WE'RE IN THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES

US CONGRESS

State Senate

NUHW TOP PRIORITY RACES & BALLOT MEASURES FOR NOVEMBER 2020

Among all the Quality Care Champions NUHW is supporting in the November 2020 elections, the following have the most hotly contested races with the most at stake for health care workers.

ALAMEDA COUNTY

Alameda County Board of Supervisors, District 1: Vinnie Bacon

Vinnie Bacon, running to replace retiring incumbent Scott Haggerty, gives working families the chance to establish our strongest majority ever on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. With a background in environmental engineering, transportation engineering, and city planning, as a Fremont City Councilmember he has fought for more affordable housing, protected open space, accelerated implementation of the $15 minimum wage, and fought for reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights, all while being a strong pro-union ally in Democratic Party politics.

OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL

Workers’ power is on the line in three key races for Oakland City Council, which has been struggling to address homelessness and gentrification, reform policing and redirect funding to meet community needs, and raise the revenue necessary to pay for vital services and good jobs.

Oakland City Council At-Large: Rebecca Kaplan

Oakland City Council, District 1: Dan Kalb

Two of the incumbents most responsive to health care workers and the entire labor movement, At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan and District 1 Councilmember Dan Kalb, need our help to fend off well-funded challenges from candidates backed by tech platform industries, charter school advocates, and big developers looking to slash programs and roll back regulations.

Oakland City Council, District 3: Carroll Fife

In District 3, powerhouse organizer Carroll Fife, the executive director of ACCE Oakland, who helped found Moms for Housing and has been a key driver of recent years’ progressive victories, is challenging an incumbent who has responded more to big business than to working families. The results of these races will decide whether the Council’s policy stalemate breaks our way.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL

In Richmond, NUHW has joined the Richmond Progressive Alliance, ACCE Action, the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, and other labor and community allies to endorse a City Council slate of three proven progressives deeply devoted to environmental, economic, and social justice.

Richmond City Council, District 1: Melvin Willis

In District 1, we’re backing incumbent Councilmember Melvin Willis, a community organizer with ACCE, who played a key role in passing our state’s first rent control expansion in 30 years, and who introduced the ordinance that will increase Richmond’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Richmond City Council, District 3: Gayle McLaughlin

In District 3, we’re backing former Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, who has been one of the East Bay’s most consistent champions of health care workers, and who led Richmond’s remarkable recent steps forward, reducing homicides 75% in 8 years, forcing Chevron to cut pollution and pay over $100 million in additional city taxes, and promoting Community Choice Aggregation to provide more than 85% of Richmond homes and businesses with greener, cheaper electricity.

Richmond City Council, District 6: Claudia Jimenez

Finally, in District 6, we’re backing Claudia Jiménez, an experienced community organizer who was one of the proponents of Richmond’s rent control ballot initiative, who played instrumental roles in rebuilding the Solano Playlot and negotiating improved police policies for interaction with undocumented immigrants, and who helped lead the “Invest in People not Prison” campaign to end the Contra Costa Sheriff’s cooperation with ICE and redirect $5.2 million in state funds toward services to help people in Contra Costa County who are coming home from incarceration.

Measure U, Progressive Gross Receipts Tax: Yes

Richmond’s current business tax is regressive, placing a larger burden upon smaller businesses, and failing to raise the revenue necessary to provide vital services. Measure U would replace it with a progressive gross receipts tax, modeled on Berkeley’s, which sets different tax rates upon different industries, which have different profit rates. It would raise $3.2 million more per year.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Measure C, Ranked Choice Voting in Non-Partisan Municipal Elections: Yes

Ranked Choice Voting in non-partisan municipal elections in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Leandro has helped NUHW and our allies to maximize voter participation and field a more diverse mix of candidates, including more union members and progressives without means.

KERN COUNTY

Bakersfield City Council District 1: Eric Arias

Eric Arias, who has extensive government experience from working as a staff person in the State Assembly and County Board of Supervisors, is also a lymphoma survivor who knows from personal experience the importance of health care and the value of health care workers.

Bakersfield City Council District 6: Jesse Quijada

Jesse Quijada is a frontline health care worker himself, and he knows what it takes to keep workers, patients, and communities safe from COVID-19. We need his voice on City Council.

