Most recent previous election: 3/7/17



Next election:

Tue., 5/16/17
General election


For the May 16 election, PPDC endorses
Nick Melvoin for LAUSD School Board
and recommends voting
NO on Measure C







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Pacific Palisades Phone Banks for Nick Melvoin

•Tuesday dates•
April 18 and 25
May 2 and 9
5 pm to 8 pm

Teles Real Estate,15515 Sunset Blvd. (next to Ritrovo)

Host: Ivy Greene - Palisadian who owned the children's clothing store on Swarthmore

Ivy's phone: 213-334-0208
(please call Ivy to confirm prior to arriving)

*

•Saturday dates•
Calling/canvassing every Saturday till 5/13
10 am to 1 pm 
14839 Sunset Blvd., just East of Drummond

Host: Ivy Greene, 213-334-0208
(please call Ivy to confirm prior to arriving)

If any of you are interested in doing phone banking from home or work
-- we won't tell your boss --
please reach out to Ivy, and even if it's a group of 2 or 3 she will train you to use the phone bank system. If you have an hour, 30, or even 15 minutes you can make a few calls.

There is also a new app called Voter Circle,
a super-easy email generator to send emails to your district friends!

Just go to: nickmelvoin.com
Click on: Voter Circle
Follow the instructions.

Voter Circle will go through your contacts and generate a list of your friends who reside in the targeted voting district. (Concerned about privacy? Here's their FAQ.)
You can use the Voter Circle template or write your own email.

You then send the email to all your friends at once, or you may prefer to type in each in and send individually. You can unselect any names you don't want to send the email to. 










 

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**END OF CURRENT ELECTION SECTION **

PREVIOUS ELECTION INFO FOLLOWS







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Click here for
3/7/17 election results
Thanks to all who voted!



*



PPDC L.A. COUNTY AND CITY ENDORSEMENTS

for Tuesday, March 7, 2017 election



SANTA MONICA RESIDENTS CAN CLICK HERE
Measure H will be on your ballot



L.A. COUNTY MEASURE

Recommend YES on Measure H
Authorizing a 0.25% county sales tax for 10 years
to fund homeless services and prevention



L.A. CITY

Mayor: ERIC GARCETTI

City Attorney: MIKE FEUER

City Controller: RON GALPERIN

City Councilmember 11th District: MIKE BONIN



YES on Measure M
Repeals 2013's Measure D and replaces it with a fair and responsible approach covering all aspects of the marijuana industry, from where marijuana businesses can locate and the hours they may operate to how they market their products
 
Measure N – Leave blank or vote NO
Withdrawn too late to remove from ballots, will not be counted

YES on Measure P
Will amend the city charter to increase the maximum length of  Harbor Department leases from 50 to 66 years in accordance with state law

NO on Measure S
A two-year building moratorium on projects seeking General Plan Amendments. Zone or height changes would have unintended consequences on affordable housing, economic development, and the ability to implement homelessness propositions passed in the November election


SCHOOL

LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

Seat 2 – Steven Veres

Seat 4 – Dallas Denise Fowler

Seat 6 – Nancy Pearlman



LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board District 4 – Nick Melvoin








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Candidates forum, FYI




No RSVP needed







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Please visit facebook.com/PaliDems for action items updated daily!




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Congrats to the winners of January's ADEM elections,
which empower local reps to influence the direction of the CA Dem Party!

Erika Feresten and Maryam Zar are familiar faces at PaliDems board meetings,
and Marcy Winograd's a friend of PPDC, formerly on the board.


WOMEN:
Erika Feresten (Progressive Slate)
Sue Himmelrich (Progressive Slate)
Lindsey Horvath (Grassroots Slate)
Amanda Hyde (Grassroots Slate)
Marcy Winograd (Progressive Slate)
Jessica Yas (Grassroots Slate)
Maryam Zar (Grassroots Slate)


MEN:
Steve Bott (Grassroots Slate)
Christopher Bowen (Progressive Slate)
Kevin McKeown (Progressive Slate)
Rob Rader (Grassroots Slate)
Sion Roy (Progressive Slate)
Barry Snell (Grassroots Slate)
Charles Taylor (Grassroots Slate)




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CA Nov. 8, 2016 election results here:

https://ballotpedia.org/California_elections,_2016



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Nov. 8 2016 general election information FYI



ENDORSEMENTS







SHORT VERSION
(cut and take to the polls,
or take a photo with your phone!)




