Editor,
For too long, small minorities of residents have been able to prevent communities in San Mateo County and across the Bay Area from funding affordable housing and infrastructure. As a result, cities across the region have a shortage of homes affordable to all and a combined backlog of billions of dollars in deferred infrastructure maintenance costs.Â
Proposition 5, which will be on the November ballot, will return control over funding affordable homes and safe streets to the majority of voters in our communities.Â
Proposition 5 allows voters to pass affordable housing and infrastructure bonds with 55% support. By setting a reasonable threshold for funding measures, Proposition 5 will give democratic authority over city revenue back to the cities of California.Â
Vote yes on Proposition 5 to support local democracy.Â
Jeremy Levine
San Mateo
The letter writer is the policy manager for the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County.
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(8) comments
On the other hand, the news organization to the south and east recommends reforming the problematic bonding system before making it easier to incur long term debt. The newspaper to the north also opposes based on its restrictions. Not sure where the Journal will land, assuming that they will engage on state propositions.
No Jeremy, 67% is not a small minority. Keep it that way please. No, on 5 or we will have Jeremys coming out of our ears.
Dirk, you are correct. The State of California defines 66.67% a "SUPER majority"
67% is the amount required to pass a bond for affordable housing or infrastructure in California today. Which means 33% can kill one--a superminority, you could say.
Interesting approach, Mr. Levine. However, to borrow from the CalMatters voter guide, it’s always easy to support taking on more debt if you aren’t the one who has to pay it back. When a local government decides to borrow money, that tab almost always gets put on property owners — who might make up a minority of voters — through higher taxes. Rather than allow a narrow majority to make what are potentially financially irresponsible decisions, the choice to issue a bond should be made only when a broad consensus exists.
This measure is just the latest attempt by Democratic lawmakers to undo the taxpayer protections that California voters embedded into the state constitution with Proposition 13.
If you benefit from Proposition 13, and let’s be honest, all homeowners benefit from Proposition 13, vote NO on Proposition 5 because otherwise, you’ll be subsidizing union labor and their pensions and benefits along with the homeless industrial complex, while not receiving any benefits.
Since it takes 66.67% of voters to increase taxes and pass bonds, then it should take 66.67% of voters to approve Prop 5 since it's purpose is to eliminate the 66.67% requirement and RAISE taxes. BTW, what if we passed a proposition that said "anyone who votes in favor of passing a bond or raising taxes will get to pay for it and those who vote against it don't have to pay? Let's see who puts their money where there mouth is.
Probably the most important proposition to be voted on in decades. Vote NO!
I just received my property tax bill this afternoon and I challenge everyone to look at their bill closely and you will find at least six bonds or measures that homeowners already fund. There is a point where we should say enough is enough and NO! Prop 5 is an end by our government to make it easier for them to confiscate more of our hard earned money. And of course most of it will be wasted.
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