LA COUNTY

Congressional District 25 (including part of eastern Ventura County): Christy Smith

Christy Smith is the daughter of a nurse who died because she could not afford her medication. As a State Assembly member, Smith has secured additional funds for her district’s health care clinics and senior centers, co-authored a law to ensure that workers’ compensation insurance covers mental health care for first responders, and fought to pass paid family leave benefits for new parents and caregivers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith has worked hard to secure more PPE for her district’s health care workers, and to provide her district’s senior citizens with food assistance and masks. In Congress, Smith will continue to make heath care a top priority.

LA Board of Supervisors, District 1: Holly Mitchell

Holly Mitchell began her career as an advocate to improve health care and social services for the most underserved parts of Los Angeles. As a State Assemblymember, State Senator, and Chair of the powerful Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, she has overseen unprecedented expansions of health care access and improvements in funding for mental health services, K-12 and college education, childcare services, and critical programs to assist infants, the elderly, and working families, as well as shepherding the passage of landmark criminal justice reform bills.

LA County District Attorney: George Gascón

As a former police chief and District Attorney, George Gascón has a track record of progressive criminal justice reforms that LA sorely needs, and will work to ensure that offenders with mental illness or substance abuse disorders receive treatment, not just incarceration. The incumbent DA, Jackie Lacey, is heavily funded by law enforcement personnel, refuses to be transparent in her dealings with them or to hold them accountable for their abuses, and has opposed reform efforts.

Measure J, 10% Budget Allocation to Address Racial Injustice: Yes

This breakthrough measure is Los Angeles County’s nation-leading effort to reallocate resources away from jail systems and law enforcement agencies and toward health care, social services, job creation, alternatives to incarceration, and other positive investments in communities of color.

Measure US, Oil Severance Tax for Community Health Services: Yes

Measure US would increase the oil severance tax by 15 cents per barrel to raise money for community health services, children’s services, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

MONTEREY COUNTY

Monterey County Board of Supervisors, District 4: Wendy Root Askew

As the top aide to outgoing Supervisor Jane Parker, Wendy Root Askew has helped expand vital programs at Monterey County hospitals and clinics. As one of the County’s COVID-19 response coordinators, Root Askew has helped patients get testing and badly needed health care services. She would be a strong voice for health care and health care workers on the Board of Supervisors.

MULTI-COUNTY (Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo)

Measure RR– Caltrain Financial Rescue: Yes

This measure would increase sales taxes by one-eighth of a cent to raise $100 million annually for the rail system. With ridership plummeting during the pandemic, Caltrain officials requested this increase as a financial lifeline to keep services operating until increased ridership resumes.

NAPA COUNTY

Napa Mayor: Scott Sedgley

As a former union carpenter and longtime union firefighter, Scott Sedgley has direct experience with the value of a union in improving the quality of work and safety on the job. As a Napa City Councilmember, Scott has been a champion of working families and a supporter of NUHW members at Queen of the Valley hospital in their long fight to organize and win a contract.

ORANGE COUNTY

Congressional District 39: Gil Cisneros

Gil Cisneros has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with health care workers fighting for quality care and good jobs all across the OC, and has distinguished himself during his first term in office by working closely with us to demand answers regarding health care providers’ COVID-19 testing guidelines, and by winning badly needed additional health care funding for his home district.

Congressional District 45: Harley Rouda

Harley Rouda has been a key leader in Congress working to build a bipartisan consensus on COVID-19 testing, and succeeded despite a hostile political climate in passing a bipartisan bill to enhance the federal government’s response to skyrocketing substance use disorders. Rouda’s opponent, OC Supervisor Michelle Steel, has refused to support or even meet with NUHW members in our efforts to ensure adequate COVID-19 protections for ourselves and our patients.

Congressional District 48: Katie Porter

Katie Porter has been a top-tier Quality Care Champion, fighting alongside NUHW members for better patient care and better jobs for health care workers both before and since the pandemic. During the pandemic, Porter has grown into one of the strongest health care advocates in Congress, holding health care industry CEOs accountable for high prices and poor performance, fighting to preserve and expand coverage, and winning the fight to make COVID-19 testing free.

State Senate District 29: Josh Newman

Josh Newman is an Army veteran, former tech professional, and workforce development leader who when previously in the State Senate authored legislation that enhanced veterans’ and mental health services, improved local schools, supported job creation, and protected open space, as well as strongly supporting health care workers and the entire California labor movement.

