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<p align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class="">
<b class="">Darien’s Ballot Guide, for the March 3, 2020 California Primary
Elections</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> Welcome back to
this progressive guide to the California ballot propositions. Here,
I express (somewhat) short analyses and key info about each
proposition's content, offer my own position on each prop., and list
the positions of a number of other groups and organizations.
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> I also recommend
for your consideration the helpful election and candidate information
sites, such as <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/" class="">https://ballotpedia.org</a>
, <a href="http://votersedge.org/ca" class="">http://votersedge.org/ca</a> ,
and the ever-helpful League at <a href="https://lwvc.org/" class="">https://lwvc.org</a>.
I also value Friends Committee on Legislation of California's good
proposition analyses, at <a href="http://fclca.org/" class="">http://fclca.org/</a>.
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> There is only one
proposition on the ballot in this primary election. Consequently,
I’ve given you more information than usual on this proposition,
which is much more than just a school bond.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""><u class="">Proposition 13</u>:
Authorizes $15 <b class="">billion</b> in state general obligation bonds for
construction and modernization of public education facilities. <b class="">Yes.</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""><b class=""> YES - </b><a href="https://votersedge.org/en/ca/ballot/election/2020-03-03/measure/proposition-13" class="">League
of Women Voters of CA</a>, <a href="https://votersedge.org/en/ca/ballot/election/2020-03-03/measure/proposition-13" class="">CA
Chamber of Commerce</a>, <a href="https://votersedge.org/en/ca/ballot/election/2020-03-03/measure/proposition-13" class="">CA
Democratic Party</a>, <a href="https://votersedge.org/en/ca/ballot/election/2020-03-03/measure/proposition-13" class="">CA
Federation of Teachers</a>, <a href="https://votersedge.org/en/ca/ballot/election/2020-03-03/measure/proposition-13" class="">CA
Labor Federation</a>, Friends Committee on Legislation of CA.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> No - <a href="https://votersedge.org/en/ca/ballot/election/2020-03-03/measure/proposition-13" class="">Howard
Jarvis Taxpayers Association</a>, <a href="https://votersedge.org/en/ca/ballot/election/2020-03-03/measure/proposition-13" class="">Peace
and Freedom Party</a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class="">(I was unable to
find the endorsements, if any, of the California Green and Republican
parties.)</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> This measure looks
to me like a good one. Not only does it fund the renovation,
especially for safety changes, and construction of every level of
public educational facilities, it also makes a number of other
important changes in the school bond process:</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> 1. It replaces the
local school district's “share of project costs” requirement with
a sliding scale. That sliding scale provides a higher state share (up
to 5% more of total cost) for poorer districts.
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> 2. Instead of the
current existing first-come, first-served approach for reviewing
applications – which could give an unreasonable advantage to well
funded districts that could whip out an application – this prop.
sets forth new prioritization categories. The highest priority would
be health and life-safety projects, followed by applications from
districts that have difficulty raising their local share (that is,
poor districts) – among other categories.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> 3. District
planning is required! District have to submit a five-year facility
master plan as a condition of receiving bond funding.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> In addition to
these changes, the measure also makes changes in other state laws on
school bonds. It increases slightly the percents of local
indebtedness allowed for these bonds, allowing more bonds. It also
reduces developer fees – <i class="">prohibiting </i>those
on multifamily residential developments (such as apartment
complexes) located within a half-mile of a major transit stop. This
change can support reductions to climate change by encouraging more
transit-friendly housing. Also, for all other multifamily
residential developments, developer fees are reduced by 20%. That
encourages possibly lower cost housing and more compact development –
rather than sprawl. However, both of these changes are a mix of good
and bad, as I touch on below.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> To me, the
combination of a good purpose (furthering safe and good school
facilities) and the positive changes makes for a worthwhile bond.
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""><i class=""> </i>The
lack of significant opposition to this bond is reflected in the
California Fair Political Practices Commission’s statement on Prop.
