A quick Google search about “voting” will turn up such tags as “Russian interference,” “voter suppression,” “cyber attacks,” and “Taylor Swift.” Tags not listed included “democracy,” “freedom” or “duty.”
In spite of what the internet is trying to tell us — or, because of it — we are going to damn well be sure we vote, and you should, too. When else can we all play the role of Superman and use our super power in the name of “truth, justice and the American Way?” (We’re sure Superwoman also would approve.) So put on your cape and cast your ballot.
Try voting like your life depended on it. Is everything OK? How’s your personal economy, your housing costs, commuter expenses, healthcare co-pays, water bill and taxes? Is there anything that needs fixing, anything a different U.S. Congressional majority, local mayor or school board member might help you with?
If you’ve studied your Nov. 6 General Election ballot, you already know that there will be some big winners and losers. Whether you vote or don’t, this includes you.
The long list of candidates on the ballot are vying for governor, U.S. senator, other statewide seats, local city councils and school boards.
The longer list of questions also on the ballot are all about money — yours.
Measure M asks Sonoma County voters to increase local sales taxes by one-eighth of a cent to support upkeep of local parks. There are 16 other local school, city, fire, parks and healthcare district ballot measures seeking increased taxpayer money. (Look closely for your personal question, or to guess at your future tax bills.)
No one has calculated the grand total of all these tax and bond debts across Sonoma County. But we know that none of them will help pay off the nearly $1 billion in county government unfunded pension and retirement program debts. (And that’s not counting millions more of pension debt at almost every local school district and municipality.)
If Google was really as all seeing as many of us accept, then “pensions” would be the top search result for ‘voting.’
We can’t ignore our worsening public pension crisis forever. The total owed by all public entities in California is now $1 trillion. Add that to our other bond debts of $1.3 trillion and California’s state treasury debt is almost doubled.
That much debt is a miserable preamble for asking us to approve another $14.4 billion in water project, housing subsidy and children hospital bonds on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Yet, we have a local, regional and statewide housing crisis that can only be addressed with partial subsidies. Prop. 1 would authorize $4 billion in affordable housing programs for low-income families, veterans and transit-oriented housing. Either we support this bond or wait until future subsidies get more expensive and bigger. We are voting for Prop. 1.
Prop 3 seeks $8.9 billion for statewide water projects, including possible matching funds for the Sonoma County Water Agency. The Sierra Club opposes this measure and so do we.
Prop. 6 seeks to repeal a 12-cent per gallon gas and diesel tax approved last year by the state legislature. Eliminating the tax would reduce roads and transportation funds by $5 billion per year. Important local projects would be delayed or cancelled. Before you vote, balance your checkbook against your daily commute. We need better roads.
Prop. 5 would allow older homeowners to avoid higher property taxes when they sell a home to downsize or relocate. Prop. 13 already allows for these kinds of exemptions. Prop. 5 would cost local schools lost property tax money.
Prop. 10 pretends to be about enacting new rent controls, but all it does is begin to open the door for local governments to talk about it. Don’t be fooled.
Prop. 7 seeks to make changes to Daylight Savings Time. If you’ve been cursing it forever, here’s your chance to possibly get rid of it.
At least that should wake up some voters.
— Rollie Atkinson
