval required by the state’s Constitution. League of Women Voters of Calif. supports; California Taxpayers Association opposes.

Prop. 6 removes a state Constitutional provision that allows incarcerated persons to be forced to work. If passed, prisoners could voluntarily accept work assignments in exchange for credit to reduce their sentences.

Prop. 32: If passed, all workers would make at least $18 an hour by 2026. The measure reads: “For employers with 26 or more employees, to $17 immediately, $18 on Jan. 1, 2025. For employers with 25 or fewer employees, to $17 on Jan. 1, 2025, $18 on January 1, 2026.” California Chamber of Commerce and others oppose.

Prop. 33 expands local government’s authority to enact rent control on residential property and would eliminate the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which allows landlords limited market-rate increases. AIDS Healthcare Foundation is sponsoring the measure; opponents in the real estate industry say it is anti-housing. Learn more at yeson33.org and NoOnProp33.com.

Prop. 34 restricts spending of prescription drug revenues by some healthcare providers, with the primary object being to deter the AIDS Healthcare Foundation from spending such revenues on ballot measure campaigns. The California Apartment Assoc. supports; the AIDS Healthcare Foundation opposes.

Prop. 35 provides permanent funding for Medi-Cal health care services set to expire in 2026. Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics is among supporters. No argument against was provided.

Prop. 36 allows felony charges for, and increases sentences for, certain drug and theft crimes under $950 — both currently chargeable only as misdemeanors — for criminals with prior convictions.

For arguments for and against the state propositions, visit the California Secretary of State Voter Information Guide at tinyurl.com/344763pt.

Sources of voting recommendations include our town’s two major daily newspapers. Go to: dailynews.com/opinion/endorsements and, for the Los Angeles Times, tinyurl.com/ytd4v9u4.

 

 

Races are on for five judges for Los Angeles Superior Court benches

By John Welborne

Five seats for Los Angeles Superior Court judges are on the November ballot.

Renee Rose faces Ericka J. Wiley for Office No. 48. Rose is a prosecutor. Wiley is a criminal defense attorney. LACBA rates Rose “Well Qualified” and Wiley “Qualified.”

La Shae Henderson and Sharon Ransom seek the seat for Office No. 97. Henderson is a former deputy public defender rated “Qualified” by LACBA. Ransom is a deputy district attorney who LACBA rates “Well Qualified.”

Steven Yee Mac and Georgia Huerta seek the Office No. 135 seat. Mac is a deputy district attorney, as is Huerta. LACBA rates both “Well Qualified.”

Tracey M. Blount and Luz E. Herrera are vying for the Office No. 137 seat. Blount, rated “Well Qualified” by LACBA, represents Los Angeles County in dependency court. Herrera is an attorney and law professor who LACBA rates as “Qualified.”

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