PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION
June 7, 2016
By Lee Lawrence, Action Chair, League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley
PROPOSITION 50 state ballot measure
SUSPENSION OF LEGISLATORS. LEGISLATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Authorizes Legislature to suspend Members, including without salary and benefits. Prohibits suspended Members from using powers of office or legislative resources. Provides suspension may end on specified date or by vote of Member’s house. Fiscal Impact: No effect on state spending
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA: SUPPORT
The League of Women Voters of California recommends a “Yes” vote on Proposition 50, Suspension of Legislators, a constitutional amendment appearing on the June 7 ballot. Proposition 50 would give the Legislature, by a two-thirds vote, clear authority to discipline Senators or Assembly Members by suspending them without pay. Lawmakers should be able to hold their own colleagues accountable if they breach the public’s trust.
This commonsense measure was placed on the ballot with strong bipartisan support. The requirement for a two-thirds vote of the Legislature ensures this authority would not be misused for partisan purposes.
SF BAY RESTORATION AUTHORITY – PARCEL TAX MEASURE AA
SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESTORATION AUTHORITY
2/3 required to pass
San Francisco Bay Clean Water, Pollution Prevention and Habitat Restoration Program.
To protect San Francisco Bay for future generations by reducing trash, pollution and harmful toxins, improving water quality, restoring habitat for fish, birds and wildlife, protecting communities from floods, and increasing shoreline public access, shall the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority authorize a parcel tax of $12 per year, raising approximately $25 million annually for twenty years with independent citizen oversight, audits, and all funds staying local?
League of Women Voters of the Bay Area: SUPPORT
Our League Bay Area positions support conservation and development of the SF Bay and enhancement and preservation of the Bay and its shorelines. LWVUS policies on climate change also support adaptation activities related to climate change, such as sea level rise. This measure will generate funding for restoration of San Francisco Bay wetlands, benefitting people, wildlife, and the Bay Area economy. More wetlands will improve the bay by filtering out pollution for cleaner water; increasing habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife. The measure will expand Bay trails and shoreline access; and protect low-lying communities and infrastructure from floods.
BRENTWOOD UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT – BOND MEASURE B
55% required to pass
To provide Brentwood students with 21st century classrooms, upgrade libraries and science labs, improve school safety and security, expand access to classroom technology for students and teachers, renovate and modernize older schools in the District, build a new elementary school, and replace, acquire, construct and renovate school facilities, shall the Brentwood Union School District issue $158,000,000 in bonds, at legal interest rates, with an independent citizens’ oversight committee and no funds spent on administrators salaries?
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DIABLO VALLEY: SUPPORT
The League of Women Voters strongly supports public education, and believes that bond
measures are appropriate for major capital expenditures. A quality public education is essential for a strong, viable, and sustainable democratic society and is a civil right. We think the rapid growth of the school district the school board’s commitment to keeping the repayment costs under $30 per $100,000 of assessed value, and their track record of fiscal management justifies this measure.
LAFAYETTE SCHOOL DISTRICT – BOND MEASURE C
55% required to pass
To upgrade aging neighborhood elementary and middle schools, avoid overcrowding, and modernize classrooms for today’s curriculum, including math, science, technology and arts, shall Lafayette School District repair or replace deteriorated roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems; update classrooms, labs and instructional technology; improve school safety/security: and acquire, construct, renovate, equip sites/facilities, by issuing $70,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, with independent citizen oversight, no administrators’ salaries, and all funds dedicated locally to Lafayette TK-8 schools?
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DIABLO VALLEY: SUPPORT
The League of Women Voters strongly supports public education, and believes that bond measures are appropriate for major capital expenditures. A quality public education is essential for a strong, viable, and sustainable democratic society and is a civil right. We support Measure C.
WALNUT CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT – BOND MEASURE D
55% required to pass
To address critical renovation, modernization and safety needs at District schools, upgrade classrooms, libraries and computer networks to provide students with 21st Century classrooms, improve energy efficiency of classrooms and buildings, and replace, acquire, construct and renovate school facilities shall the Walnut Creek School District issue $60 million in bonds at legal interest rates with funds monitored by an Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee and no funds spent on administrators?
