☆ Perspectives (part 2): CA's ballot measure wizardry confuses voters
Image by the New York Public Library
In the second installment of an exclusive Opp Now series, three contributors—UC Berkeley College Republicans' Utkarsh Jain, public policy prof Joel Fox, and local housing provider Dean Hotop—analyze how State gov't performs verbal sleight-of-hand when it comes to titling and describing ballot measures.
Utkarsh Jain, UC Berkeley College Republicans spokesperson, Alameda County Republican Party treasurer, State Assembly candidate for the 14th district:
One of the key examples that everyone knows about in the state is Prop 47. This was characterized as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, which sounds lovely. The proposition passed under the guise of criminal justice reform, making our communities safer. But if you read what the proposition is about, it basically says, “Hey, let's bump certain crimes down from a felony to a misdemeanor.” Now we have property crimes less than $950 appearing all over the state, since they aren't penalized that harshly. We're seeing rising crime and homelessness, especially in the Bay Area. Many people are realizing that Prop 47 should be repealed.
There was also Prop 16, which was defeated, but many voters at the time didn't understand what it was proposing. The proposition had no title, so supporters would label it as a progressive, pro-racial justice initiative. But this was misleading. Many people thought they were fighting against discrimination, but that was the complete opposite of Prop 16's intent. If approved, Prop 16 would have gotten rid of the Civil Rights provision in the California Constitution, so that discrimination in hiring based on race, gender, sexuality, etc., would be permitted. Obviously, this is an outrageous proposal. Only counties in the Bay Area and LA voted in favor.
And ultimately, the Prop 16 debacle shows how far-left California politicians are becoming. They're going so far as to attack fundamental civil rights. It's disappointing that they're pushing for ideologies that take us back to the pre-1960s. I've always believed that where California goes, so does the rest of the country.
It's important that voters filter through propositions' messaging and read between the lines. Otherwise, they may vote for something that sounds good and later say, “Oops, I didn't know that was what I approved.”
Joel Fox, public policy professor, former Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association president:
The simple fact is government officials who have a stake in the outcome of ballot measures should not have the power to title them. It happens too often that titles are slanted to produce a positive outcome. Government interests protecting their own interests or the interests of allies. Voters are hoodwinked.
Dean Hotop, San Jose small housing provider:
Prop 47, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, did the following: “recategorized some nonviolent offenses as misdemeanors, rather than felonies, as they had previously been categorized.
The crimes affected were:
Shoplifting, where the value of property stolen does not exceed $950
Grand theft, where the value of the stolen property does not exceed $950
Receiving stolen property, where the value of the property does not exceed $950
Forgery, where the value of forged check, bond or bill does not exceed $950
Fraud, where the value of the fraudulent check, draft or order does not exceed $950
Writing a bad check, where the value of the check does not exceed $950
Personal use of most illegal drugs (Below a certain threshold of weight)” [Source: Wikipedia]
As a side note, it was then-AG, now VP, Kamala Harris who came up with that title, or at least her staff did, presumably with her approval. California voters fell for it, hook, line, and sinker—bless their hearts.
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