Every two years, Californians must sift through the pros and cons of several statewide ballot initiatives and 2024’s crowded presidential election ballot is no exception. Here are our recommendations for voters on Propositions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6:

Proposition 2 – The Public Education Facilities Bond Measure – YES

Prop 2 would allow the state to issue $10 Billion in bonds to fund the construction and modernization of public schools. Specifically, $8.5 Billion would be reserved for primary and secondary education facilities and $1.5 Billion for community colleges. The State Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) has said the state’s current bond indebtedness costs about $6 Billion General Fund dollars per year at present, or 3 percent of the state budget. Prop 2 would add $500 Million per year for 35 years.

Is it worth it? We say yes. Schools are not one-time expenses. They require modernization, replacements, fixes, HVAC upgrades, and all the things that come with building maintenance. In addition, they need to keep up with modern technology and teaching techniques (e.g. apparently, kids these days have never seen a chalkboard).

We join teachers, administrators, and even the conservative California Chamber of Commerce in support of it.

Proposition 3 – the Right to Marry and Repeal Proposition 8 Amendment – YES

This one is short and sweet. It overturns 2008’s bigoted Proposition 8 (Prop “H8”), which defined marriage in California as between one man and one woman. It would also add language to the state constitution that would establish “a right to marry as furtherance of the right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and privacy and the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the state constitution.”

We believe in LGBTQ+ rights and equal protection. That includes marriage. If you don’t like it, we advise you to take Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s advice and mind your own damn business.

Proposition 4 – the Parks, Environment, Energy, and Water Bond Measure – YES

This initiative would, like Prop 2, allow the state to issue $10 Billion in bonds to, as its title reads, fund “safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, and protecting communities and natural lands from climate risks.”

With climate change worsening, water more scarce, and wildfires growing larger and more frequent, we absolutely must invest in infrastructure that will allow us to adapt and survive. The LAO says it will cost $400 Million a year for 40 years, so it is structured slightly differently than Prop 2. We would argue it will cost Californians a lot more if we fail to pass the measure.

The reactionary Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Association has said in opposition to it, “These bonds will be paid by people decades from now that didn’t even get to vote for their authorization.” By that ridiculous logic, we should all be angry with Franklin Roosevelt for massive deficit financing in our fight against the Nazis.

Proposition 5 – the Lower Supermajority Requirement to 55 percent for Local Bond Measures to Fund Housing and Public Infrastructure Amendment – YES

We don’t have enough affordable housing in California. Cities that wish to issue bonds that would fund housing and other infrastructure projects currently have to meet a high threshold of 66.67 percent to pass. By lowering the supermajority to 55 percent, cities would still require strong majorities to approve these bonds but it would make them more likely to pass.

Specifically, the measure states that lowering the threshold vote would make the following more possible: “housing developments, or portions of housing developments, that are affordable to individuals, families, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, or first-time homebuyers, who are lower income households or middle-income households earning up to 150 percent of countywide median income, as those terms are defined in state law.” So Californians can be assured this isn’t going to support market-rate housing projects most can’t afford.

The initiative also has auditing requirements that mandate cities must be accountable for bond funds being used for their intended purpose.

Opponents’ arguments that Prop 5 would somehow threaten Prop 13’s limits on property taxes ring hollow given it does not affect the 1 percent limit on property taxes on the sale of a home.

Proposition 6 – the Remove Involuntary Servitude as Punishment for Crime Amendment – YES

Prop 6 essentially removes slave labor as an allowable punishment for crimes in California. It will allow offenders in state prisons to refuse particular work assignments but incentivizes them to accept some work requirements by offering time-served credits. This would put California in tune with 34 other states that now offer such credits.

Assemblymember Lori Wilson, a sponsor of the measure, has stated, “Incarcerated people should be able to choose jobs and shifts that allow them to continue their education, use the law library, get counseling, and participate in other rehabilitative programs that facilitate growth and transformation.”

We agree and believe any notion of slave labor should be removed from state law and in the spirit of rehabilitation, even for violent offenders.

Photo by the author.