Key dates for Nov. 8, 2016 election:



Oct. 11 - Nov. 1-- VOTE BY MAIL – FIRST AND LAST DAY TO APPLY
Between these dates (both dates inclusive applications may be filed).
Applications received prior to the 29th day preceding the election will be kept and processed during this period.


Oct. 11 -- MAILING OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS
First day the elections official delivers Vote By Mail ballots



Oct. 24 -- REGISTRATION CLOSES
Last day to transfer or register to vote in the election.


PROCESSING OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS
The processing of vote by mail ballots may commence
on the 10th business day before the election
but the results of the tally shall not be released until after the polls close.




Nov. 2 - Nov. 8 -- EMERGENCY VOTE BY MAIL
Between these dates, any voter may apply for a Vote By Mail ballot
if conditions require his or her absence from the precinct on election day.
The voter may designate an authorized representative to pick up and return the ballot.







 ** END OF NOV. 2016 ELECTION INFO **





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•


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Further HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON PAST ELECTIONS:



PPDC PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS
AND ELECTION RESULTS
For 6/7/16 election

Kamala D. Harris for US Senate -- TOP VOTE-GETTER,
proceeds to general
(Harris is currently CA Attorney General, running for the seat Barbara Boxer is vacating)

Ted W. Lieu for US Congress -- TOP VOTE-GETTER,
proceeds to general 
(up for re-election, unopposed in general election)

Richard Bloom for CA State Assembly -- TOP VOTE-GETTER,
proceeds to general
(up for re-election, unopposed in general election)

Henry Stern for CA State Senate (SD 27) -- TOP DEM VOTE RECIPIENT, proceeds to general
(Seat being vacated by Fran Pavley because of term limits.
Stern is Pavley's senior policy advisor and has her endorsement)

Jackie Lacey for L.A. County District Attorney -- TOP VOTE-GETTER (unopposed in primary)
(up for re-election, unopposed in general)





Democratic Central Committee

Joseph Cislowski -- NOT ELECTED

Ilissa Gold -- ELECTED

Deana M. Igelsrud -- ELECTED

Michael Kapp -- NOT ELECTED

Nick Melvoin -- NOT ELECTED

Evelyn Metoyer-Williams -- ELECTED

Diana Plotkin -- ELECTED






Judges

Office 11 -- Debra R. Archuleta -- TOP VOTE-GETTER,
PROCEEDS TO GENERAL

Office 42 -- Cyndy Zuzga -- DOES NOT PROCEED TO GENERAL

Office 84 -- Susan Jung Townsend -- TOP VOTE-GETTER,
PROCEEDS TO GENERAL

Office 158 -- Kim L. Nguyen -- TOP VOTE-GETTER,
PROCEEDS TO GENERAL

Office 165 -- Kathryn Ann Solorzano -- WON MAJORITY,
AUTOMATICALLY WINS GENERAL






YES on Measure 50 -- PASSED

Proposition 50 (SCA 17 of 2013-2014) on the June ballot.

This measure will allow, but not require, legislators to forfeit salary, benefits, and privileges of office when suspended. Legislative accountability and combating corruption are both important parts of restoring public trust in government.

It is currently possible to suspend legislators with a two-thirds vote, but not to suspend their salary or benefits. This measure would allow, but not require, the Legislature to suspend a member and deem the salary and benefits forfeited.

Such actions are highly unusual: The three senators suspended in 2014 were the first suspended in the 164 years of the Legislature. Over the years, five senators have been expelled, and several senators accused of corruption resigned in 1985.
The Assembly has never suspended or expelled a member.





*



PPDC did not endorse either candidate
in the Democratic Presidential primary

General election endorsement coming soon!








*



Visit the websites of any of our endorsed candidates
for their campaign volunteer info!














*    * * *    *














More HISTORICAL INFORMATION BELOW
ON
PREVIOUS ENDORSEMENTS AND ELECTIONS



Tremendously helpful election info can be found here

https://ballotpedia.org/California

and here

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections

as well as on our Facebook/Twitter/Instagram pages!




*


Need to drop off your VBM ballot? Go to ANY polling place.