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DIABLO VALLEY: SUPPORT
The League of Women Voters strongly supports public education, and believes that bond measures are appropriate for major capital expenditures. A quality public education is essential for a strong, viable, and sustainable democratic society and is a civil right. Please vote yes on Measure D.
CITY OF ANTIOCH – INITIATIVE MEASURE E
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DIABLO VALLEY: NO POSITION
Majority required to pass
Shall the electors adopt the Initiative Limiting Card Rooms Within the City and Requiring Voter Approval for New or Expanded Card Rooms Ordinance?
CITY OF ANTIOCH – CONSULTATIVE MEASURE G
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DIABLO VALLEY: NO POSITION
Majority required to pass
CHANGING THE CITY TREASURER POSITION FROM ELECTED TO APPOINTED.
Shall the office of City Treasurer be appointed?
CITY OF CLAYTON – PARCEL TAX MEASURE H
2/3 required to pass
CITYWIDE TRAILS AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT
CONTINUATION OF EXISTING SERVICES AND SPECIAL PARCEL TAX
Shall the existing Community Facility District 2007-1 (Trails and Landscape Maintenance District) be continued, with a Citizens Oversight Committee, for ten years to fund on-going operations and maintenance of the trails system, roadway landscape, open space weed abatement, and related expenses at the current annual special tax’s rate and methodology (presently $234.84/year per residential and non-residential parcel or fraction thereof), for FYs 2017-2027?
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DIABLO VALLEY: NO POSITION
CITY OF OAKLEY – SPECIAL TAX MEASURE K
2/3 required to pass
To replace the small, outdated Oakley Library currently utilizing a portion of Freedom High School and construct and operate a new Library and Community Learning Center downtown, shall the ordinance establishing a $7.75 per month per parcel Library Development Tax be adopted, raising approximately one million one hundred thousand dollars annually, for thirty years starting fiscal year 2016/17, with independent financial audits ensuring funds are spent only on the Oakley Library and Community Learning Center?
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DIABLO VALLEY: SUPPORT
The League of Women Voters support a public library system as a basic community service with a long-term, assured, stable and adequate funding source. We support access by all persons to public library services as a major source of knowledge and information necessary for informed,
active participation in a democratic society. This 30 year plan for a new library and community learning center meets our criteria. We hope the community will support this measure.
CITY OF ORINDA – BOND MEASURE L
2/3 required to pass
Orinda Road and Storm Drain Repair Measure. To repair failing roads and storm drains, restore and upgrade other roadways and storm drains, fix potholes, and improve safety on Orinda public streets, shall the City of Orinda issue twenty five million dollars in bonds, with financial audits, public review of all expenditures, and a citizens’ oversight committee?
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DIABLO VALLEY: SUPPORT
The League of Women Voters supports the use of bonds for financing capital projects and for repair and retrofitting of existing public facilities and structures. Studies by the Orinda members of LWVDV have shown repeatedly that more investment is needed in streets and roads in that community. We support this measure.
CITY OF PITTSBURG – SALES TAX MEASURE M
Majority required to pass
To provide funding that stays in Pittsburg and cannot be seized by the State, to be used for Public Safety, gang prevention, job creation programs for local residents, Senior Center operations, repair roads, operate youth programs, and maintain other City services, shall the City of Pittsburg extend its current half-cent sales tax through fiscal year 2034-2035, providing $3.6-$3.8 million annually, then the increase be terminated, altogether, with citizens’ oversight, mandatory audits and consistent community reporting?
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DIABLO VALLEY: SUPPORT
The League of Women Voters supports measures to ensure revenues both sufficient and flexible enough to meet changing needs for local government services. The League believes government should have the necessary resources to perform its functions. This sales tax extension seems appropriate, and does not raise taxes for the citizens of Pittsburg.
VOTE WITH THE LEAGUE ON JUNE 7!
The League of Women Voters, a non partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. We take positions on ballot measures only when we have studied a topic in depth and have arrived at a consensus position.
We never support or oppose candidates for office, or support or oppose political parties.
YOU MUST REGISTER TO VOTE BY MAY 23, 2016, TO VOTE IN THE JUNE 7, 2016 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
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