Voting on California ballot measures? See The Bee Editorial Board’s 2020 endorsements

Below is a summary of The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board’s endorsements for statewide propositions on the Nov. 3, 2020 ballot.

Endorsements, like editorials, represent the collective opinion of the Editorial Board. Board recommendations are not always unanimous and do not necessarily reflect the individual opinions of board members.

▪ Proposition 14 (stem cell bond): Yes

Prop. 14 would expand research in diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke and epilepsy, and keep on track other work in ALS, heart and kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV and much more.

▪ Proposition 15 (“split roll” commercial property tax reform): Yes

Proposition 15 gives Californians a chance to fix one of the most glaring errors of the past four decades: a massive tax break for wealthy commercial property owners who can afford to pay their fair share of taxes. The ballot measure will not affect residential property taxes.

▪ Proposition 16 (racial equity): Yes

Affirmative action, along with other policies specifically designed to address the legacy of systemic racism, can help to reconcile our long history of injustice. California, as the nation’s most diverse state, should be leading the nation in these efforts. Prop. 16 would repeal Prop. 209, the 1996 measure that ended affirmative action for California’s public institutions.

▪ Proposition 17 (restore voting rights): Yes

Prop. 17 would restore the right of parolees to vote, thus increasing voter turnout and encouraging the convicted to embrace the highest ideals of citizenship.

▪ Proposition 18 (17-year-olds voting in primaries): Yes

Passage of Proposition 18 will allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections, provided they will be 18 at the time of the general election. At least 18 other states already have passed similar measures, and it’s past time California did as well.

▪ Proposition 19 (property tax transfers/fire funding): Yes

The measure would allow seniors looking to move closer to children and grandchildren to keep property tax breaks after relocating. It would close a Prop. 13 loophole that allows people who inherit property to keep paying the same low property taxes as the original owner. A portion of proceeds would be reserved for local and state firefighting agencies.

▪ Proposition 20 (overturn prison reforms): No

California’s criminal justice reforms are working. Voters should reject this cynical and shameful spending scam.

▪ Proposition 21 (rent control): No

California needs more affordable housing, but more rent control won’t help. Prop. 21’s backers say their measure is not meant to address that shortage. But if approved, it would discourage builders from creating new rental housing.

▪ Proposition 22 (gig worker rules): No

Prop. 22 — funded by app-based companies like Doordash, Lyft and Uber — will harm gig workers. It represents special interest politics at their worst.

▪ Proposition 23 (dialysis rules): No

Dialysis centers operate well and provide life-sustaining treatments for their patients. Prop. 23 would put them in jeopardy. If the measure was a real benefit to health care, and to doctors in particular, the California Medical Association would support it. But that group is opposing it.

▪ Proposition 24 (digital privacy): Yes

Prop. 24, also known as the California Privacy Rights Act, would strengthen California’s landmark digital privacy law. It will also create a new state agency to enforce the state’s digital privacy laws, at a cost of approximately $10 million a year.

▪ Proposition 25 (bail reform): Yes

Prop. 25 will uphold California’s sensible bail reform law. Bail reform was long overdue, but the bail bond industry — which profits from the misery of the broken system — opposes reform.

This story was originally published October 28, 2020 at 5:00 AM.