And you can find your polling place here:
http://www.lavote.net/Locator/



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VOLUNTEER/CAMPAIGN/GOTV OPPORTUNITIES

Tuesday, 6/7/16 is Primary Day!  

Until the polls close on Tuesday, you can make a difference by helping your candidate's election efforts through phone banking and precinct walking.

Below are some GOTV opportunities for Monday and Tuesday.  

(Listed alphabetically)


*


CLINTON CAMPAIGN:

You can drop by anytime between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM
to Phone Bank/Precinct Walk!

Amira Perryman
Email: Aperryman@hillaryclinton.com
Phone: (404) 295-2487
Woodland Hills Office
6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Promenade Mall 2nd Floor Food Court
 
Michael Armstrong
Email: marmstrong@hillaryclinton.com
Phone (815) 262-7680
Pico Union Office
2005 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90006
Pico and Hoover near downtown
 
Francheska Khrimian
Email: Fkhrimian@hillaryclinton.com
Phone: (819) 915-9002
 


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SANDERS CAMPAIGN:

CLICK HERE to go to EVENT CENTRAL and plug in your ZIP code
to find a Bernie Sanders GOTV event near you.  
They are all over town...



•


AUGUST 2015
RESOLUTION ON THE POTENTIAL
NUCLEAR ARMS DEAL WITH IRAN

The Palisades Dem Club board had a spirited and detailed discussion on the Iran nuclear deal
at our August monthly meeting.

Our board members have been following the complex aspects of this important foreign policy decision in addition to the statements by experts on the pros and cons of the negotiations. Last evening we voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Iran nuclear deal after much discussion.

It is our general feeling that although there may be risks, the deterrents to Iran’s nuclear program laid out in the deal are very vigorous, global in nature, and critical to avoiding the alternative--more sanctions and possible military intervention. We feel this deal is in the best interest of both the U.S. and Israel in trying to prevent Iran from making a nuclear bomb.

 
OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN MORE...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dear-sen-schumer-dont-vote-against-the-iran-nuclear-deal/2015/08/13/7b806630-41f4-11e5-846d-02792f854297_story.html?postshare=8821439561865075


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/opinion/the-high-price-of-rejecting-the-iran-deal.html



TAKE ACTION...
Call or write your elected officials in support of the deal:

https://www.opencongress.org/people/zipcodelookup




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MORE HISTORICAL INFO ABOUT PREVIOUS ELECTIONS:


Click here for 3/3/15 election results



MARCH 3, 2015
ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS

Did you know there's another election coming up soon,
with important candidates and ballot measures to vote on?

Read on for info and recommendations!

*
Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD)
Board of Trustees

LACCD runs nine community colleges, offering educational opportunities to students in 40 cities/communities.
More than half of LACCD students are older than 25, and over 55% are Latino.
*
Four seats are up for election on the seven-seat board. Here are PPDC's recommendations:

Seat 1: ANDRA HOFFMAN
is an administrator and part-time teacher in the neighboring Glendale Community College District. She has served on the Community College League of California's legislative advisory committee.  

Seat 3: SYDNEY KAMLAGER
has been an education advocate for nonprofit groups and district director for State Sen. Holly Mitchell.

Seat 5: SCOTT SVONKIN
is the only incumbent running.  He is a former aide to L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca and is currently handling public affairs for County Assessor Jeffrey Prang. He led the board to establish a 10% reserve fund to protect against the next economic downturn.

Seat 7: MIKE FONG
is an analyst for the city of Los Angeles' Economic and Workforce Development Department.

*

City of Los Angeles Ballot Measures

YES on MEASURE 1:
City of Los Angeles New City Election Dates and Schedules Charter Amendment: Would move the city's primary and general election, as well as votes on initiative and referendum measures, to June and November of even-numbered years beginning in 2020, in order to align them with federal and state elections.

YES on MEASURE 2:
City of Los Angeles L.A. Unified School District Election Date Alignment Charter Amendment: Would make three changes to the laws governing L.A. Unified School District Board of Education elections to make them occur in even-numbered years so that they coincide with city, federal, and state election dates by 2020.

One of the chief purposes of these measures is to increase voter turnout.


