For all of you who haven’t turned in your ballot yet, or are waiting to go to a polling place the day of, we see you. Chances are, there are some of you who have put off figuring out what’s on the ballot until you sit down at a voting kiosk.
So, this one goes out to the procrastinators. We’ve put together this one stop shop to quickly connect you to our coverage, along with our partners, of the big issues at play in the general election. Plus, a bonus overview of the countywide ballot measures.
First and foremost, here’s where you can go to vote in-person. As of Saturday, Oct. 31, all of these locations will be open during the day until the polls close.
You can find a breakdown of who the state and local candidates are on your ballot, as well as a flyover look at the state propositions. Sure, Prop. 40, 41 and 42 —the billionaires tax and the two propositions that would cancel out the tax— are generating the most buzz. There are still a plethora of other propositions to get to know on this year’s ballot — like a massive affordable housing bond or whether to allocate money toward immunology research — to brush up on before making a decision.
Speaking of propositions, remember voting on Prop. 50 last year? Well, some San Diegans will have the opportunity to vote on the result of that redistricting effort. San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert is facing off against San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, in a race that could very well decide who has the majority in the House of Representatives.
Oh, and not to forget another important development in California politics, in case you haven’t heard, we’re about to have a new governor. Our Alejandro Maciel sat down with both Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra, the candidates to replace Governor Gavin Newsom.
Now that we’ve laid out some links to find more information on candidates and propositions, here’s a bit more in-depth look into two items on every San Diego County ballot: Measure A and B.
“Protect San Diego County’s Health and Safety Act” (Measure B) on the most basic level is a half cent sales tax increase. Measure A, “A Transparent, Accountable, Modern County Government,”is an update to the county’s charter which would give the Board more control over certain county staff members.
Let’s look at the one that’ll impact your wallet first.
The tax is marketed as an additional revenue source to fund first responders, maintain local affordable healthcare, help control Tijuana River pollution, supplement food assistance programs and support childcare programs. How the money to address these things is to be spent is spelled out in the measure. Here’s the breakdown the measure settled on:
Up to 60% goes toward healthcare, nutritional assistance and services for children and families.
- (5%) Home health for elderly and infirm, can be used to maintain funding levels typically maintained by Medicaid.
- (7%) Nutrition assistance and food insecurity through SNAP/Calfresh. Up to 2/3 of this percentage can be used to maintain staffing levels of personnel who determine SNAP eligibility.
- (9%) on affordable healthcare services other than in-home health, including ensuring adequate staffing for program admin, expanding eligibility workforce and maintaining medicaid funding levels
- (17%) to support the County Medical Services program including provider reimbursements for uncompensated care; enhanced payments for specialty mental health services; and health initiatives delivered through hospitals and community providers
- (22%) Childcare/ child development services administered through the First 5 Commission of San Diego County
- (8%) Stipends issued to licensed childcare providers in order to supplement compensation and training expenses
- (8%) Vouchers for families to obtain childcare
- (6%) Early childhood mental/behavioral health services
Up to 22.5% goes toward mitigating the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis.
- No less than 20% should be put toward infrastructure and engineering projects to stop the flow of sewage.
- If the State Water Resources Control Board were to determine the Tijuana River meets water quality standards and the sewage has been diverted into a wastewater treatment facility, the Board of Supervisors can direct these funds toward other environmental mitigation programs
- The remaining 2.5% is not specified in the ballot language but falls under programs in connection with the sewage crisis, including but not limited to addressing the health impacts and protecting local beaches
17.5% on protecting public safety services, wildfire prevention and crisis response.
- (No less than 8%) Fire preparedness programs from the San Diego County Fire Protection District
- Retaining and hiring firefighters and paramedics
- Brush clearing and wildfire prevention
- Upgrading equipment and facilities for firefighters and paramedics
- (No less than 8%) Law enforcement funding
- Retaining and hiring Deputy Sheriffs
- Public safety infrastructure
- Emergency operations
- 911 communications systems
- Public safety substations and facilities
The measure also establishes a Citizen Oversight Committee to have accountability over how these funds are being spent. The committee will be made up of 11 voting members, each serving a 4 year term. The ballot language specifies that there must be an effort to appoint stakeholders. For instance, one of the committee members should be a professional in environmental sciences, and another should be someone with expertise in childcare with experience providing it. All of these people will be appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
Find the full Measure text starting on page 69 here.
Now, back to Measure A, which has arguably gotten the most attention for the piece of it that expands County Supervisors term-limits from two terms to three. But a good chunk of the charter updates would provide County Supervisors with more management over some staff members.
Part of the measure allows for the formation of an independent ethics commission, and the creation of an independent budget analyst and program auditor.
An independent ethics commission would be able to investigate complaints pertaining to members of the board, questioning them under oath and subpoenaing witnesses. Each Supervisor appoints one commissioner to serve in four year terms, and County Counsel appoints two commissioners. These commissioners are confirmed by a majority vote from the Board of Supervisors.
Both the independent budget analyst and program auditor are appointed by the Board of Supervisors, and if the board chooses they can collapse these two roles into one position.
The Board of Supervisors will also have more say over specific staff, through creating a process to review and confirm the Chief Administrative Officer’s appointment or removal of the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Deputy Chief Administrative Officers, Office of Emergency Services Director, Public Health Officer and Public Defender (if not appointed by the Board). The charter update also stipulates that the Chief Administrative Officer may also be removed by a four-fifths vote of the board.
To find the full Measure text starting on page 54 here.