State Senate District 37: Dave Min

Dave Min, a law professor at UC Irvine, has spent his entire career fighting to improve conditions for immigrants and working families. The son of Korean immigrants, Min wants to make sure others have the same opportunities he had, starting with access to quality health care.

Assembly District 55: Andrew Rodriguez

As a Councilmember and former Mayor the City of Walnut, Andrew Rodriguez has shown the courage to take on fierce opposition and support housing for the homeless residents of his city. Rodriguez has been an ally of NUHW’s struggles in Orange County, and we can count on him to show the same courage fighting for health care workers and our patients in the State Legislature.

Assembly District 68: Melissa Fox

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Irvine City Councilmember Melissa Fox has emerged as a top local leader. Fox has provided PPE to frontline health care workers, fought for an eviction moratorium, and conducted wellness checks on our seniors. Most importantly, Fox stood up to the OC Board of Supervisors and fought to require that people must wear masks while in public.

Assembly District 72: Diedre Nguyen

Garden Grove City Councilmember Diedre Nguyen is a cancer researcher who has built strong and supportive relationships with NUHW and other unions, nonprofits, and first-responders. As a laboratory scientist devoted to curing disease, Nguyen is uniquely well-positioned to be a strong voice for health care workers and our issues in Sacramento.

Assembly District 74: Cottie Petrie-Norris

Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris has supported all of NUHW’s top priorities during the pandemic, voting for bills to provide health care workers with more PPE, enhanced sick leave, and presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for COVID-19-related illnesses, as well as to establish full parity for mental health and substance use disorders so people will get the care they need during this crisis and into the future. Petrie-Norris has earned our support for re-election.

Orange County Board of Supervisors, District 1: Sergio Contreras

Westminster City Councilmember Sergio Contreras is a longtime ally of NUHW members and patients, and would add a second pro-worker vote to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Most recently, Contreras showed courage by supporting the Public Health Officer’s mask order and speaking at the press conference caregivers and community allies organized to defend it. Contreras’ opponent incumbent Supervisor Andrew Do, has rebuffed health care workers.

SANTA CLARA COUTNY

State Senate District 15: Dave Cortese

On the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Dave Cortese has been a top supporter of health care workers and the labor movement, and a key leader in building up the County’s uniquely robust and innovative public health care delivery system and public health department. Just this year, Cortese played a critical role in rescuing two hospitals that were in bankruptcy, and in overseeing Santa Clara County’s pacesetting response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Sacramento, Cortese would succeed Jim Beall as one of our strongest allies in the State Senate.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Board of Supervisors, District 3: Terra Lawson-Remer

Terra Lawson-Remer, a lawyer and economist, served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama Administration developing environmental policies to cut pollution from the oil industry. Lawson-Remer is the only Supervisor candidate committed to defending the Affordable Care Act and ensuring access to health care for every San Diegan. As Supervisor, she will expand coronavirus testing and contact tracing, and mount an evidence-based pandemic response.

San Diego Mayor: Todd Gloria

Todd Gloria began his career at San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency and has carried his commitment to affordable, quality health care for all with him ever since, from his time as a Congressional staffer to terms on San Diego City Council and in the State Assembly, where he has been a strong supporter of NUHW’s top priorities during the COVID-19 crisis. As Mayor, he would raise the profile and priority of health care in California’s second largest city.

San Diego City Council, District 5: Marni Von Wilpert

Marni Von Wilpert is a Deputy City Attorney who’s prosecuted corporate polluters, opioid industry fraud, and scammers targeting vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, Von Wilpert worked at the National Labor Relations Board, enforcing federal labor laws, and before that served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana, where she helped improve access to health care for children and families for two years at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. She has exactly the experience San Diego needs to come back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

SAN JOAQUIN AND STANISLAUS COUNTIES

Congressional District 10: Josh Harder

When Josh Harder’s brother was born premature, his family got a $2 million health care bill. They were lucky enough to have insurance, but Harder never forgot how illness could financially devastate working families. In Congress, Harder has devoted himself to protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and establish a right to health care for all. Harder is equally committed to ensure health care workers get the support we need during the COVID-19 crisis.