For more information on voting, including polling locations,
visit www.lavote.net





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Click here for official results of 11/4/14 election






* * *








Ballot Endorsements for November 4, 2014 General Election

Click here for a printable version
to take to the polls
 

Governor: Jerry Brown    Lt. Governor: Gavin Newsom    Controller:  Betty Yee
Treasurer: John Chiang    Atty. Gen’l.:  Kamala Harris   
Sec. of State: Alex Padilla    Insurance Comm.: Dave Jones
State Assembly: Richard Bloom    State Senate: Ben Allen
State Sup. Pub. Inst.: Tom Torlakson    Board of Equal.: Jerome Horton
County Supervisor: Sheila Kuehl    County Assessor: Jeffrey Prang
US House of Representatives: Ted Lieu


    YES on Prop 1    
The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act: 
Authorizes $7.2 billion in general obligation funds for state water
infrastructure projects.

YES on Prop 2
The Rainy Day Budget Stabilization Act: 
Establishes a rainy day fund in the state constitution that will force the legislature and governor to save money when times are good, PAY DOWN DEBTS, and PROTECT SCHOOLS from devastating cuts.
 
YES on Prop 45
Public Notice Required for Insurance Company Rates Initiative:
Requires insurance commissioner to approve any health insurer’s rate changes or anything else affecting the charges associated with health insurance. Would impose on health insurance what Proposition 103 (1988) imposed on automobile and homeowners insurance.
 
YES on Prop 46
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Cap and Drug Testing of Doctors:
Increases cap on medical negligence damages from $250,000 (set in 1975)
to $1 million. Requires drug and alcohol testing of doctors and for positive
test results to be reported to the California Medical Board.
 
YES on Prop 47
Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative: 
Would reduce the classification of most "nonserious and nonviolent property and drug crimes" from a felony to a misdemeanor.
 
NO on Prop 48
Referendum on Indian Gaming Compacts:
Ratifies gaming compacts ON NON-TRIBAL LANDS between California the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and the Wiyot Tribe and exempts them from CEQA.


*

PPDC did NOT hold endorsement votes on

Measure P
For impartial information, click here

L.A. County Superior Court Judge
Office 61
No PPDC recommendation
L.A. County Dem Party endorses
Jacqueline H. Lewis

Office 87
No PPDC recommendation
L.A. County Dem Party endorses
Andrew M. Stein


*

Click here for polling place info:

http://lavote.net/

*

Click here to check your registration status:

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/registration-status/



*


To REGISTER TO VOTE in the next election click here

The registration deadline is 15 days before the election:
Must be postmarked or submitted electronically
before end of day on Oct. 20, 2014




To request a VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT for the next election click here

The deadline to request VBM is 7 days before the election:
Oct. 28, 2014

Completed Vote By Mail ballots must be received by
8 pm Election Day, Nov. 4, 2014
If you haven't mailed your VBM ballot by Sat., Nov. 1,
it's safest to drop it off in person at any polling place






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- End of info on Nov. 4, 2014 elections -




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.





 MORE HISTORICAL INFO ON PREVIOUS ELECTIONS


6/3/14 PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS


CLICK HERE FOR JUNE '14
PRIMARY ELECTION INFO



You, more than most, are in the loop --
we know you care about politics and about your city,
California, and the future of our country...

Don't miss this chance for your voice to be heard!
 


If you have a Vote By Mail ballot

and haven't mailed it,

bring it to your polling place TUESDAY, JUNE 3

for your vote to count



If you're registered,
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY.
Every vote counts, and the more PPDC members
turn out, the greater our chances to get the results
we're fighting for!



To REGISTER TO VOTE in the next election click here
The registration deadline for the primary was May 19

To request a VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT for the next election click here
The deadline for the primary was May 27







* * *



Previous Election: Tuesday, May 21, 2013


Congratulations PPDC members and L.A. Democrats --

every one of our endorsed candidates and positions won!



Watch this space for a detailed report once the data are released.




* * *




May 21, 2013 ENDORSEMENTS

Click here for a printable page





L.A. Mayor
--
Eric Garcetti



L.A. City Attorney
--
Mike Feuer



L.A. City Controller
--
Ron Galperin



L.A. City Council
District 11
--
Mike Bonin

Congratulations to Mike, who won 61% of the vote in the primary
and is now City Councilman-elect!



