Looking for the 2020 Los Angeles Voter Guide? Check out KNOCK.LA’s recommendations for the 2020 general election here.
THE STATE PROPS:
Proposition 1
What is it? A $4 billion bond for Veteran Housing
KNOCK’s position: Yes! We’re in a housing crisis.
Proposition 2
What is it? A $2 billion bond funded by a millionaire’s tax for homelessness prevention.
KNOCK’s position: YES! We’re still in a housing crisis!
Proposition 3
What is it? $8.8 billion in bonds for water infrastructure and environmental initiatives.
KNOCK’s position: Nope. Despite the look of this, it’s largely a giveaway to special interests. (ED NOTE 10/16: WE PREVIOUSLY HAD THIS AS A YES, BUT WE DISCUSSED IT WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO CONVINCED US WE WERE WRONG. WE’LL HOPEFULLY HAVE A FULL ENDORSEMENT FROM ONE OF THEM SOON.)
Proposition 4:
What is it? $1.5 billion in bonds for children’s hospitals.
KNOCK’s position: Yes. We’re pro-government spending on sick kids. Always will be.
Proposition 5:
What is it? An expansion of Prop 13 for elderly homeowners.
KNOCK’s position: HELL NO. Prop 13 is regressive tax policy that has hurt the state for 40 years. The last thing we should do is expand it. Prop 5 would be a handout to the wealthy, plain and simple.
Proposition 6:
What is it? A repeal of the recently passed gas tax.
KNOCK’s position: HELL NO. “First, we simply must discourage fuel consumption by any and all means. Second, our transportation infrastructure is falling apart statewide: California has more than 1,600 bridges and overpasses that are structurally deficient, and 89% of counties have roads that are rated in ‘poor’ or ‘at-risk’ condition.”
Proposition 7:
What is it? A proposition to make daylight savings time permanent.
KNOCK’s position: Uh, sure. Yes. I guess. “This November, you have the power to control time itself.”
Proposition 8:
What is it? A new regulatory schema for dialysis revenues.
KNOCK’s position: YES. “We need to act decisively to rein in these companies and force them to stop treating patients like ATMs. Our lives should not be mere ledger entries, our health should not be a driver of greed, our survival should not be a commodity.”
Proposition 10:
What is it? Repeal of the Costa-Hawkins Act, a state law which prevents municipalities from expanding rent control.
KNOCK’s position: HELL YES. “Tons of people, and entire communities, are thus prevented from enjoying the stability of rent control — almost 850,000 units across the state, from a rough calculation. This must change — every single tenant deserves the stability rent control provides.”
Proposition 11:
What is it? Private-sector emergency ambulance employees could be kept on-call during paid break time.
KNOCK’s position: Neutral. “Prop 11 seems to apply to all private-ambulance employees, including dispatchers and EMTs on non-emergency transports, and interrupted breaks are a form of wage theft. The unintended consequences of Prop 11, though, would likely result in longer response times and higher costs to municipal governments in the 75% of California that relies on private-EMS contracts.”
Proposition 12:
What is it? Makes California “cage-free” by making the sale of animal products that come from extreme confinement illegal.
KNOCK’s position: Yes! The animals we raise for food deserve to live outside of cages. The campaign language around of Prop 12 is intentionally obscure and confusing, but we believe Prop 12 is a concrete step in the right direction.
LA BALLOT MEASURES
City Charter Amendment B:
What is it? The first step towards creating a public bank for Los Angeles.
KNOCK’s position: YES. “[T]he too-big-to-fail Wall Street banks […] collected $1.1 billion in interest from the City of Los Angeles last year. And they charged us a further $170 million in fees. With a public banking option finally available to handle our financial transactions, those interest payments and fees could stay right here in Los Angeles and be reinvested into our city.”
County Measure W:
What is it? A parcel tax for flood control district in LA County.
KNOCK’s position: Yes.
STATE OFFICES:
Senator: Kevin De Leon
“If you don’t know why Feinstein shouldn’t hold office, I’m not sure how you came across this article.”
Governor: Gavin Newsom
“Under a Cox administration we would see cuts to social services, fewer tenant protections, and more capitulation with Trump’s agenda… It’s all boring and stupid and we should have better choices, but we don’t. So on November 6th vote for Newsom, sigh a bit, and then get ready to pounce on him as soon as he takes the oath.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff: Alex Villanueva
“McDonnell is more than disqualified by his opposition to sanctuary policies and prison reform. A victory by Villanueva would also be a much deserved shock to the system — unseating an incumbent sheriff for the first time in a century would be a powerful demonstration of democratic power, reasserting civilian control of the police.”
Attorney General: Xavier Bercerra
Secretary of State: Alex Padilla Padilla is not a consistent friend to the left by any means, but the other guy is an absolute disaster.
Treasurer: Fiona Ma Again, this is about the opponent more than the candidate.
Controller: Betty Yee Adequate Dem versus cartoonishly awful Republican.
Insurance Commissioner: Ricardo Lara Lara’s opponent claims to have no party affiliation. He’s lying — he’s a lifelong Republican.
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tony Thurmond
This race is crucial. Thurmond will stand against forces trying to privatize the state’s public schools.
Board of Equalization: all of these people are terrible…
…except for Tom Hallinan whose official position is destroying the Board of Equalization. Vote for him.
US CONGRESS:
Not the Republicans, obviously.
District 22: Andrew Janz
District 23: Tatiana Matta
District 25: Katie Hill “Katie Hill has the most compelling resumé, the better platform, and the best chance to flip LA County’s lone remaining Republican Congressional seat.”
District 34: Kenneth Mejia Democratic incumbent Gomez, recently installed in a sparsely attended special election, faces Green Party candidate Mejia. With no conservative in the race, voters have a chance to step outside of the two-party system and back the more progressive candidate.
District 37: Karen Bass
District 43: Maxine Waters
District 45: Katie Porter
District 48: Harley Rouda
District 50: Ammar Campa-Najjar
JUDGES:
Appellate NO Votes:
Carol Corrigan Elwood Lui Halim Dhanidina Nora Manella Thomas Willhite John Segal Tricia Bigelow