Recommendations on March Ballot
The March 5 primary election is nearly upon us. If you are like most voters, that statement probably elicited a yawn from you.
Most primaries are viewed like the opening act for a hot rock band , interesting, perhaps, but nothing to get excited about.
But the March 5 ballot has on it some measures which both the California Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce felt strongly enough about to issue voter recommendations.
On the statewide ballot are:
Proposition 40: With the unwieldy name of “The California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002,” this proposition could take the wind out of a whirlwind. Its list of promises, however, is even longer than its name.
Prop. 40 calls for the issuance of $2.6 billion in state bonds to finance improvements in water quality (including drinking water) and air quality, protect beaches and coastal areas threatened by pollution, protect open space and farmland, protect wildlife habitat, restore historical and cultural resources, and improve the safety of state and neighborhood parks. And after it finishes all that, it will tackle world peace and cancer.
Seriously, despite sounding like an environmental group’s wish list, this proposition has garnered the support of the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs, Los Angeles and San Diego chambers of commerce and the state chamber. A Yes vote is recommended.
Proposition 42: The “Transportation and Congestion Improvement Act” calls for permanently dedicating revenues from the state’s fuel tax exclusively for transportation-related projects beginning in 2008. Such projects would include public transit, state highway improvements, and local street improvements.
Critics say Prop. 42 establishes spending priorities too far into the future to accurately know what will be needed. However, any commuter can look at local rush hour traffic and see that something must be done before our streets and highways become linear parking lots like L.A.’s. A Yes vote on Prop. 42 is recommended.
On the local ballot, there are two dueling initiatives:
Proposition E: This initiative, spearheaded by developer Douglas Manchester, requires the City Charter be amended to require any increase in existing general tax or imposition of any new general tax be approved by a two-thirds super majority vote of the electorate, a nearly impossible task.
Despite its seeming anti-tax position, Prop. E has garnered strong opposition from the San Diego chamber, particularly because it would benefit only a small number of local tourism-related businesses. Chamber officials also believe the proposition, if approved, would so cripple the city’s finances that it would damage the city’s credit rating, resulting in higher interest rates on city debt, which would be paid for by local taxpayers. A no vote is strongly recommended.
Proposition F: In a “what’s good for the gander” response to Prop. E, this San Diego Chamber-sponsored proposition would require any initiative advocating a super majority vote to be held to the same super majority requirement itself. If approved, it would nullify Prop. E’s possible approval. A Yes vote for Prop. F is recommended.
, Martin Hill
