Heal the Bay Blog

October 29,2024 — There are exciting propositions that could lead to important environmental change on California’s general election ballot this year. We created this voter guide to help you make the most informed vote possible on the environmental issues facing California and Los Angeles. On November 5 (or earlier, if you’re voting by mail), cast your votes with confidence.

Heal the Bay is excited to share our insights and vision for how science and policy can protect the environments we cherish. We encourage voters to explore our resources and do their own research to make informed decisions. Your engagement is vital for safeguarding our coastal ecosystems.

Ready? Set! VOTE!

Proposition 4: California Climate Bond – the safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparedness, and clean air bond act

The issue: Approving Proposition 4 would authorize $10 billion to be spent on environmental and climate projects. The most significant portion, $3.8 billion, would be spent on water projects. Half of those funds would be earmarked to improve water quality. The remainder will be allocated to protecting the state from floods, droughts, and other activities, including restoring rivers and lakes. The rest of the money would be spent on: 

• Wildfire and extreme heat projects, $1.95 billion. 

• Natural lands, parks, and wildlife projects, $1.9 billion. 

• Coastal lands, bays, and ocean protection, $1.2 billion. 

• Clean energy projects, $850 million. 

• Agricultural projects, $300 million. 

The stakes: California has yet to recover from the multiple atmospheric rivers that fell between December 31, 2022, and March 25, 2023. The heavy rain fall resulted in massive property damage and at least 22 fatalities across the state. Intensifying storms, L.A.’s aging infrastructure, and ongoing sea level rise are ingredients for a perfect storm that could wreak havoc on coastal properties and shorelines while seriously straining our local economy. Is L.A. ready? Prop 4 gives our region a chance to build resiliency and buffer our fragile water systems against weather whiplash. 

Our recommendation: Cast your ballot for climate ready beaches and neighborhoods. Vote YES.

Proposition 5: Lower voter threshold for local infrastructure bonds 

The issue: State law currently requires a super majority (2/3) for passage of local housing and infrastructure bond measures, which restricts the ability of local voters to approve those bonds for their communities. Prop 5 would lower the threshold from 66.67% to 55% for passage of local bonds related to infrastructure for water, parks, housing, transportation and more. 

The stakes: Los Angeles’ water infrastructure has been historically underfunded, which is why 33% of our sewage infrastructure is past its expected lifespan. We need to upgrade sewage infrastructure now as well as invest in water recycling and stormwater capture to improve water quality, protect public health, and to secure a reliable climate-resilient water supply. Prop 5 would apply to all local housing and infrastructure bond measures, and will, for example, allow local communities to more easily invest in critical water infrastructure.

Our recommendation: Making it easier to fund critical water infrastructure projects will protect public health. VOTE YES.  

Measure US*: Aging LAUSD schools require urgent infrastructure funding

The issue:  LAUSD schools need infrastructure funding. About 80% of the buildings were built over 50 years ago and need upgrades for student and faculty safety and daily experience.  LAUSD owns 6,400 acres of land in Los Angeles which presents an enormous opportunity to include multi-benefit stormwater capture in property upgrades.

The stakes: LAUSD forecasts $80 billion in unfunded fixes and necessary campus improvements. This ranges from faulty A/C units, lack of shade and green space, leaky roofs, plumbing, and much more. As we experience hotter days and weather extremes in the face of climate change, we must prepare for the future and invest in spaces where our kids spend so much time. This $9 billion bond is the first step to address some of these disparities and work towards technology improvements for students, accessibility, and energy efficiency/electrification. Specifically, $1.25 billion is earmarked for school greening projects, like planting trees, increasing shade, ripping up asphalt, and creating outdoor learning spaces. These upgrades not only improve our students’ physical and mental health but can also capture stormwater, reducing the pollution reaching our coastal waterways. 

Measure US funding will:   

• Improve school safety 

• Upgrade classrooms to prepare students for college and careers 

• Replace leaky roofs, unreliable plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems  

• Update learning technology and infrastructure – including energy efficiency and electrification  

• Improve schools for disability access and earthquake safety  

• Renovate older schools to reduce disparities   

• Upgrade old and deteriorating athletic facilities and play structures  

• Create outdoor learning spaces and upgrade school yards  

Our recommendation: Support investing in a healthier school environment for our LAUSD students. Greener schools mean greener communities. VOTE YES.  

