Today’s ballot is peppered with measures and initiatives, both statewide and local, potentially leaving voters with ballot- question overload. There are also some important statewide and countywide candidates. Polls close at 8 p.m.
Here is a brief summary of the major statewide and local measures and candidates on the ballot: CALIFORNIA U.S. SENATE
— State Attorney General Kamala Harris is running against Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, to replace four-term Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, who is retiring. Harris and Sanchez are both Democrats: Under the state’s nonpartisan blanket primary law, the top two finishers in June’s primary advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. Harris is a former San Francisco district attorney who has been California’s top law enforcement official since 2010. Sanchez defeated longtime Republican incumbent Bob Dornan to win her Orange County congressional seat in 1996 and serves on the House Armed Services Committee. LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
— 4th District (southeast L.A. County, Long Beach, South Bay communities): JANICE HAHN vs. STEVE NAPOLITANO. Hahn is a Democratic congresswoman from San Pedro and the daughter of former L.A. County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. Napolitano, a Republican, is a former Manhattan Beach city councilman and has been Supervisor Don Knabe’s senior deputy for 11 years (Knabe, a Republican, is termed out this year).
— 5th District (northern portion of L.A. County, including Pasadena, Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita): KATHRYN BARGER vs. DARRELL PARK. Barger, a Republican, has been Supervisor Michael Antonovich’s chief deputy supervisor for 15 years (Antonovich, a Republican, is termed out this year). Park, a Democrat, is an author and clean energy entrepreneur who has worked in the White House Office of Management and Budget. STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES
— Prop 51 would authorize $9 billion in bonds for construction and modernization of public, charter and vocational schools and community colleges. Paying off the bonds over 35 years would cost the state roughly $17.6 billion in principal and interest.
— Prop 52 would extend hospital fees used to fund things such as Medi- Cal health services, uninsured patient care and children’s health services. The fee is set to end Jan. 1, 2018. Critics contend the measure offers no accountability for the more than $3 billion raised by the fee, while proponents say it provides funding for critical programs and prevents diversion of funds for other purposes without voter consent.
— Prop 53 would require voter approval before the state can issue revenue bonds of more than $2 billion for major projects funded or managed by the state. Opponents contend it could force a statewide vote on some local infrastructure projects, while proponents insist there is no impact on local projects.
— Prop 54 would prohibit lawmakers from passing any bill unless it is publicized online for at least 72 hours before the vote, and would require the Legislature to record its pubic meetings and make those videos available on the internet. It would cost about $1 million annually to record meetings and make those recordings available online, according to the state.
— Prop 55 would extend for another 12 years the temporary income tax increase enacted in 2012 for people making more than $250,000 a year. The law is set to expire after 2018, but Prop 55 would extend it through 2030. Revenue would go to K-12 schools, community colleges and, in certain years, health care. Proponents say it would prevent $4 billion in cuts to public schools and increase children’s access to health care, while opponents say voters only supported the 2012 tax increase because the governor said it would be temporary.
— Prop 56 would increase the cigarette tax by $2 per pack, with an equivalent increase on other tobacco products including e-cigarettes. Revenue would go primarily to health care for low-income residents. Proponents say the law would make smokers pay their fair share of tobacco-related health care costs, while opponents say too much of the money will go to insurance companies and special interests.
— Prop 57 would allow earlier parole consideration for some nonviolent felons, authorize sentence credits for good behavior, rehab and education, and mandate that a juvenile court judge decide whether a juvenile will be tried as an adult. Proponents say it will save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, while opponents say it will result in the release of dangerous criminals.
— Prop 58 would require school districts to get input from parents in developing language programs and would authorize districts to establish dual- language immersion programs for native and non-native English speakers. Proponents say it would give school districts local control to choose the most effective instruction methods, while opponents say it would eliminate parental rights to an English-language education for their children.
— Prop 59 would ask California’s elected officials to use their authority to seek a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s "Citizens United" decision, which held that certain laws limiting political spending by corporations and unions were unconstitutional.
— Prop 60 would require adult film performers to use condoms during filming of sexual intercourse and would require producers to pay for other health costs. Proponents say it would save taxpayers millions in health-care costs, while opponents say the law would allow any Californian to sue adult performers who run afoul of the law and violate the performers’ privacy.
— Prop 61 would prohibit the state from paying more than the lowest price paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for prescription drugs, with exemptions for MediCal. Proponents say it will save the state money, while opponents say it will increase prescription prices and reduce patient access to medication.
— Prop 62 would repeal the death penalty and replace it with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Proponents say it will guarantee that no innocent person is executed and save taxpayers up to $150 million annually, while opponents say it will allow murderers to live out the rest of their lives at taxpayers’ expense long after their victims are gone.
