Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 3, 2020

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CALIFORNIA BALLOT PROPOSITIONSCALIFORNIA BALLOT PROPOSITIONS

(Endorsements in Blue)(Endorsements in Blue)

Mountain View News Saturday, October 3, 2020 


California Proposition 14, the Stem Cell Research Institute Bond Initiative

A "yes" vote supports issuing $5.5 billion general obligation bonds for the state's stem cell research institute and making changes to the 
institute's governance structure and programs.

A "no" vote opposes issuing $5.5 billion general obligation bonds for the state's stem cell research institute, which ran out funds derived 
from Proposition 71 (2004) for new projects in 2019.

California Proposition 15, the Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative

A "yes" vote supports this constitutional amendment to require commercial and industrial properties, except those zoned as commercial 
agriculture, to be taxed based on their market value, rather than their purchase price.

A "no" vote opposes this constitutional amendment, thus continuing to tax commercial and industrial properties based on a property's 
purchase price, with annual increases equal to the rate of inflation or 2 percent, whichever is lower.

California Proposition 16, the Repeal Proposition 209 Affirmative Action Amendment

A "yes" vote supports this constitutional amendment to repeal Proposition 209 (1996), which stated that the government and public institutions 
cannot discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to persons on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin 
in public employment, public education, and public contracting.

A "no" vote opposes this constitutional amendment, thereby keeping Proposition 209 (1996), which stated that the government and public 
institutions cannot discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to persons on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national 
origin in public employment, public education, and public contracting.

California Proposition 17, the Voting Rights Restoration for Persons on Parole Amendment

A "yes" vote supports this constitutional amendment to allow people on parole for felony convictions to vote.

A "no" vote opposes this constitutional amendment, thereby continuing to prohibit people who are on parole for felony convictions from 
voting.

California Proposition 18, the Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds Amendment

A "yes" vote supports this constitutional amendment to allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote 
in primary elections and special elections.

A "no" vote opposes this constitutional amendment, thereby continuing to prohibit 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next 
general election to vote in primary elections and special elections.

California Proposition 19, the Property Tax Transfers, Exemptions, and Revenue for Wildfire Agencies and Counties Amendment

A "yes" vote supports this constitutional amendment to: 

* allow eligible homeowners to transfer their tax assessments anywhere within the state and allow tax assessments to be transferred to a 
more expensive home with an upward adjustment;

* increase the number of times that persons over 55 years old or with severe disabilities can transfer their tax assessments from one to 
three;

* require that inherited homes that are not used as principal residences, such as second homes or rentals, be reassessed at market value 
when transferred; and

* allocate additional revenue or net savings resulting from the ballot measure to wildfire agencies and counties. 

A "no" vote opposes this constitutional amendment, therefore continuing to:

* allow eligible homeowners to transfer their tax assessments within counties and to homes of equal or lesser market value;

* keep the number of times that persons over 55 years old or with severe disabilities can transfer their tax assessments at one;

* allow the tax assessments on inherited homes, including those not used as principal residences, to be transferred from parent to child 
or grandparent to grandchild.

California Proposition 20, the Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative

A "yes" vote supports this initiative to add crimes to the list of violent felonies for which early parole is restricted; recategorize certain types 
of theft and fraud crimes as wobblers (chargeable as misdemeanors or felonies); and require DNA collection for certain misdemeanors.

A "no" vote opposes this initiative to add crimes to the list of violent felonies for which early parole is restricted; recategorize certain types 
of theft and fraud crimes as wobblers (chargeable as misdemeanors or felonies); and require DNA collection for certain misdemeanors.

California Proposition 21, the Local Rent Control Initiative

A "yes" vote supports this ballot initiative to allow local governments to enact rent control on housing that was first occupied over 15 years 
ago, with an exception for landlords who own no more than two homes with distinct titles or subdivided interests.

A "no" vote opposes this ballot initiative, thereby continuing to prohibit rent control on housing that was first occupied after February 1, 
1995, and housing units with distinct titles, such as single-family homes.

California Proposition 22, the App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative

A "yes" vote supports this ballot initiative to define app-based transportation (rideshare) and delivery drivers as independent contractors 
and adopt labor and wage policies specific to app-based drivers and companies.

A "no" vote opposes this ballot initiative, meaning California Assembly Bill 5 (2019) could be used to decide whether app-based drivers 
are employees or independent contractors.

California Proposition 23, the Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative.

A "yes" vote supports this ballot initiative to require chronic dialysis clinics to: have an on-site physician while patients are being treated; 
report data on dialysis-related infections; obtain consent from the state health department before closing a clinic; and not discriminate 
against patients based on the source of payment for care.

A "no" vote opposes this ballot initiative to require chronic dialysis clinics to: have an on-site physician while patients are being treated; 
report data on dialysis-related infections; obtain consent from the state health department before closing a clinic; and not discriminate 
against patients based on the source of payment for care.

California Proposition 24, the Consumer Personal Information Law and Agency Initiative

A "yes" vote supports this ballot initiative to expand the state’s consumer data privacy laws, including provisions to allow consumers to 
direct businesses to not share their personal information; remove the time period in which businesses can fix violations before being 
penalized; and create the Privacy Protection Agency to enforce the state’s consumer data privacy laws.

