by Juliana Birnbaum Fox
A march against the immigration’s raids
In an expensive and confusing duel between ballot measures, California voters managed to prioritize the rights of homeowners and renters over developers and landlords, electing June 3rd to preserve rent control in one of the most expensive states in the country. Voters approved Proposition 99 and rejected Proposition 98, dueling ballot measures which both intended to limit the government’s ability to force Californians to sell their homes for private development projects, like shopping malls, hotels and housing.
Proposition 98, however, also would have phased out rent control, although that was never mentioned in the avalanche of television and print ads paid for by those who stood to profit from the measure.
“The voters do not like ballot initiatives that hide things in the fine print,” said Tom Adams, board president of the California League of Conservation Voters, which opposed Proposition 98.
“When people are confronted with very confusing messages the inclination is usually to vote no. And I think they were just bombarded with ad after ad and we didn’t know what to do. So it’s not surprising to me that Prop 98 lost,” said Proposition 98 supporter Kris Hunt.
“It’s shameless that these landlords would try to deceive California voters — just to put money in their pockets at the expense of renters like me!” said Janelle Longwell, a Los Angeles resident.
In another race marked by contentious issues, Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval came out ahead in his run to defeat Superior Court judge Thomas Mellon. However, as no candidate received a simple majority, Sandoval and Mellon must face a run-off in November.
Sandoval, whose parents emigrated from Mexico, has spent most of his campaign emphasizing the progressive ideas he will bring to the bench. He’s also come down hard on Mellon’s judicial manner, which is reputed to be harsh, during assignments in family law and criminal courtrooms.
On the other hand, Sandoval has come under fire for making his political affiliations known in a technically nonpartisan race. Sandoval’s posters around San Francisco prominently display his Democratic Party membership, and he has publicly endorsed other candidates. Mellon is a registered Republican.
The question of development in the Bayview/Hunters Point areas of San Francisco were also on the ballot. Proposition F, which would have mandated that 50 percent of new homes in the area be sold or rented at rates affordable to low-income residents, was defeated. Alternately, Proposition G was approved, a measure that endorses a major housing and commercial development at the polluted Hunters Point Shipyard, and the possibility of a new stadium for the 49ers.
Supervisor Chris Daly, who led the meagerly-funded Proposition F campaign, said that it was the record-breaking $3.4 million spent by the Lennar Corporation on Proposition G that secured its victory.
