2008 California Ballot Initiatives

Prop #	Name	Position	Comments
Long Beach H & I	Extension of Utility Users Tax; Parcel Tax for Infrastructure	NO	Mayor Foster has put forward a regressive Parcel Tax (Measure I) that would obligate residents for 30 years, charging the same flat fee to a poor family in a modest home and a multi-million dollar Naples estate. Contrary to what residents were promised, LBReport.com has confirmed that the tax moneys could be used for any purposes the Mayor and Council see fit. The Mayor has proven he does not put the City's best interests at the forefront, by undermining the Clean Trucks Program and unilaterally sponsoring State Legislation that would overturn our City Charter to increase drilling. Therefore we are urging residents to vote NO on these two measures.
L.A. County R	¹/₂ Cent Sales Tax for Mass Transit Investment	YES	Measure R is a much needed dedicated funding source for mass transit investment within Los Angeles County, that would pay for projects such as: expanding our light rail system, expanding bus service, signal synchronization, and maintaining lower rates for mass transit. With high gas prices, our mass transit system needs investment to keep up with demand. Visit Metro's website for more info.
1	High Speed Passenger Train Bond	YES	High Speed Rail can help us travel faster with lower emissions and other impacts. This would be a centerpiece of a larger and more comprehensive mass transit system.
2	Statutory Protection of Farm Animals	YES	This initiative would put an end to some of the most egregious practices of animal abuse on factory farms.
3	Children's Hospital Bond Act	NEUTRAL	While children's hospitals are great, bonds double the cost of any project, and building hospitals with no doctors, nurses, or health care coverage for the patients doesn't necessarily make sense. We urge voters to research the issue before voting for more debt.
4	Constitutional Amendment Requiring Parental Notification Before Termination of Pregnancy	NO	California voters have rejected this proposition twice in the last 3 years, and with good reason. As the National Organization for Women summarizes quite well, "...in the real world, initiatives like this force scared, pregnant teens into seeking unsafe, illegal abortions, or even considering suicide." Why would we want to permanently amend our State's Constitution to attempt to force family communication?
5	Additional Treatment for Non-Violent Drug Offenses	YES	Long Beach Greens supported Prop 36, establishing the highly successful treatment over incarceration program in CA. This proposition expands that program.
6	Harsher Sentencing for Gang-Related Activity	NO	Spending nearly a billion dollars a year to criminalize kids getting together in groups, impose collective punishment on kids that may be hanging out with gang members, and putting lots more kids in jail for longer sentences doesn't make any sense, especially when our State budget is broken.
7	Renewable Energy Mandates	NO	Unfortunately this election will have two phony environmental initiatives on the ballot (see Prop 10 below). Don't be fooled, this proposition is opposed by renewable energy companies and every major environmental organization because it would set back renewable energy in CA by decades. Among its worst provisions, only massive projects over 30 MEGAWATTS would count as renewable! Vote NO on Prop 7.
8	Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Same Sex Marriage Rights	NO	Writing discrimination into our constitution through a popular vote is the worst idea voters will be confronted with this November. Please Vote NO to protect the California Supreme Court's decision to guarantee equality for all.
9	Victim's Rights Initiative	No Position	Long Beach Greens support the rights of victims but are concerned some of the requirements may be too costly and prescriptive.
10	Alternative Fuel Vehicles	NO	The second phony environmental initiative on the ballot. This one changes the definition of renewable energy to include natural gas - hello, natural gas is a FOSSIL FUEL. California taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for billions in bonds to make a billionaire (T. Boone Pickens) even wealthier. No more subsidies for fossil fuels, vote NO on Prop 10.
11	Redistricting	YES	Long Beach Greens support redistricting reform, since gerrymandering can have significant impacts on elections. This is a well-drafted measure supported by Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, AARP, and many other groups and politicians from across the political spectrum.
12	Veteran's Bond	NO	Spending nearly $2 billion to provide services that are the Federal government's responsibility at a time of fiscal crisis seems irresponsible. We need the Feds to stop going to war frivolously, and to take responsibility for the messes they make by taking care of vets, including providing a new GI bill for housing and education for vets.