*City of Los Angeles voters only.

Got election questions? Not sure when/where/how/if to vote? Visit the Secretary of State’s election FAQ page.

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September 16, 2016 — There’s a record-breaking number of propositions on California’s general election ballot this year. We created this voter guide to help make your trip to the polls as painless as possible. On November 8 (or earlier, if you’re voting by mail), cast your votes with confidence and remember to Vote Blue!

Proposition 67: A vote to uphold the ban on single-use plastic carryout bags in California.

The issue: California became the first state in the nation in 2014 to enact plastic bag ban legislation through SB 270, which prohibits grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies from distributing single-use plastic bags, and requires stores to charge a minimum of 10 cents for paper bags. The plastics industry has spent more than $6 million in attempt to overturn California’s plastic bag ban by delaying its implementation by placing this item on the November ballot.

The stakes: Designed for minutes of use, plastic bags do not break down in the environment, and pose a large threat to aquatic life. Over 663 species of marine life have been impacted by ingestion of or entanglement in plastic pollution. By 2050, scientists project that plastic pollution will outweigh fish in our oceans. These lightweight plastic bags also blight our communities and are costly to clean-up. California spends up to $107 million each year managing plastic bag litter.

Our recommendation: Cast your ballot for cleaner beaches and neighborhoods. Vote YES.

Proposition 65: A rival measure to Prop 67 funded by Big Plastic. 

The issue: Prop 65 will deliver little for the environment. It was placed on the ballot by out-of-state plastic bag companies who keep interfering with California’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution. Prop 65 is designed to distract from the environmental priority of defending the state’s plastic bag ban. All Prop 65 would do is direct money from the sale of paper bags to a vaguely defined environmental fund administered by the state.

The stakes: The sole purpose of Prop 65 is to confuse voters. It would only serve the interests of plastic bag companies and would distract from phasing out plastic bags entirely. Prop 65 also fuels the tired paper vs. plastic debate. The real issue is reducing the overall use of single-use bags – be they paper or plastic.

Our recommendation: Prop 65 is a smoke screen. Vote NO.

Measure A*: Safe, clean neighborhood parks and beaches measure of 2016.

The issue: Measure A asks voters to continue their support for local parks, beaches, open space, and water resources by approving an annual parcel tax of 1.5 cents per square foot of development. If approved, the estimated tax for the owner of a 1,500 square foot home will be $22.50 per year, and will be included on the annual property tax bill.  Generating approximately $94 million per year for our local parks, beaches, and open space areas, Measure A will replace expiring dedicated funding from the voter-approved Propositions A of 1992 and 1996.

The stakes: For more than 20 years, our communities have relied on local, voter-approved funding from the Los Angeles County Safe Neighborhood Parks Acts of 1992 and 1996 (Proposition A) to protect and maintain our neighborhood parks, outdoor areas and water resources. However, funding from the 1992 Proposition A ended in 2015 and funding from the 1996 Proposition will end in 2019.

Our recommendation: Updating park infrastructure makes our region more resilient. Vote YES.

Ballot Measure CW**: Funding support for stormwater capture and reuse projects in Culver City. 

The issue: Cities in LA County are required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board to manage pollution from urban runoff flowing through their systems. However, since stormwater services, unlike our other essential utilities, have minimal and in some cases no fees to support them, funding for fulfilling these requirements falls far short of the need. Culver City’s ballot measure would establish fees on property owners to support the stormwater projects the City is required by regulation to complete.

The stakes: Urban runoff is the number one source of pollution to our rivers, lakes and ocean. In addition, losing that volume, which can reach millions of gallons even on a dry day throughout LA County, to the ocean is a wasted opportunity that we can’t afford, especially in the midst of a drought. The proposed fee would support projects that would reduce urban runoff pollution from reaching our waterways, and where possible capture and reuse that water.

Our recommendation: Support cleaner waterways and more local water supply. Vote YES.

*Los Angeles County voters only.

**Culver City voters only.

Got election questions? Not sure when/where/how/if to vote? Visit the Secretary of State’s election FAQ page.