Convincing CA voters on ballot props

In the political world, there has been a lot of discussion lately about newspaper endorsements — or non-endorsements — and whether they matter for voters.

They don’t for those who pick candidates based on party. But can they influence voters on ballot propositions?

CalMatters politics intern Jenna Peterson looks at where California’s six leading newspaper editorial boards landed on the 10 propositions on the November ballot. The editorial boards all supported Prop. 3 to enshrine same-sex marriage in the state constitution, and opposed Prop. 33 to enable local governments to expand rent control.

Two boards stood alone on two measures: The Southern California News Group was the only one to endorse Prop. 34, which targets a sponsor of rent control measures, while the Sacramento Bee was the lone supporter of Prop. 35 to lock in revenue from a health care plan tax for Medi-Cal patients.

Read more about this election’s newspaper endorsements (including our handy chart) in Jenna’s story.

In other election news:

• Prop. 6: The constitutional amendment to limit forced prison labor is flailing in the polls and supporters are running out of time. So they’re pulling out all the stops with a series of events featuring different groups of backers: On Tuesday criminal justice reform advocates, local elected officials and Democratic Assemblymember Liz Ortega of Hayward rallied in Oakland to focus on Prop. 6’s potential impact on rehabilitation and the Latino community. And in Los Angeles today, women, including U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, plan to discuss how the measure will help female inmates.

• Ballot titles: Every election, there are complaints that the proposition titles are too slanted or just too confusing. But the 10 on California’s ballot are slightly less complicated than the national average, according to a “readability” study from Ballotpedia. California’s props are written at a college reading level, while the average is one grade level higher. And Prop. 32, to increase the minimum wage, had one of the three shortest titles of 159 ballot measures in 41 states. In case you were wondering, the ballot measure with the highest grade level is a $25 million bond issue in Maine and the lowest is a Florida constitutional amendment for the right to hunt and fish.

• Mail ballots: The U.S. Postal Service is out with a statement that says it’s confident that extra measures will guarantee that ballots arrive in time, and that the performance this year will be at least equal to 2020, when 98% were delivered within three days and 99.7% within five days. Still, the postal service is urging voters to mail ballots before Election Day and at least a week before they’re due in election offices. Reminder: In California, ballots that are postmarked by Nov. 5 and arrive by Nov. 12 will still be counted. The Secretary of State’s office said Tuesday that more than 5 million California voters have signed up to track their ballots.

In their latest attempt to stop a potential gas price hike, Republican legislators are calling out the apparent wealth of members and leaders of the California Air Resources Board.

On Nov. 8 the board — 12 of 16 members appointed by the governor — is poised to vote on proposed updates to California’s low-carbon fuel standards, which seek to reduce transportation emissions and air pollution, but will also likely lead to an increase in gas prices.

Citing information from publicly available economic interest statements, which elected officials and public employees are required to submit, GOP state Senate leader Brian Jones of San Diego said Tuesday that 10 of the 14 voting members are “considerably wealthier than the average Californian,” and that the board’s executive officer, Steve Cliff, “is a millionaire.” Jones added that Gov. Gavin Newsom and board members can easily afford gas should prices rise.

• Jones, in a press release: “Should we really be surprised they look down on the struggling middle class and working poor? Their ‘we know what’s best for you’ attitude is infuriating for hardworking Californians who are already scraping by just to fill their tanks at current prices, let alone after this new hike.”

A spokesperson for the resource board told CalMatters that six board members aren’t compensated by the state and two receive less than $60,000 per year. The board also issued a statement arguing that its mission focuses on “environmental injustices in overburdened communities.” 

• The statement: “The amended proposal is estimated to save Californians by increasing options for consumers while protecting public health and saving residents $5 billion in health costs by reducing the impacts of pollution.”

And in case you’re wondering: Jones’ $147,446 annual salary as a legislative leader is about $52,000 more than the median household income in California. His own economic interest form also indicates Jones received between $1,000 to $10,000 last year in income as a partner of an interior decorating business. Look up other legislators on the Fair Political Practices Commission’s site.

Two years since bird flu hit California poultry farms, the virus’ new target, cattle, poses a threat to dairy farmers and workers, writes CalMatters health reporter Kristen Hwang.

Since August, there have been 178 confirmed bird flu cases at California dairies. In Tulare County, the nation’s biggest milk producer, the state’s first human cases were reported in early October. To date, California has reported 16 human cases of bird flu — nearly all of the country’s cattle-to-human transmissions.

So far, no workers have been hospitalized; they have reported flu-like symptoms and pink eye. Local health departments and farms have distributed more than 1 million pieces of personal protective equipment. But worker advocates say California isn’t doing enough to protect dairy workers. Only 39 people have been tested for the bird flu strain infecting cattle, according to the state’s public health department.

One other wrinkle: A spokesperson for the United Farm Workers union said workers often avoid testing because they can’t afford the 10-day isolation period with no pay if they are positive.

Learn more about how bird flu is impacting dairy farms in Kristen’s story.

In other health news: Attorney General Rob Bonta has reached a temporary agreement with a Catholic hospital in Eureka that allegedly refused to provide an emergency abortion, Kristen reports. Providence St. Joseph Hospital agrees to comply with a state law banning hospitals from denying emergency care. 

Community land trusts are mushrooming across California as a way to preserve affordable housing, despite a state fund not getting a dime out the door. Find out about a program in Temecula from CalMatters Inland Empire reporter Deborah Brennan.