Housing prices, aging infrastructure among issues California voters will weigh in on next week

Skyrocketing housing prices, immigration, homelessness, aging hospital equipment, concerns about the gas tax and educational inequalities are some of the issues that have inspired ballot measures and candidates’ policy platforms ahead of the November election next week.

With the support of the University Times staff, UT Community News has produced an election guide to help dissect and translate some of the key issues and races that most affect East and South Los Angeles residents and the Cal State LA campus community at large.

UT Community News is a production of the University Times journalism class.

Statewide ballot measures

U.S. House District 27 race: Congressional candidates’ personal stories shape their platforms
As Rep. Judy Chu faces off against Bryan Witt for her seat representing Alhambra, Rosemead, Monterey Park and neighboring areas on the U.S. House of Representatives, they shared with the UT how their personal backgrounds shape their views.

Governor’s race: Newsom and Cox differ drastically on immigration, transportation and healthcare

Californians will decide next week between two very different candidates for governor.

Prop. 12: Animal rights’ measure draws animal activists as some of its opponents                
A measure aimed at improving farm animal conditions has drawn a host of opponents — and not just some farmers’ groups but certain animal activists as well.

Prop. 10: Reinstate rent control?

Both supporters and opponents of Proposition 10 can agree that rent is “too damn high” in California. The state ballot measure would allow local governments to adopt rent control on any type of rental housing.

Prop. 11: Should paramedics be required to be on-call during breaks?
Los Angeles residents will decide whether or not companies can require emergency ambulance employees to be on-call during their lunch breaks.

Prop. 1: Measure would raise a whopping $4B to create more affordable housing

East and South L.A. residents struggling with the high cost of rent may get help if voters approve a state ballot measure to borrow $4 billion dollars for more affordable housing construction and subsidized home loans for new homeowners.

Prop 6: Repealing the increased “Gas Tax”
Californians will decide next week whether to repeal the controversial gas tax initiative that took effect last year. Doing so could undo the tax hike and road projects that could be funded by it.

Prop. 4: Measure would approve $1.5B for children’s hospitals

Voters will decide next week on a state ballot measure that would allow the state to issue $1.5 billion bond to improve and expand children’s hospitals. The bond would benefit, among others, several in Southern California: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach and Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA.

Prop. 7: Do We Still Need To “Save Daylight”? Measure Could Keep Time in California Consistent

Voters will have a shot at deciding if they want to repeal Daylight Savings Time because of health and environmental concerns.

Local ballot measures

Glendale measure would raise $30M a year for city services: Questions raised about city resources used to “educate” people about it

Glendale voters will decide on a sales tax measure to raise $30 million to improve city services and infrastructure such as public safety, fire, roads, parks, recreations and housing.

El Monte Could Get A Huge Boost — a $190M bond — for High Schools

More science labs with actual equipment, laptops for each student, and safe classroom doors that lock from inside are a few of the services that a local $190 million bond measure on the November ballot could buy for the six schools of the El Monte Union High School District. El Monte, in the eastern part of Los Angeles County, has an estimated 116,000 residents, including nearly a quarter who live at or below the poverty line, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

Burbank Tax Measure Would Raise $9M For Local Schools
Burbank voters will decide whether they want to pay more in property taxes in order to raise money for local schools.

More

Are Your Voting Rights in Jeopardy?

A 2017 lawsuit challenging a state law that allegedly suppresses minority voters from making it to the polls could influence the November election.