L.A. Community College District Board of Trustees
Seat 2
--
Mike Eng



Seats 4, 6
--
No endorsement





YES on Prop C

YES on Prop C

Proposition C Limits to Campaign Spending and Rights of Corporations -- City of Los Angeles
(Resolution - Majority Approval Required)

Shall the voters adopt a resolution that there should be limits on political campaign spending and that corporations should not have the constitutional rights of human beings and instruct Los Angeles elected officials and area legislative representatives to promote that policy through amendments to the United States Constitution?

Existing laws regulate the funding of political campaigns, and include limits on contributions to candidates and disclosure requirements in campaign advertisements. Past laws prohibited corporations from funding campaign material independently of candidates. However, due in part to US Supreme Court decisions in the Citizens United v FEC and Buckley v Valeo cases, limits on corporate independent expenditures were ruled unconstitutional.

A YES vote means that you want the people of the city to support an amendment to the US Constitution that would limit the rights of corporations so that spending money on campaigns is not constitutionally protected speech, and that ensures all citizens can have their views heard.

PPDC supports this measure because it believes corporations do not have the same rights as people are afforded under the Constitution and that the Citizens United decision should be overturned.


---------------------

YES on Prop D

Proposition D Medical Marijuana Regulation and Taxation -- City of Los Angeles
(Ordinance - Majority Approval Required)
 
Shall an ordinance regulating businesses where marijuana is cultivated, processed, distributed, delivered or given away to qualified patients or primary caregivers (MMBs) by:

(1) prohibiting MMBs but providing limited immunity for MMBs that operated since September 2007, timely registered with the City, generally have not ceased operations, pay City taxes, pass annual background checks, are separated from residential zones, maintain certain distances from schools, parks, child care facilities, other designated places and other MMBs, and meet other requirements and operational standards;

(2) exempting dwelling units used by three or fewer patients/caregivers to cultivate medical marijuana on-site for their patients or themselves, and other exemptions; and

(3) increasing the MMB tax to $60 per each $1,000 of gross receipts; be adopted?

There has been a proliferation of medical marijuana establishments citywide.  Regulations governing their number, location, and operation may protect residents, businesses, and patients from potential adverse impacts.
 
A YES vote means you want to regulate "medical marijuana businesses" by allowing the operation of no more than 135 of these businesses that have operated since 2007, are registered with the city, and have met all operational requirements.  You also want to increase the city tax on these businesses from $50 to $60 for each $1,000 of gross receipts.
 
PPDC supports this proposition because we believe it is a reasonable compromise in controlling the proliferation of unregulated medical marijuana businesses while allowing for patient access and increased tax revenue.

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FURTHER HISTORICAL INFO ON PREVIOUS ELECTIONS

Here are PPDC's previous endorsments for the Los Angeles city primary election on March 5, 2013.  You can click the link below for an easily printable page if you're voting in person, or you can look for, cut out, and bring to the polls our endorsement ads in the Palisadian-Post. 

Far fewer people vote in primaries than in Presidential elections, so your participation has even greater impact.  Vote!

Click here for a printable page

* * *

PPDC's November 2012 proposition endorsements

Click here for a printable page

HEADLINE DETAILS on 30 and 32
(The others follow below)
•
PROP 30 -- YES

After years of cuts, California’s public schools, universities and local public safety services are at the breaking point.  Prop 30 is the only initiative that will protect school AND safety funding and help address the State’s chronic budget mess.
 

• Stops $6 billion in cuts to our schools that are scheduled for this year

• Provides for billions in new funding for schools this year, and accountability for that funding

• Keeps cops on the streets now and saves the state billions on prison costs over the long run

• Provides for a guarantee of public safety funding in our constitution

• Balances the state budget

• Protects taxpayers

• Taxes only the highest earners - couples that make over $500,000 a year will pay more income tax.

• Sales tax will be rolled back to last year’s rate

        
All of these taxes are temporary but necessary now.

PROP 32 -- NO

Tell your friends: This year's most deceptive ballot measure would enhance Big Money's ability to corrupt California elections, and undermine the ability of working Californians to have a voice in state elections.

What does Prop 32 say it would do and what would it really do? Its supporters claim that Prop 32 — written by the law firm of the California GOP — is a balanced measure that limits corporate and union influence on state elections, to the extent allowed by federal election law.

