This document collects ballot endorsements made by Silicon Valley DSA for the 2018 general elections and related signature-gathering efforts. Updated: October 24, 2018
Summary:
- In California:
- For housing justice, vote yes on proposition 10, which allows cities to implement stronger rent control policies, and propositions 1 & 2, which are both bond measures that finance construction of affordable housing.
- For healthcare justice, vote yes on proposition 8, which prevents dialysis clinics from price-gouging on life saving medical care.
- Vote yes on proposition 12 to prevent cruelty to farm animals.
- In Local Races:
- In Palo Alto, vote yes on proposition Proposition F to prevent Stanford from price-gouging on healthcare and the expense of working conditions for healthcare workers and preventing patient infections.
- In East Palo Alto, vote for Patricia Lopez for city council.
- In Redwood City, vote for Diana Reddy for city council.
State Ballot Endorsements – Vote Yes!
Official info provided by the state of California: http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/ Includes title, summary, analysis, and full text.
- Proposition 1 – Authorizes Bonds to Fund Specified Housing Assistance Programs
- Authorizes $4 billion of state general obligation bonds to fund existing housing programs.
- Includes $1.5 billion for Multifamily Housing for low-income residents, $1 billion for loans to help veterans to purchase farms and homes.
- Includes $450 million for infill and transit-oriented housing projects, $300 million for farmworker housing, and $300 million for manufactured and mobile homes.
- Proposition 2 – Authorizes Bonds to Fund Existing Housing Programs for Individuals with Mental Illness
- Ratifies existing law establishing the No Place Like Home Program, which finances permanent housing for individuals with mental illness who are homeless or at risk for chronic homelessness.
- Ratifies issuance of up to $2 billion prev. authorized bonds to finance No Place Like Home Program.
- Amends Mental Health Services Act to authorize transfers of up to $140 million a year of Mental Health Services Fund to No Place Like Home Program.
- Proposition 8 – Regulates Amounts Outpatient Kidney Dialysis Clinics Charge for Dialysis Treatment
- Dialysis clinics routinely overcharge patients, in some cases, more than three times the cost of providing care. Prop 8 would end price gouging by:
- Limiting charges to 15% greater than the total cost of direct patient care and quality improvement costs.
- Prohibiting clinics from refusing to treat patient based on the source of payment for care.
- Requiring annual reporting to the state regarding clinic costs, patient charges, and revenue; with rebates and penalties if charges exceed the limit.
- Dialysis clinics routinely overcharge patients, in some cases, more than three times the cost of providing care. Prop 8 would end price gouging by:
- Proposition 10 – Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property
- Vote yes on the Affordable Housing Act, as all renters deserve to benefit from the protection of rent control.
- Would repeal the current state law that severely restricts the scope of existing rent control policies, allowing cities to provide rent control in newer apartments, duplexes, and single family homes.
- Also Allows policies that would limit the rental rates that residential-property owners may charge for new tenants, which would remove their incentive to evict existing tenants.
- Proposition 12 – Establishes New Standards for Confinement of Specified Farm Animals; Bans Sale of Noncomplying Products
- Creates new standards for confinement of some farm animals, including chickens and pigs, and adds enforcement to existing law. Reduces suffering, improves food safety, and protects the environment.
Local Ballot Endorsements – Vote Yes!
Accountable and Affordable Health Care Initiative (In Palo Alto, see voter information from city’s website)
- Palo Alto: Vote yes on proposition F, because Stanford Health Care has been getting away with high rates of hospital infections, high prices, and poor conditions for workers. Prop F would limit the costs charged by healthcare providers to 15% above the costs of direct patient care, forcing Stanford to invest in care, not capital accumulation.
Local Candidate Endorsements
- Redwood City: vote for Diana Reddy for City Council (https://www.dianareddy.com/ – Campaign website)
- Housing advocate, has 20 years of experience organizing in Redwood City around various issues.
- Will fight for environmental, housing, transportation, and economic justice.
- Platform includes production and preservation of affordable housing, raising the minimum wage in Redwood City, and improving east/west transportation access.
- Has earned the endorsement of both Silicon Valley DSA & Peninsula DSA
- East Palo Alto: vote for Patricia Lopez for City Council
- Patricia Lopez is a community leader who has stood against RV evictions, gentrification, and the political power of big tech.