State Senate District 5: Susan Eggman

Susan Eggman started her adult life as an Army medic, went on to earn a PhD in social work, then served as a substance abuse counselor. First as a member of Stockton City Council and then as a State Assemblymember, Eggman has worked to expand access to health care coverage, increase protections and resources for mental health services, bring more health care providers to underserved communities, and open the French Camp VA Medical Center for Central Valley veterans. In the State Senate, Eggman will be one of the Valley’s top health care champions.

State Assembly District 13: Kathy Miller

On the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, Kathy Miller was a leader in the fight to save the County Hospital, and fought to expand health care services for women, families and seniors. As Board Chair, Kathy has led the county’s public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring people get the care they need. In the Assembly, Kathy will work to ensure widespread COVID-19 testing is available for all of our communities, and that families impacted by the pandemic have the resources and support they need to recover and prosper once again.

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY

SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

The balance of power on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, deciding whether there will be a veto-proof majority of eight votes or more solidly aligned with labor and community interests, will be determined in the hard-fought races taking place in Supervisorial Districts 1, 5, 7, and 11.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors, District 1: Connie Chan

In District 1, labor, tenants, and progressive community groups are united behind Connie Chan. Connie has previously served as an aide to NUHW allies former Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, former District Attorney Kamala Harris, and most recently Supervisor Aaron Peskin, as well as serving San Francisco residents in roles at City College and the Recreation & Parks Department. Now she’s running for Supervisor to put her policy and political experience to work helping to make housing affordable, strengthen schools and small businesses, and keep neighborhoods safe.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors, District 5: Dean Preston

In District 5, NUHW and our allies support Dean Preston, who won a special election in 2019. In just his first year on the Board, Dean passed COVID-19 eviction protections for renters and small businesses; reversed and froze Muni fare hikes; and helped Black Lives Matter ban the chokehold that killed George Floyd. Dean’s delivered what he promised and earned a full term.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors, District 7: #1Vilaska Nguyen, #2 Myrna Melgar

In District 7, two pro-labor candidates, Vilaska Nguyen and Myrna Melgar, are running against a strong anti-labor candidate to succeed termed-out Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee. After reviewing their résumés and questionnaires, and interviewing them live, NUHW members gave our #1 endorsement to Nguyen, a long-time public defender, and our #2 endorsement to Melgar, a nonprofit executive director and previous President of the Planning Commission. We urge members to vote for them both in that order using the City’s ranked choice voting system.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors, District 7: #1Vilaska Nguyen, #2 Myrna Melgar

In District 7, two pro-labor candidates, Vilaska Nguyen and Myrna Melgar, are running against a strong anti-labor candidate to succeed termed-out Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee. After reviewing their résumés and questionnaires, and interviewing them live, NUHW members gave our #1 endorsement to Nguyen, a long-time public defender, and our #2 endorsement to Melgar, a nonprofit executive director and previous President of the Planning Commission. We urge members to vote for them both in that order using the City’s ranked choice voting system.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors, District 11: #1 John Avalos, #2 Ahsha Safai

In District 11, former Supervisor John Avalos, who until recently was an NUHW organizer working with San Francisco members, is challenging first-term incumbent, Ahsha Safai, arguing that to tackle our tough challenges, people need a stronger, more independent voice at City Hall, willing to challenge the consensus of political insiders, and to fight for what neighborhoods need. In consideration of Avalos’ long record of strong leadership on our behalf – saving vital services from devastating cuts as Chair of the Board’s Budget Committee, passing the nation’s strongest local hiring law, and leading reforms to make wealthy corporations pay a bigger share in taxes – NUHW members endorsed Avalos #1, and Safai, who has been a reliable if less forceful ally, #2.

Proposition A, the “Health and Homelessness, Parks and Streets Bond”: Yes

This broad-based bond measure would provide infrastructure support for a wide variety of City needs. Notably for NUHW, it includes $207 million in funding for facilities to provide mental health and substance use disorder services, including related supportive housing and shelters.

Proposition B, Public Works Reform: Yes

This measure would reform the Department of Public Works by: 1) Creating a Department of Sanitation to keep streets clean; 2) Focusing the Department of Public Works on building and maintaining infrastructure; and 3) Creating a public commission to oversee both Departments.