Indeed, pro-Prop 32 ads focus on spending in Sacramento by AT&T and PG&E, rather than on spending by labor unions.  In reality, "Stop Special Interest Money Now" would do nothing of the sort.  Though AT&T and PG&E (both unionized firms) are undoubtedly peeved at being singled out, Prop 32 would have almost no impact on the ability of corporate executives to contribute unlimited money to candidates or campaigns, but would have a devastating impact on the ability of unions to participate in state politics.  Its restrictions on unions are so sweeping that it would prevent them from communicating with their own members on political issues.

Let's be perfectly clear: Prop 32 is not a good starting point, nor is it an imperfect but well-meaning effort to limit the influence of special interests in Sacramento.  It is a highly deceptive measure that would greatly enhance the political influence of billionaires, Super PACs, and conservative business interests, and undermine the ability of working Californians to have a voice in state elections.

California voters have twice before, in 1998 and 2005, rejected right-wing attempts to destroy labor's political voice.  Unable to win by honest means, conservative groups decided to come up with something more deceptive — and more dangerous — this time around.

Opposed to Prop 32 are the nation's leading good-government groups, including Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and others.

•

Details on November 6, 2012 recommendations

President – Barack Obama   Vice President – Joe Biden

US Senate – Dianne Feinstein

US Representative District 33 – Henry Waxman 

Assembly District 50 – No Endorsement
                        
District Attorney, L.A. County – Jackie Lacey

Statewide Propositions

YES on Proposition 30: Temporary Taxes to Fund Education. Guaranteed Local Public Safety Funding. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Governor Brown promised not to raise taxes without the consent of the people. He is now asking for your consent to increase taxes on incomes over $250,000 for seven years and sales tax by ¼ percent for four years.

NO on Proposition 31: State Budget. State and Local Government. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Restricts the budgeting process to “pay as you go” formula through an unnecessarily strict and inflexible process. Too much authority given to the governor to cut programs during a “fiscal crisis” and power to local governments to ignore environmental regulations. 

NO on Proposition 32: Prohibits Political Contributions by Payroll Reduction. Prohibitions on Contributions to Candidates. Initiative Statute.
The Special Exemptions Act: It’s not what it seems. Prop. 32 promises evenhanded political reform, but is designed by billionaire businessmen and Super PACs to allow them to make unlimited political contributions, while barring unions from making any political contributions. Prop. 32 is Citizens United on steroids.

NO on Proposition 33: Changes Law to Allow Auto Insurance Companies to Set Prices Based on a Driver’s History of Insurance Coverage. 
Mercury Insurance measure to change loyalty discounts. Prop. 33 will lead to significant surcharges on new customers and those who have had a lapse in coverage. A repeated attempt by Mercury Insurance to increase rates.

YES on Proposition 34: Death Penalty Repeal. Initiative Statute. Replaces California’s death penalty with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
California has 725 people on death row, but has not executed anyone since 2006. Eliminating death row and years of appeal will save millions of dollars.

YES on Proposition 35: Human Trafficking. Penalties. Sex Offender Registration. Initiative Statute.
Increases prison sentences and fines for human trafficking convictions. Requires convicted human traffickers to register as sex offenders and once registered, to disclose Internet activities and identities.

YES on Proposition 36: Three Strikes Law. Sentencing for Repeat Felony Offenders. Initiative Statute.
Reforms wasteful three-strikes sentencing measure. It preserves the escalating schedule of penalties for career criminals while imposing rationality and consistence on the threshold for a 25-to-life sentence.

YES on Proposition 37: Genetically Engineered Foods. Mandatory Labeling. Initiative Statute.
Requires labeling of food sold to consumers made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specific ways. Prohibits marketing such food, or other processed food, as “natural.” Exempts certified organic foods.

NO on Proposition 38: Tax for Education and Early Childhood Programs. Initiative Statute.
Proposition 38 competes with Proposition 30. Prop. 38 was written and financed by a single individual, Molly Munger. Raises taxes on everyone earning over $7,317.  Funds raised go to education.

YES on Proposition 39: Tax Treatment for Multistate Businesses. Clean Energy Efficiency Funding. Initiative Statute.
Requires multistate businesses to pay income taxes based on percentage of their sales in California. Dedicates revenue for five years to clean/efficient energy projects.

