Tuesday, tuesday

Proposition 51: Can you say disingenuous?

Question: Why does every transportation expert and agency in the state oppose Prop. 51, the so-called “Traffic Congestion Relief and Safe School Bus Trust”? Answer: Because this measure is a corrupt tax grab disguised as a solution to California’s gridlock problems. If passed, Prop. 51 would redirect about $1 billion a year of the state’s general-fund sales-tax revenue to 45 transportation projects. Dozens of these projects are random and are included simply because they benefit the developers who have financed the initiative’s campaign.

Orchestrated by the Planning and Conservation League, Prop. 51 represents the worst kind of disingenuous politics: the kind in which people with money buy favor, the sort where the desired end justifies any means. Also, the measure would be a kick in the stomach to a state with a multi-billion-dollar budget problem, by locking in 17 new categories of spending.

Some say Sacramento would benefit from Prop. 51 because one of the projects increases funds for the American River Parkway. Supporters say we should hold our noses and vote yes. We disagree. Don’t support politics at their worst. Vote NO on Prop. 51.

Proposition 46: A homing bond

The state of California, with its high cost of living and low rate of home ownership, is facing an enormous housing crisis. This bond would move $2.1 billion to cities and counties, nonprofit organizations (such as Habitat for Humanity), private developers and first-time home buyers to build homes and much-needed emergency shelters. Just like Prop. 47, the school-bond measure, Prop. 46 would create almost 300,000 jobs and take advantage of current low-interest rates to solve a major problem in the state. Vote YES on Prop. 46.

Proposition 49: Terminate this

Prop. 49 sounds great. What could be bad about supporting after-school programs for elementary and junior high schools? But it turns out that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002” isn’t so great after all. The measure would take the state’s existing $120 million before-and-after-school program and increase it to $550 million a year. Funds would be taken each year automatically, and the program would receive special protection from budget cuts that is not afforded to other priorities, such as public safety, social-service programs and environmental protection. Also, Prop. 49 would give as much money or more to the schools that serve wealthy kids as to the ones that serve poor kids. Vote NO on Prop. 49.