Please note: I am a blogger and these are my recommendations. It is my expectation that you take them for what they are (opinions) and make the best decisions for yourself.

Overview

The California General Election is on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. People have been asking for my opinions on who and what to vote for at this upcoming election. I have done my best to research each topic or candidate to decide who or what to vote for. I spent hours reading about these propositions and people, which included reviewing a matrix that stated how certain organizations would be voting. Some contain more details than others. For the issues I felt were not necessarily relevant to supporting environmental issues were noted as such.

If you think I missed the mark on any of these issues, please leave a comment below so we can have a nice discussion about it.

Prop 1: Authorizes Bonds to Fund Specified Housing Assistance Programs.

Vote: YES

There is a concept called the Triple Bottom Line where we focus on a balance of People, Planet and Profit. I don’t see how we, as a society, can say we support the People side of it with the tens of thousands of Californians living on the street.

Notable Supporters:

ACLU SoCal, Sierra Club, California Chamber of Commerce, California Democratic Party, California Green Party, League of Women Voters

Notable Opposers:

California Republican Party

Prop 2: Authorizes Bonds to Fund Existing Housing Program for Individuals with Mental Illness

Vote: YES

I recommend voting yes on Prop 2 for the same reasons I gave above.

Notable Supporters:

ACLU SoCal, Sierra Club, California Chamber of Commerce, California Democratic Party, California Green Party, California Republican Party, League of Women Voters

Notable Opposers:

Prop 3: Authorizes Bonds to Fund Projects for Water Supply and Quality, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Water Conveyance, and Groundwater Sustainability and Storage

Vote: NO

This appears to be an initiative that would bolster huge infrastructure projects under the guise of environmental protection. I agree that we need to maintain our water infrastructure, but not at the expense air quality and building unnecessary dams and reservoirs.

The biggest red flag for me on this one would be the ability to take money out of California’s Cap-and-Trade program and reallocate it to water projects. The purpose of the Cap-and-Trade program is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted through energy generation and transmission and commerce in general. Meeting the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals will be hard enough in the current climate, so I don’t want to do anything that will reduce the funds available.

As an alternative solution, we should be focusing on utilizing our water resources more efficiently prior to building more infrastructure. In our current culture, we focus on taking fewer showers and letting our lawns go dry, when in fact, those steps on the municipal level barely make a dent. The overwhelming majority of our water goes to support Central Valley agriculture, and there are quite a bit of problems with our current water policy

The Sierra Club and California Green Party oppose Prop 3, so that should be reason enough to take pause.

Notable Supporters:

CA Labor Federation, CA Chamber of Commerce,

Notable Neutral Parties:

CA Democratic Party, CA Republican Party

Notable Opposers:

Sierra Club, CA Green Party, League of Women Voters

Prop 4: Authorizes Bonds Funding Construction at Hospitals Providing Children’s Health Care

Vote: No Opinion

Prop 5: Changes Requirements for Certain Property Owners to Transfer Their Property Tax Base to Replacement Property

Vote: No Opinion

Prop 6: Eliminates Certain Road Repair and Transportation Funding, Requires Certain Fuel Taxes and Vehicle Fees Be Approved by the Electorate.

Vote: NO

Our roads and infrastructure need all the help they can get. As cars have become more fuel efficient and/or run on electricity, we just aren’t generating enough revenue to maintain them. The last thing we can afford to do is eliminate the gas tax. If anything (and I know this isn’t going to be a popular thing to say), the cost of gasoline isn’t expensive enough. All you need to do is look to places like Europe with fuel anywhere from two to three times as much per gallon equivalent to know that ours is too cheap. This is honestly a supply and demand type situation. So long as there is an abundance of supply at low prices, people will not change their driving and public transit habits.

Notable supporters:

CA Republican Party

Notable Opposers:

CA Teachers Association, League of Women Voters, Sierra Club, CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party

Prop 7: Conforms California Daylight Savings Time to Federal Law. Allows Legislature to Change Daylight Savings Time Period.

Vote: No Opinion

Prop 8: Regulates Amounts Outpatient Kidney Dialysis Clinics Charge for Dialysis Treatment.

Vote: YES

A huge part of the Triple Bottom Line is about treating people with dignity and respect. Many dialysis centers seem to take advantage of the fact that they have a captive audience. Protecting this at-risk population benefits everyone through lower healthcare costs.

Notable Supporters:

CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party

Notable Opposers:

CA Republican Party, CA Chamber of Commerce

Prop 10: Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property.

Vote: YES

I’m not a big fan of rent control, yet I see rents climbing out of control with no plan in place for stabilization. I included this Prop because it also resonates with the Triple Bottom Line.

Notable supporters:

ACLU SoCal, CA Teachers Association, CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party

Notable Opposers:

CA Republican Party, CA Chamber of Commerce

Prop 11: Requires Private-Sector Emergency Ambulance Employees to Remain On-Call During Work Breaks. Eliminates Certain Lawyer Liability.

Vote: No Opinion

Prop 12: Establishes Standards for Confinement of Specified Farm Animals; Bans Sale of Non-Complying Products.

Vote: No Opinion

Since livestock are the single largest source of global greenhouse gas emissions, anything that will make the price of meal and eggs go up in price is good for the environment.

Notable Supporters:

Sierra Club, CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party

Notable Neutral Parties:

League of Women Voters, CA Chamber of Commerce

Notable Opposers:

CA Republican Party

United States Senator

Vote: Kevin de Leon

As the President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate, de Leon was a huge advocate for SB100, which sets a goal of 100% carbon-neutral energy by 2035. I also think it’s time to bring a fresh perspective to the position.

Governor

Vote: Gavin Newsom

I’m not necessarily a fan of his, but I at least know that he will prioritize fighting climate change.

Los Angeles County Measure

W Los Angeles County Flood Control District – Measure W: Vote YES

This parcel tax will raise $300 million per year to support project to collect and reuse storm water.

Measure W: LA’s parcel tax for stormwater recycling, explained

Judges

For the following judge recommendations, I am basically towing the party line. Generally speaking, conservative judges fight vote against human rights and environmental protection, where as more liberal and progressive judges do.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court – Carol A. Corrigan: NO

Justice Corrigan is considered a swing vote, but considered more moderate.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court – Leondra R. Kruger: YES

Worked for the Obama Administration

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division One – Victoria G. Chaney: NO

Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division One – Helen Bendix: YES

Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Two – Elwood Lui: YES

Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Two – Victoria M. Chavez: NO

Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Three – Luis A. Lavin: YES

Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Three – Halim Dhanidina: YES

Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Three – Anne H. Egerton: YES

Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown

Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate Court, Division Four – Norma M. Manella: NO

Originally appointed by Governor George Deukmejian.

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Four – Thomas Willhite: NO

Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Five – Dorothy C. Kim: YES