The November ballot and its propositions

Proposition 10 would allow price caps on units when a tenant moves out, known as vacancy control. The initiative would not impose rent control itself — instead, it would allow cities and their voters to do so. If you look at who is signing the argument against, it is, among others, longtime California lobbyist Alice Huffman who for many years headed the California Teachers Association. She is now president of the California NAACP and it would seem that group would be in favor of lower rents. She has been accused of using or confusing the NAACP’s interests with those of her own political consulting firm which receives large fees for working on these campaigns.

Huffman maintains stricter forms of rent control would discourage housing construction and hurt low-income tenants. Meanwhile, Eric Heins, current president of the California Teachers Association signed the argument in favor of Proposition 10. It’s well known how high rents are impacting teachers, their schools and the children they teach. Teachers move to other districts where they can afford housing leaving a big gap in school districts such as ours.

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Also of note are dueling state legislators on Proposition 7 which would make daylight saving time year-round. Supporting the measure are Assemblyman Kansen Chu, D-San Jose, and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, D-San Diego. But opposing it are state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, and Assemblyman Philip Chen, R-Brea. This is a proposition we can decide for ourselves because we actually experience it. I am voting yes. I hate it when it gets dark at 5 p.m. But others hate it when it’s still dark at 7 a.m.

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Proposition 6 is especially bad news for people who drive ( anywhere) or take transit. We already pay more for new tires because of the potholes in our roads and highways. We aren’t going to reduce traffic unless we have better transit. This was put on the ballot to increase turnout by the anti-crowd and supporters of Republican candidate for governor, John Cox, and by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, to help endangered Republicans running for Congress. If it passes, this ballot measure is not going to help the candidates but it will hurt each and everyone of us as we try to move from place to place.

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Judge Brett Kavanaugh has just been appointed as the new member of the U.S. Supreme Court. Republicans had enough votes to put him on the bench because the limited FBI investigation did not prove he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl when both were in high school or reveal that he might have done this while intoxicated. I was glued to the TV last Thursday. It was similar to Watergate, the Clarence Thomas hearings and the O.J. Simpson trial. Riveting. Historic. But if you were a woman, draining. And now that he has been appointed the majority of Americans will be horrified if not disappointed. He would fill the seat of retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy but Kavanaugh is expected to be more like another sitting justice, the most conservative member of the court, Clarence Thomas, who was also accused of sexual harassment (in the workplace) but confirmed nonetheless. This is a wake-up call to renew focus and energies on the mid-terms and hope November brings needed changes to our federal government. You might send a thank you donation to U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota) who voted her conscience, not politics.

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Interesting news out of Foster City where two highly respected former councilmembers, Pam Frisella and Steve Okamoto, have removed their endorsement of candidate Richa Awasthi because of her association with current controversial Councilman Herb Perez.

Sue Lempert is the former mayor of San Mateo. Her column runs every Monday. She can be reached at sue@smdailyjournal.com.