2008 General Election: Propositions 11 and 12, Measure R

Coming down to the wire so I’ll post all these at once like The Blarg.

PROP 11 – REDISTRICTING. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.

PROP 12 – VETERANS’ BOND ACT OF 2008.

Take a minute to do a little exploring of the electoral districts in the Los Angeles area at this site. Congressional District 38 is my favorite, it was gerrymandered in 2001 and now includes a little bit of everything from Norwalk and Pico Rivera to Pomona. Steve Horn (R) was the incumbent for about 8 years in the Long Beach area district until it got redistricted. The 2000 election was pretty close too, 48.5% for Horn (R) and 47.5% for Gerrie Shcipske (D). After gerrymandering District 38 to create a Hispanic majority the 2002 election result was 71.2% for Grace Napolitano (D) and 26.2% for Alex A. Burrola (R). I’m sure this happened all over the place and both sides did whatever they could to keep their seats safe.

Prop 11 will be every state politicians worst nightmare. It takes the redistricting process out of their hands and gives it to those whose power is not at stake. Districts should be drawn up by geography and neighborhoods not by whatever gives a politician a nice cushy career.

Vote YES on Prop 11.

Prop 12 would take out a bond to help the CalVet program give loans to veterans to purchase homes and farms. I’m would stick to my guns on this one and say no, but the money will eventually come back and I’ll agree with McClintock and The Blarg on this one.

Vote YES on Prop 12.

Measure R is just for us in Los Angeles County. 0.5% sales tax increase to go towards different transportation projects. Funny how we never get to vote on lowering our taxes, just increasing them.

Vote NO on Measure R.