YES on Proposition 40: Redistricting. State Senate Districts. Referendum.
A YES vote means that you do not support a Republican attempt to invalidate newly redistricted State Senate maps.

Los Angeles County Measures
 

NO on Measure A. Appointment of County Assessor -- County of Los Angeles (Advisory Vote Only)
Do you support seeking to change the California Constitution and the Los Angeles County Charter to make the position of Los Angeles County Assessor an appointed position instead of an elected position?
We would rather focus on a better-informed public when voting for the assessor position than having this individual appointed by elected officials.

YES on Measure B. Safer Sex In the Adult Film Industry Act -- County of Los Angeles (Ordinance - Majority Approval Required)
Shall an ordinance be adopted requiring producers of adult films to obtain a County public health permit, to require adult film performers to use condoms while engaged in sex acts, to provide proof of blood-borne-pathogen training course, to post permit and notices to performers, and making violations of the ordinance subject to civil fines and criminal charges? 
We believe that this is a necessary regulatory step towards improving the public health of those in the porn industry. 

YES on Measure J. Accelerating Traffic Relief, Job Creation -- County of Los Angeles (Continuation of Voter-Approved Sales Tax Increase - Majority Approval Required)
To advance Los Angeles County's traffic relief, economic growth/job creation, by accelerating construction of light rail/subway/airport connections within five years, not twenty; funding countywide freeway traffic flow/safety/bridge improvements, pothole repair; keeping senior/student/disabled fares low; Shall Los Angeles County's voter-approved one-half-cent traffic relief.  Sales tax continues, without tax rate increase, for another 30 years or until voters decide to end it, with audits/keeping funds local?
This is a continuation of the voter-approved measure that is vital to Los Angeles County’s long-term transportation future.

Paid for by Pacific Palisades Democratic Club. Contributions are not tax deductible.
Not authorized by any candidate or campaign. Fed ID #C00404301. CA ID #743963

*

June 5, 2012 Election

PPDC Ballot Recommendations for the June 5, 2012 Presidential Primary Election

CLICK HERE for a printable page to take with you to the polls

• President – Barack Obama (8)
• Democratic Party Central Committee – Ralph Erickson (24)
• United States Senator – Dianne Feinstein (100)
• United States Representative – Henry Waxman (106)
• Member State Assembly – No recommendation – No candidate received the 60% required support for endorsement – Vote for one of the three Democratic candidates
• L.A. County District Attorney – Danette E. Meyers (158)

 

JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT

• Office No. 3 – Craig Gold   (134)
• Office No. 10 – No recommendation
• Office No. 38 – No recommendation
• Office No. 65 – Shannon Knight (143)
• Office No. 78 – James D. Otto (147)
• Office No. 114 – Eric Harmon (152)

 

STATE MEASURES

Measure 28  Limits on Legislators’ Terms in Office  Initiative Constitutional Amendment – YES (184)

Measure 29  Imposes Additional Tax on Cigarettes for Cancer Research  Initiative Statute – YES (187)

 

COUNTY MEASURES

Measure H – Hotel Occupancy Tax Continuation to support parks, libraries, senior services, and law enforcement – YES (193)

Measure L – Landfill Tax Continuation to support parks, libraries, senior services, and law enforcement – YES (197)   

 

( # ) Numbers in parentheses designate placement on the ballot for easy reference

 

 

Paid for by Pacific Palisades Democratic Club. Contributions are not tax deductible. Not authorized by any candidate or campaign.

Fed ID #C00404301. CA ID #743963

 

*****

 

50th AD Democratic Primary Endorsement

None of the Democratic contenders running for State Assembly in the 50th District, which includes Pacific Palisades, garnered the endorsement of the Pacific Palisades Democratic Club at the club's candidates forum January 15, 2012.

No single candidate was able to gain the support of 60 percent of the club's executive board in two rounds of instant runoff voting, so no endorsement was made.

 

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Voters Should Choose the Government,

Not the Other Way Around

                                           An op/ed by members of the PPDC board and Adam Wolman, VP, Communications

 

Here in Pacific Palisades, getting the green light to vote is simple.  When we show up at the Palisades Rec Center, American Legion hall, or other designated location, we’re asked for our name and address.  We sign on the upside-down line, asserting to the government that we are who we say we are under penalty of prosecution.  Easy.

