Vote YES on Prop 15: Schools and Communities First - The proposed Prop 13 reform measure calls for a division of tax rolls, changing how commercial properties are assessed and will require commercial and industrial properties, except those zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed based on their market value. If passed, the measure would target for reassessment properties valued at more than $3 million. Net increase in annual property tax revenues would be an estimated $7.5 billion to $12 billion in most years, depending on the strength of real estate markets. After backfilling state income tax losses related to the measure and paying for county administrative costs, the remaining $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion would be allocated to schools (40 percent) and other local governments (60 percent). Large numbers of commercial properties, especially in urban areas and nearby suburbs – properties with tremendous potential for beneficial development – are currently empty lots, parking lots, gas stations, strip malls, big box retail, warehouses, or underutilized in other ways. If passed, Prop 15 will encourage the development or sale of this underutilized commercial land by raising property taxes and making it more costly to do nothing with the land.

• Yes on 15: Schools and Communities First website
• Secretary of State Voter Information Guide

Vote YES on Prop 16: Repeal of Ban Affirmative Action (Prop 209) - Prop. 16 would repeal Proposition 209, passed in 1996, which prohibited the state from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in hiring or admittance to state institutions, including public employment, education, or contracting. This practice, known as affirmative action, promotes equal opportunity for women and people of color by allowing state institutions to consider an applicant's gender, race, and ethnicity into account - without quotas - when considering hiring, contracting and admittance into higher education.

• Yes on 16: Opportunity for All Coalition website
• Secretary of State Voter Information Guide

Bay Area

Vote YES on Alameda Measure W: Alameda County Home Together - A ½ cent sales tax proposal, the local measure will generate an estimated $150 million per year for a term of 10 years. The measure is a general tax, but it has been implied from county leadership that the funds are intended to maintain and improve essential County services, including housing and services for those experiencing homelessness, mental health services, and job training.

Yes on W: Home Together 2020

Vote YES on Sonoma County Measure O: A proposed ¼ cent sales tax, the measure will generate an estimated $25 million per year for a term of 10 years. The measure is a dedicated tax measure and will need to reach a two thirds-threshold (66.67%) to pass. Funds will go to behavioral health facilitates (22%), emergency psychiatric and crisis services (44%), outpatient services (18%), care coordination (14%), and transitional/ permanent supportive housing (2%).

• Yes on Measure O: Our Families, Our Community
• Sonoma County Voter Information Guide

Vote NO on City of San Mateo Measure Y: The measure would extend, for 10 years, the expiration date of the general plan policies concerning building heights, currently 55 feet, across the city. In addition, this measure would amend the existing inclusionary housing program to allow off-site construction of units or other alternative means of compliance with the inclusionary housing requirement.

No on Measure Y: For Our Families, For Our Future
City of San Mateo Voter Information Guide

Vote YES on East Palo Alto Measure V: A increase 1% in the city transient occupancy tax (TOT) each year for the next two years, 2% total, leveling off at 14%. It is estimated that the additional tax will generate $195,000 in the first year, and $390,000 annually thereafter for the funding of affordable housing (ELI, VLI, LI, and MI), site acquisition and rehabilitation. This is a dedicated revenue measure and will need to reach a two thirds-threshold (66.67%) to pass.

East Palo Alto Voter Information Guide