Prop 1: Authorizes $4 billion in general obligation bonds for existing affordable housing programs for low-income residents, veterans, farmworkers, manufactured and mobile homes, infill, and transit-oriented housing.
My suggestion: Moderate NO
Republican position: No
Democratic position: Yes
Reason: While the intention sounds noble on the surface, California does not need $4 billion more of debt. A smarter solution to the housing situation needs to be formulated, rather than just throwing more money at the problem.
Prop 2: Amends Mental Health Services Act to fund No Place Like Home Program, which finances housing for individuals with mental illness. Ratifies existing law establishing the No Place Like Home Program. Fiscal Impact: Allows the state to use up to $140 million per year of county mental health funds to repay up to $2 billion in bonds. These bonds would fund housing for those with mental illness who are homeless.
My suggestion: Moderate YES
Republican position: Neutral/Yes
Democratic position: Yes
Reason: California needs to do a better job with its sizable mentally il population. This measure does not raise taxes, but rather shifts money around to fund housing for those mental illness, and gets them off the streets.
Prop 3: Authorizes $8.877 billion in state general obligation bonds for various infrastructure projects. Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs to repay bonds averaging $430 million per year over 40 years.
My suggestion: Solid NO
Republican position: Neutral
Democratic position: Neutral
Reason: Huge bond issue, which will end up racking up almost $18 billion in debt after interest. Amazing, despite the fact that his is promoted as a water and drought measure, it will not produce one drop of new, usable water!
Prop 4: Authorizes $1.5 billion in bonds, to be repaid from state’s General Fund, to fund grants for construction, expansion, renovation, and equipping of qualifying children’s hospitals.
My suggestion: Moderate NO
Republican position: No
Democratic position: Yes
Reason: Supposed "nonprofit" hospitals will be the prime beneficiary of $1.5 billion in bonds, racking up more debt for the state and giving it to hospitals which claim nonprofit status but may not be what they seem. There is better use for this money.
Prop 5: Removes certain transfer requirements for homeowners over 55, severely disabled homeowners, and contaminated or disaster-destroyed property.
My suggestion: Strong YES
Republican position: Yes
Democratic position: No
Reason: This is related to Proposition 13 from back in 1978, which severely restricted (previously skyrocketing) property tax increases for existing homeowners, allowing those who bought their house responsibly but unable to afford escalating property taxes to stay in their homes (such as seniors). Unfortunately, one flaw here was that it required these people to stay in the same home in order to keep deriving these benefits. So an older person who, say, wishes to move to an equivalent home 50 miles away to be closer to their family, would be smacked with horrible property tax rates, and couldn't do it. This changes the situation for people over 55 and those with disabilities. I don't understand the claim that it will impact property taxes collected, because their old home will start resulting in collection of market-rate property taxes once sold.
Prop 6: Repeals a 2017 transportation law's taxes and fees designated for road repairs and public transportation.
My suggestion: Strong YES
Republican position: Yes
Democratic position: No
Reason: California has among the highest gas prices in the nation, due to oppressive gas taxes. This reduction in taxes will bring California a bit closer to the rest of the nation regarding gas prices. Also, it's important to understand that gasoline tax is regressive, and hurts poor and lower-middle-class people the most.
Prop 7: Gives Legislature ability to change daylight saving time period by two-thirds vote, if changes are consistent with federal law.
My suggestion: Strong YES
Republican position: Yes
Democratic position: Yes
Reason: Sun sets before 5pm in California throughout much of the winter. This would not immediately change anything, but would authorize the California legislature shift the clock to where it's never completely dark before 6pm, and we will never have to go through pesky clock changes. Would also put California in the exact same time zone as Arizona throughout the year.
Prop 8: Requires rebates and penalties if charges exceed limit. Requires annual reporting to the state. Prohibits clinics from refusing to treat patients based on payment source.
My suggestion: Moderate YES
Republican position: No
Democratic position: Yes
Reason: Not a huge issue, and only impacts a small percentage of the population, but this measure attempts to bring down the skyrocketing and high-profit cost of dialysis treatment, and prevents clinics from refusing treatment to those without a deep-pocketed insurance company to bilk.
Prop 10: Repeals state law that currently restricts the scope of rent control policies that cities and other local jurisdictions may impose on residential property.
My suggestion: Strong NO
Republican position: No
Democratic position: Yes
Reason: At the moment, only a few cities in California area allowed rent control, and only involving buildings of a certain age. This would allow rent control in any city which chooses to authorize it. I STRONGLY urge a NO vote. Read on...
Rent control is a misleading name. In reality, it only holds down rent for existing tenants, who will lose it as soon as they move. It is also not related to income. A rich person living in the same rent controlled unit since 1970 would pay a pittance for rent (screwing the landlord), while a poor or young person attempting to rent an apartment will be paying MARKET RATE! It arbitrarily benefits people who have lived in the same unit for decades, while everyone else (landlords, new tenants, prospective tenants) get screwed. Furthermore, rent control laws cause a decrease in available units for rent, as landlords will destroy buildings which do not turn a profit, and replace them with non-residential buildings or condos.
If Prop 10 passes, there will be an even worse housing shortage in California, while only a select few longtime tenants will see any benefit from it!
Prop 11: Law entitling hourly employees to breaks without being on-call would not apply to private-sector ambulance employees.
My suggestion: Moderate NO (updated 10/17/18)
Republican position: Yes
Democratic position: No
Reason: See desertexplore's post further down this page (or just click the link).
Prop 12: Establishes minimum requirements for confining certain farm animals. Prohibits sales of meat and egg products from animals confined in noncomplying manner.
My suggestion: No opinion
Republican position: No
Democratic position: Yes
Reason: Confusing proposition. On the surface, it seems to prevent animal cruelty by forcing the cages for farmed animals to be of sufficient size. However, PETA claims the measure is flawed, and will encourage other kinds of cruelty involving no cages. Yet the ASPCA supports this measure. I honestly don't know which way to go on this one.