Voter Guide November 2018 – Los Angeles County
The Heal the Bay team created this brief voter guide for the November 6, 2018 midterm election in Los Angeles County. Did you know? California is one of a few states that allows “Conditional Voter Registration“. This means you can register to vote conditionally all the way through Election Day on November 6. Contact the Los Angeles County Election Office for more information if you still need to register to vote! If you are voting by mail-in ballot, make sure to have your envelop postmarked by Nov. 6.
VOTE: Yes on Measure W
The issue: Los Angeles is a water scarce region, and much of the water that we do have is polluted. Stormwater runoff is now the number one source of pollution in our rivers, lakes and ocean. The highly urbanized watersheds of L.A. County allow billions of gallons of stormwater to flow directly to our waterways, taking oil, trash, fecal bacteria and other contaminants with it. In 2017, 100 billion gallons of water were wasted because we were not able to capture, clean and reuse it. Measure W is the solution to turn stormwater from a hazard (pollution, flooding, wasted water) into an incredible resource – clean and safe water.
The stakes: Stormwater currently poses a serious risk to public and environmental health. A study conducted in Los Angeles and Orange Counties found that the regional public health cost of gastrointestinal illnesses caused by contact with polluted ocean waters was between $21 and $51 million each year. It also brings water quality below federal standards, leaving cities vulnerable to violation fines up to $25,000 per day. Cities throughout L.A. County have developed plans with specific projects to remove pollutants from stormwater, leaving clean water that can be recycled for beneficial uses; however, these projects cannot be completed without adequate funding. That’s where Measure W comes in.
Our Recommendation: Save the Rain. Save L.A. County. Vote YES on W!
VOTE: No on Proposition 6
The Issue: Transportation is currently one of the largest sources of carbon emissions, leading to poor air quality and other detrimental effects associated with climate change including ocean acidification and sea level rise. We need to address the inadequacies of California’s transportation system, but unfortunately, California’s local public transportation agencies have faced budget shortages for more than a decade. Proposition 6 would repeal transportation taxes and fees provisions, which voters overwhelmingly passed in 2017, that would pay for transportation improvement programs.
The Stakes: Proposition 6 would eliminate approximately $3.3 billion per year specifically earmarked to repair or replace unsafe roads, bridges and overpasses. It would also eliminate an additional $1.7 billion per year for projects that will improve alternative transportation methods, such as public transportation and active transportation. This includes $100 million per year dedicated to build safer bike paths and crosswalks to incentivize active transportation.
Our recommendations: Cast your ballot to protect environmental health and public safety. Vote NO.
View more info about California Ballot Propositions:
http://quickguidetoprops.sos.ca.gov/propositions/2018-11-06