A "no" vote opposes this ballot initiative to expand the state’s consumer data privacy laws or create the Privacy Protection Agency to enforce 
the state’s consumer data privacy laws.

California Proposition 25, the Replace Cash Bail with Risk Assessments Referendum

A "yes" vote is to uphold the contested legislation, Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), which would replace cash bail with risk assessments for detained 
suspects awaiting trials.

A "no" vote is to repeal the contested legislation, Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), thus keeping in place the use of cash bail for detained suspects 
awaiting trials.


Unless you have been under a 
rock in the middle of the earth, 
you have certainly heard it said 
over and over again that this 
election, the one being held 
in exactly 30 days, "is the most 
important elections in your 
lifetime." And it is. What has 
happened in the last 4 years is 
the culmination of decades of 
too many American citizens 
not taking seriously their responsibility 
to participate in 
our governance. The excuses are many, "I don't like politics", 
"My vote doesn't matter anyway", "I voted for him because he 
promised to make my life better". I could go on and on but 
I'll spare you. Too many Americans want all the benefits of 
a democracy, but they don't want to do the work. In the 
last Presidential election, less than 1/3 of the eligible voters 
participated. And, of those, too many voted not based upon 
the person's qualifications, but rather on a combination of 
personal likes and dislikes. So how's that working out for 
you? We ended up with a man with absolutely ZERO experience 
of doing anything for anyone other than himself and 
his family and friends. He has demonstrated that he isn't 
capable of looking out for the 'greater good'. How did he 
even get the nomination? Back to my previous statement, 
because the majority of Americans don't participate in the 
process or even pay attention. And back to my question, 
'how's that working out for you? Well, if you don't know, let 
me share a few things with you: 

1. The current 'President' has lied to the American people 
(those who voted for him and those who did not), more 
than 20,000 times. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/
2020/07/13/president-trump-has-made-more-than-
20000-false-or-misleading-claims/

2. He insults the intelligence of the American people on a 
daily basis. You can watch him say something and the next 
day he either disavows saying it or attempts to discredit 
anyone who repeats what he says as hostile or fake.

3. And he's an openly racist, sexist, homophobic sociopath 
(a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself 
in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of 
conscience.)

 I can't even continue on. He's childish, diabolical, untrustworthy 
and mean. However, ironically, his destructive, 
incompetent and selfish ways may just lead to the salvation 
of our democracy. How? Because perhaps now people will 
open their eyes and pay attention to who we give power 
over our lives to. Perhaps now, we will do our homework 
and look into the experience, character and intelligence of 
who we vote for. And, perhaps people who make voting an 
afterthought, can now see the long lasting effects when we 
do not cherish our right to vote the same way we did when 
we cast our first vote. 

 Anyway, that's where we are today and if we don't change 
our ways and not only take the right to vote seriously, but 
also encourage family and friends to stop sitting on the 
sidelines, it will not bode well for the future of our county.

 We have to become informed voters, and choose people to 
represent us, at all levels, who understand and are committed 
to fulfilling the duties of their elected positions. That 
includes working together with other elected officials so 
that all sides are represented.

 Moving right along, the Presidential election is important, 
but everything begins at home. Our local elected officials 
have an immediate impact on the quality of our lives. Our 
county officials have the next most immediate impact and 
the statewide elections are next. Don't neglect them and 
get lost in the fray of the national elections. Become an 
informed voter and give as much attention to what happens 
at home as you do to what happens in Washington.

 Over the last few weeks in Sierra Madre, there have been 
several forums giving the public the opportunity to meet 
the candidates for city council and for PUSD District 6. If 
you missed the forums, you can go to the city's website and 
watch them again. Invest the time before you cast that vote. 
All the candidates have made an effort to let you see them 
in person, so if you haven't done so, watching the forums is 
second best. 

 In addition the County of Los Angeles has an item on the 
ballot and the State of California has twelve ballot measures 
for you to vote on. The League of Women Voters at the 
invitation of this newspaper, presented the Pros and Cons 
of each on Zoom last week. You can view the presentation 
and listen to the discussions by going to: https://us02web.
zoom.us/rec/share/cqcy-p2uMvannMTl81W9JVP4E5SNPWumr5OY1aoA2YD7sY2Nf6mmp2NTAKWUoGwg.
QcIo4jvULGvaGxRl 
Passcode: 8YE=q&M4.

Mountain Views News Recommendations:

Every election, the Mountain Views News brings together its 'Editorial 
Advisors' to discuss the candidates and issues that are on the 
ballot. When done, we have our endorsement list to share with you. 

PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

 JOE BIDEN/KAMALA HARRIS

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 27TH DISTRICT

 CONGRESSWOMAN JUDY CHU

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 28TH DISTRICT

 CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE DISTRICT 25

 ANTHONY PORTANTINO, JR.

CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 41

 ASSEMBLYMAN CHRIS HOLDEN

PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT - 6

 CRYSTAL CZUBERNAT

SIERRA MADRE CITY COUNCIL - 2 YEAR SEAT

 EDWARD T. GARCIA

SIERRA MADRE CITY COUNCIL - 4 YEAR SEATS

 ANDY BENSCOME

 ROBERT PARKHURST

 

Susan Henderson, 

Editor/Publisher


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com