Proposition C, Service by Non-Citizens on City Policy Bodies: Yes

This measure would allow non-citizens to serve on appointed bodies that advise City lawmakers on issues including housing, health care, and civil rights. Doing so would provide significant numbers of City residents who pay taxes, and whose families receive City services and are affected by their quality, with a voice they currently lack to direct and improve those services.

Proposition D, Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board and Office of Inspector General: Yes

This measure would strengthen oversight of the scandal-plagued Sheriff’s Department by establishing an Oversight Board to provide the department with policy guidance, and an Office of Inspector General to investigate in-custody deaths and complaints against the department.

Proposition E, Police Staffing Reform: Yes

This measure would eliminate the City Charter mandate that the Police Department maintain a roster of 1,971 full-duty officers. This inflexible requirement has hindered past efforts to use staff other than sworn officers for functions that do not require a sworn officer’s unique capabilities under the law, and will hinder future efforts to shift resources away from militarized policing and make better use of mental health and substance use disorder clinicians and other social workers and support staff to address public safety issues from a public health perspective.

Proposition F, “Small Business & Economic Recovery Act” (Business Tax Overhaul): Yes

Proposition F would phase out the payroll tax, equitably increase gross receipts tax rates for larger businesses in more profitable sectors, provide short-term tax relief for many of the business sectors most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and permanently increase the number of small businesses exempt from the gross receipts tax, while modestly increasing their business license fees. It would increase City revenue by $97 million a year.

Proposition G, Youth Voting in Local Elections: Yes

This measure would allow 16-and-17-year-olds to vote in local elections, giving them a more powerful voice in the local legislation that affects their lives, encouraging their future civic participation, and boosting a variety of progressive local measures that they tend to support.

Proposition I, High-Value Property Real Estate Transfer Tax; Yes

This measure covering only San Francisco’s major commercial properties and most extravagant luxury residences would increase the real estate transfer tax from 2.75% to 5.5% on properties valued at $10 million or more but less than $25 million, and from 3% to 6% on properties valued at $25 million or more. It is projected to raise as much as $196 million annually in new revenue.

Proposition J, Confirmation of School Parcel Tax: Yes

This measure seeks to confirm by a two-thirds vote a parcel tax passed by simple majority in 2018 that would raise $48 million annually to raise teachers’ pay and upgrade school technology.

Proposition K, Authorization to Build Affordable Housing: Yes

Proposition K would authorize but not fund building or rehabilitating up to 10,000 units of affordable public housing. Under the state Constitution, voters must approve such housing.

Proposition L, Overpaid Executive Tax: Yes

The Overpaid Executive Tax would bring in between $60 million and $140 million annually by taxing businesses that pay the highest-earning person in the company 100 times or more than the median salary of its San Francisco-based employees. These funds have been identified as a key source of revenue for full implementation of San Francisco’s improved mental health system.

SONOMA COUNTY

Santa Rosa City Council, District 5: Chris Rogers

Santa Rosa Councilmember Chris Rogers is a strong ally of NUHW members at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and Kaiser Permanente who previously served as a senior staff member for legislators including State Senator Mike McGuire and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, and fought to expand mental health services, keep seniors in their homes, and create good jobs.

Santa Rosa City Council, District 7: Natalie Rogers

Council candidate Natalie Rogers, also a strong NUHW ally, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and active member of her union who grew up in public housing, persisted through the tragedy of her step-sister’s suicide, and worked her way through college and graduate school. Natalie, who is also in private practice, knows the Sonoma County behavioral health system and would be a key leader in the fight to improve care for mental health and substance use disorders. Both Chris Rogers and Natalie Rogers are endorsed for office by the North Bay Labor Council.

Measure O, ¼ Cent Sales Tax for Mental Health, Substance Use, and Homeless Services: Yes

Measure O would establish a ¼ cent sales tax, raising approximately $25 million for each of the next ten years dedicated to providing more and better coordinated local mental health and substance use disorder services for children, adults, veterans, seniors, and homeless people.

Measure P, Strengthen the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach: Yes

This measure would enhance the authority and independence of the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO), empowering it to better review and analyze complaints against the Sonoma County Sherriff’s Office by enabling it to compel the production of records and witnesses. The measure would also require independent reviews of IOLERO’s performance and expand the role and independence of its Community Advisory Council.

STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES

Proposition 14, Renew State Bond Funding for Stem Cell Research: Yes

Vote Yes on Prop 14 to raise money needed to keep open the state’s stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and expand its research. That would include dedicating $1.5 billion for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy, and other brain and central nervous system diseases. The rest of the funds would go for other research, medical training, building new research facilities, and expanding treatment access, helping California remain a leader in this emerging field.

Proposition 15, Close Commercial Property Tax Loopholes to Fund Vital Services: Yes

Vote Yes on Prop 15 to raise as much as $11.5 billion in funding for schools and local government services by assessing property taxes on the largest commercial and industrial properties based on their current value instead of their purchase price. The biggest 10% of corporate property owners will generate 92% of the additional revenue and more than 75% of the funds will come from properties that have not been reassessed since prior to 1990 – just 2% of all commercial and industrial properties. Prop 15 will maintain the existing 1% limit on commercial and industrial property taxes as well as existing exemptions for small businesses, homeowners, agricultural lands, and renters.

Proposition 16, Promote Racial and Gender Equity – End the Ban on Affirmative Action: Yes

Vote Yes on Prop 16 to promote racial and gender equity by ending the ban on affirmative action in California. Prop 16 will repeal 1996’s Prop 209 and permit the state and local governments to fight discrimination, promote equal opportunity, and level the playing field by considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, and national origin in public employment, education, and contracting. It would allow restoration of inclusive admissions in higher education and inclusive hiring in government agencies.

Proposition 17, Restore Voting Rights to People Who Have Finished Their Prison Terms: Yes

Vote Yes on Prop 17 to restore voting rights to Californians who have finished their prison terms but remain on parole. If passed, Prop 17 will restore voting rights to approximately 50,000 Californians, overwhelmingly people of color who were caught up in the recent years’ wave of mass incarceration.

Proposition 18, 17-Year-Old Voting in Primary and Special Elections: Yes

Vote Yes on Prop 18 to allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections if they will turn 18 by the following general election, like 19 other states and the District of Columbia. California shouldn’t miss this opportunity to increase interest and voter participation among young people.

Proposition 20, Roll Back Criminal Justice Reforms: No

Vote No on Prop 20 to protect criminal justice reforms and stop restoration of draconian parole. If passed, Prop 20 would expand the list of offenses that disqualify inmates for parole, consider an individual’s entire criminal history and not just their most recent offense in parole decisions, and make it harder to qualify for nonviolent offender parole. The for-profit incarceration industry, which is behind Prop 20, claims that loosening conditions for parole has led to increased violent crime. This is false. The nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that recent parole reforms not only decreased racial disparities in bookings and arrests, but did not result in an upsurge of violent crime.

Proposition 21, Allow Cities and Counties to Establish Residential Rent Control: Yes

Vote Yes on Prop 21 to allow cities and counties to establish rent control on residential properties. This proposition would affect residential properties over 15 years old and exempts individuals who own up to two residential properties, so will not impact single-family homeowners who rent out space. Additionally, Prop 21 would allow rent in rent-controlled properties to increase up to 15 percent over a period of three years when tenants turn over. California’s largest corporate landlords are spending tens of millions to defeat Prop 21 because they know it will end rent-gouging and unfair evictions.

Proposition 22, Ride-Share and Delivery Company Attack on Workers’ Rights: No

Vote No on Prop 22, which asks voters to classify drivers for ride-share and delivery companies as “independent contractors,” not employees. By classifying these workers as “independent contractors,” companies like Lyft, Uber, Postmates, and DoorDash can evade state employment laws that guarantee workers a minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation, as well as paid family leave, paid sick days, and unemployment insurance. These internet platform companies are spending tens of millions to pass Prop 22 and pad their profits at workers’ expense. Establishing a loophole that allows exploitation of these workers will open the door for employers seeking to degrade our jobs.

Proposition 25, Replace Money Bail with Risk-based Assessment: Yes

Vote Yes on Prop 25 to uphold a 2018 law passed by the State Legislature to replace money bail with a system based on public safety and flight risk. Today, rich Californians can afford cash bail, while poorer people either pay bail bond companies or wait for trial in jail. If Prop 25 passes, no one would pay bail to be released from jail before trial. Instead, people would either be released automatically or based on their assessed risk of committing another crime or not appearing in court if released. Prop 25 will help reduce mass incarceration, particularly among low-income people and people of color.