— Prop 63 would require background checks and authorization by the U.S. Department of Justice to buy ammunition, and prohibit possession of large- capacity magazines. Proponents say it will keep guns and bullets out of the wrong hands, while opponents say it imposes costly burdens on law enforcement agencies and taxpayers. State analysts say it could cost up to tens of millions of dollars annually for a new court process for removing firearms from prohibited people.
— Prop 64 would legalize marijuana for adults 21 and over and establish standards for marijuana products. It could result in added tax revenue of up to $1 billion annually, according to the state. Proponents tout the extra tax revenue and reduced criminal justice costs, while opponents say it omits a DUI standard to keep stoned drivers off the roads and legalizes ads promoting marijuana that could be seen by children.
— Prop 65 would require stores to direct money collected by sales of carry-out bags to specified environmental projects. Proponents say the bag fees paid by shoppers should go to the environment, not into grocers’ pockets, while opponents say Prop 65 is sponsored by out-of-state plastic companies.
— Prop 66 would change procedures for state court challenges to death sentences, designating Superior Court for initial petitions and limiting successive petitions. Proponents say it would speed up the appeal process and save millions of dollars, while opponents say it would increase the risk of executing an innocent person.
— Prop 67 would prohibit stores from giving away single-use plastic or paper bags, but would permit the sale of recycled paper bags and reusable bags at no less than 10 cents each, with the proceeds going to specified purposes. Proponents say it protects California’s efforts to phase out plastic bags, which are an environmental hazard, while opponents call it a hidden $300 million annual tax on consumers that will go toward grocer profits and not the environment.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY BALLOT MEASURES
— Measure A would add a tax of 1.5 cents per square foot of improved property to replace expiring funding for parks and playgrounds, anti-gang efforts, senior and recreation centers safe drinking water, protection for beaches and rivers and preserving natural areas and open spaces. (Requires two- thirds of the vote for approval.)
— Measure M would add a half-cent sales tax and continue an existing half-cent traffic relief tax until voters decide to end it, to fund a variety of traffic upkeep and improvement projects including expanding rail/subway/bus systems, street repairs and earthquake retrofitting. (Requires two-thirds of the vote for approval.) CITY/SCHOOL MEASURES LOS ANGELES CITY:
— Measure HHH would authorize the city to issue up to $1.2 billion in bonds to buy, build or remodel facilities to provide housing and services for the homeless. The bonds would be paid for with an increase in property taxes. Expenditures would be monitored by a citizens oversight committee and an administrative oversight committee, and a financial audit would be conducted annually. (Requires two-thirds of the vote for approval.)
— Measure JJJ would require certain residential projects of 10 or more units seeking General Plan amendments or zoning changes to provide affordable housing and meet training, local hiring and wage requirements, limit the city’s ability to deny amendments for projects that meet those requirements, require the city to ensure that Community Plan changes do not reduce the capacity for affordable housing units, and create a new affordable housing incentive program for developments near major transit stops.
— Measure RRR would amend the City Charter to expand the Department of Water and Power board from five to seven members, add qualification requirements, stipends and removal protection, double the minimum budget for the Office of Public Accountability, allow the council and mayor to reappoint the OPA executive director for an additional term, require the DWP to provide a four-year strategic plan for council and mayoral approval, establish a DWP analyst office, expand the board’s contracting authority, and require monthly billing by 2020.
— Measure SSS would enroll all new airport peace officers in Tier 6 of the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions Plan, allow current airport peace officers to enroll at their own expense, and allow new airport police chiefs to enroll in the Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System.
SANTA MONICA
— Measure GS is an advisory vote only. It would advise that half of any transactions and use tax enacted in Santa Monica be used for public schools and half be used for affordable housing.
— Measure GSH would increase by one-half percent the city’s transactions and use tax to fund community services, until ended by voters.
— Measure LV would require a new permit process for development projects exceeding base sizes of 32-36 feet, with some exceptions for single- unit dwellings and affordable housing, including voter approval of major projects.
— Measure SM would amend the city charter to expand the prohibition against kickbacks and create an exemption for volunteers serving certain city- funded nonprofits.
SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
— Measure V would authorize the district to issue $345 million in bonds to repair and upgrade classrooms and other school facilities. (Requires 55 percent of the vote for approval.)
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8.
Your polling place is listed on the back of the sample ballot you receive in the mail. It can also be found by visiting www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place or by calling (800) 345-VOTE (8683). Los Angeles County voters can also visit www.lavote.net or call (800) 815-2666.