 

And when the results are in – like them or not – people in the Palisades, in California, and across the United States have confidence that the voters have made their choices.

 

But trouble is brewing outside our community that affects the impact of our votes and our fundamental right to influence the laws that govern us.  Today many state governments are restricting voter registration in ways that will clearly benefit politicians currently in power.  If these efforts succeed, voters won’t be choosing the government.  The government will be choosing the voters.

 

For example, the state of Wisconsin no longer allows students to register to vote using IDs issued by the University of Wisconsin – which is, of course, run by the state of Wisconsin.  Kansas now requires proof of citizenship, such as birth certificate, to register. Such new laws could remove half a million Kansans (a quarter of all citizens) from the voters’ rolls.  In more than 30 states, newly elected governors and legislatures are pressing forward with plans that could disenfranchise tens of millions of our fellow citizens.

 

To most of us in the Palisades, having to produce a driver’s license to prove eligibility is no big deal.  But according to the Brennan Center for Justice, 11% of U.S. voting-age citizens, fully 21 million people, have no photo ID.  Of those with low incomes, it’s 15%.  Young voters?  Eighteen percent.  And for black voters, 25%.  Bottom line, while it would be easy for most Palisadians to produce a license if required, it’s hard for millions of others.  Even if we think it should be no trouble for those without IDs to get one, facts are facts: It is hard for them, and requiring photo ID is likely to greatly reduce voter turnout. 

 

Politicians like Kansas governor Sam Brownback justify these barriers by claiming they are “protecting the sanctity of the vote.”  But voter fraud is a minuscule whisper of a problem in America.  After five years of the Bush administration’s crackdown on voter fraud between 2003 and 2007, a grand total of 86 people were convicted, less than .000001% of those who voted.  Many were guilty of nothing more than innocent error, such as misunderstanding eligibility rules.

 

Protecting the sanctity of the vote is important.  Why shouldn’t the government of Kansas have unlimited power to ensure that not one vote is cast illegally, even if it effectively means disenfranching tens of thousands of its citizens?  Why is it any business of ours in the Palisades what the government of Kansas decides to do about voting?

 

Because if any states in our union get to selectively reduce their voting rolls, it affects the freedom of people everywhere.

 

America’s Constitution establishes a strong and limited government.  The government is strong to effectively promote the general welfare and provide for the common defense.  The government is limited to ensure it serves the people and not the other way around.  Reasonable people can disagree on where those limits lie, but we all should agree that we aren't free if the government gets to choose the voters.

 

In brief, in a free country politicians are supposed to compete on who can serve the people better, not on who can more self-interestedly choose the electorate most likely to keep them in power.  If our founders’ concept of a strong and limited government has any meaning, people should hold the government to the highest possible standard when it claims a need to change rules on who gets to vote. 

 

Our Constitution takes this threat to our freedoms very seriously.  The 14th Amendment unambiguously requires that a state which in any way abridges the right of some of their citizens to vote must have its representation in Congress and the Electoral College reduced proportionally to the number of those citizens so affected.  That is, states whose governments seek to choose their voters lose Federal representation in favor of those states that respect this crucial limit on proper scope of government action.

 

Why is this important to us here in the Palisades, whether we’re Republicans, Democrats, Independents or any other flavor of voter?  The 14th Amendment was written and ratified because in the early years of our republic, federal elections were repeatedly skewed to the detriment of all citizens, because some state governments disenfranchised large numbers of voters to protect slaveholders – the largest economic interest of the day.  As became obvious to Americans then, when one state strategically restricts voters’ access to the polls, all other states suffer.

 

We talk about limited government when it comes to health care, the appropriate level of taxes, and other important issues.  There is room for debate on such questions.  But if limited government has any meaning beyond sloganeering, it means that the government doesn’t get to choose its voters.  That’s exactly what many state governments are trying to do, endangering our freedom here in California. 

 

All of us should join together to try to stop these efforts, and if these efforts do not stop, the Constitution mandates a remedy we can insist on.  States that diminish the ability of their citizens to vote must find themselves with diminished federal representation.  Something to think about well before the next time we find ourselves signing on that upside-down line, breezing through another no-mess, no-fuss Election Day check-in in the Palisades.

 

CORRECTION TO CA ID#:
CA ID #743962 (not 743963 as stated below--we're working to make the change but don't have an immediate fix)