13: No committee opposing this ballot measure raised enough
money to reach the reporting threshold for this list. (The
supporters are mostly parties interested in construction, along with
education interests and the Democratic Party.)</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""><u class="">Downside
Discussion</u></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> The
biggest <i class="">downside </i>is the
increasing debt load of the state. That <i class="">is </i>a
real issue, and that’s why
the Peace and Freedom Party opposes 13.
However, I see such construction bonds as comparable to home loans:
It costs more to buy a house via a loan (due to interest), but this
is an investment in a long-lasting asset you need <i class="">now.</i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""><i class=""> </i>Another
concern,
as the <i class="">San Jose Mercury </i>points
out, is that the
reduction in developer fees means that current and new home owners
will, in most cases,
end up paying a greater share of school costs. Also,
the bump up on permitted
district indebtedness
can also lead to increased property tax-related
costs to home owners.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> The
real problem
here is the whole idea that funding for school plants should depend
on property taxes, leading
to poorly funded schools in more impoverished areas.
However, also,
note that the Prop. 13
increase in the state
share of costs will lead to
poorer communities having a
somewhat <i class="">reduced</i>
local cost for school repairs
and construction.
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> I
believe it’s a real gain that<i class=""> </i>transit-friendly
and multi-unit housing will be encouraged. These
changes are just one way we can begin
to address housing needs, especially for those who can’t afford
their own home. The cut in
developer fees is
part of the political trade offs. It<i class="">
</i>appear to be a gift – or call
it an <i class="">incentive – </i>to
developers, to get the kinds of housing we desperately need but which
usually don’t yield the profits of single-family home construction.
Moreover, these fees come up
<i class="">only </i>for the
costs for construction of new schools. (Only
about 1/5 of the $15 billion in this measure goes to construct new
K-12 facilities.)</p><div class=""><br class=""></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%" class=""> <font class=""><font color="#00000a" size="2" class=""><span lang="en-US" class=""><u class=""><b class="">Standard
Background Blurb and Disclaimer</b></u></span></font></font></p><p align="left" style="text-indent: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;" class="">
<font size="2" class=""> This ballot guide is a
summary and analysis of the statewide ballot measures with a listing
of supporting and opposing organizations plus my recommendations. I
independently research and produce this Guide as a volunteer service
to the thinking, caring community. I read positions on both sides as
well as “nonpartisan” reports. I have a college degree and am
active on progressive political matters; this combination gives me
the background and skills to assess political arguments and
information. I have been writing the my ballot guide for over 25
years.</font></p><p align="left" style="text-indent: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;" class="">
<font size="2" class=""><font class=""> “Darien's Ballot Guide”
endorses or opposes issues, not candidates. </font>
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text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; font-family: "Bodoni 72"; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(120, 0, 138); min-height: 15px;" class=""><b style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 119, 0);" class=""> </b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-font-kerning: none;" class=""><font color="#630077" size="2" style="font-size: 14px;" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(99, 0, 119);" class=""><i class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-size: 15px;" class=""> </span></i></span></font></span><font color="#630077" size="2" style="font-size: 15px;" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(99, 0, 119);" class=""><i class="">“</i></span></font><i style="caret-color: rgb(99, 0, 119); font-size: 15px; color: rgb(99, 0, 119);" class="">The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called civilized.” </i></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;" class=""><font color="#630077" face="Bodoni 72" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(99, 0, 119); font-size: 15px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(120, 0, 138);" class=""><i class="">― Rachel Carson</i></span></font></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;" class=""><font face="Lucida Grande" size="2" class=""> Learn about </font><span style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13px;" class="">Women</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;" class="">'</span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13px;" class="">s</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13px;" class="">International</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13px;" class="">League</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13px;" class="">for</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 13px;" class=""><b class="">Peace</b></span><span style="font-size: 13px; 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