Apartment Owners’ Guide to the 2020 Election

Written by Landlord Property Management Magazine on . Posted in Blog, Uncategorized

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association PAC has endorsed these candidates for the November 3, 2020, Statewide General Election:

STATE ASSEMBLY
Southern California Districts
Vince Fong
Assembly District 34
Tom Lackey
Assembly District 36
Charles W. Cole
Assembly District 37
Suzette Martinez Valladares
Lucie Lapointe Volotzky
(Dual Endorsement)
Assembly District 38
Ricardo Benitez
Assembly District 39
Andrew Kotyuk
Assembly District 42
Jeffi Girgenti
Assembly District 45
Burton Brink
Assembly District 49
Toni Holle
Assembly District 52
Phillip Chen
Assembly District 55
Chris Raahauge
Assembly District 60
Ali Mazarei
Assembly District 61
Kelly Seyarto
Assembly District 67
Steven Choi
Assembly District 68
Randy Voepel
Assembly District 71
Janet Nguyen
Assembly District 72
Laurie Davies
Assembly District 73
Melanie Burkholder
Assembly District 76
June Yang Cutter
Assembly District 77

STATE SENATE
Southern California Districts
Scott Wilk
Senate District 21
Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Senate District 23
Houman Salem
Senate District 27
Ling Ling Chang
Senate District 29
John Moorlach
Senate District 37
Linda Blankenship
Senate District 39

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Tamika Hamilton
U.S. Congressional District 3
Tom McClintock
U.S. Congressional District 4
Chris Bish
U.S. Congressional District 6
Buzz Patterson
U.S. Congressional District 7
Jay Obernolte
U.S. Congressional District 8
Ted Howze
U.S. Congressional District 10
Alison Hayden
U.S. Congressional District 15
David G. Valadao
U.S. Congressional District 21
Devin G. Nunes
U.S. Congressional District 22
Kevin McCarthy
U.S. Congressional District 23
Andy Caldwell
U.S. Congressional District 24
Ronda Baldwin-Kennedy
U.S. Congressional District 26
Johnny J. Nalbandian
U.S. Congressional District 27
Eric Early
U.S. Congressional District 28
Agnes Gibboney
U.S. Congressional District 31
Mike Cargile
U.S. Congressional District 35
Young Kim
U.S. Congressional District 39
Greg Raths
U.S. Congressional District 45
Michelle Steel
U.S. Congressional District 48
Brian Maryott
U.S. Congressional District 49
Darrell Issa
U.S. Congressional District 50

Ballot Measures

Statewide Measures

No on 14
Why we’re against it
In 2004, voters approved $3 billion for a publicly funded stem-cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, to support research into new treatments and possible cures. The money has been spent, and the backers of Proposition 14 want voters to approve $5.5 billion more. But CIRM has been widely criticized for inefficiency and insider dealing. Moreover, the federal government and private enterprise are now funding stem-cell research. Proposition 14 fails to address issues of accountability and oversight in the spending of previously approved public funds. These new bonds will cost taxpayers $2.3 billion just in interest payments, drawing $260 million out of the budget every year for three decades. Proposition 14 is not necessary and it’s especially unwise at this time, when there are so many demands on taxpayers. VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 14.

No on 15
Why we’re against it
This is the treacherous “split roll” property tax, a direct attack on Proposition 13. Proposition 15 would repeal part of Prop. 13 and require reassessment to market value of business properties. It would raise taxes on supermarkets, shopping malls, office buildings, factories, movie theaters, hotels, restaurants, sports stadiums, warehouses, self-storage facilities, major retailers and other businesses where Californians work or shop. Even the smallest businesses that lease space will face higher rents, or will have to pay the higher property taxes as part of their “triple net” lease agreement. Those higher costs are passed on to consumers. Proposition 15 would raise prices, increase the cost of living and put countless jobs at risk as companies cut back or leave the state. The proponents of this measure are seeking to weaken Proposition 13, and we can guess why. They could come after homeowners next. Protect Prop. 13. VOTE NO on PROPOSITION 15.

More Information    Download Flyer

No on 18
Why we’re against it
Proposition 18 would change the voting age in California to allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries and special elections if they will turn 18 by the date of the next general election. While some states allow this, California is different than other states because under Prop. 13 and Prop. 218, tax increases must go on the ballot for voter approval. These proposed tax increases are frequently on primary and special election ballots. Proposition 18 would allow high school students to vote on tax increases. This is unwise. The voting age in California should not be changed. VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 18.

No on 19
Why we’re against it
Proposition 19 takes away important taxpayer protections that have been enshrined in the State Constitution since 1986. That’s when 76% of voters approved Proposition 58 to allow parents to transfer a home and limited other property to their children without an increase in property taxes. Proposition 19 eliminates Proposition 58 and a similar measure, Proposition 193, which gives the same protection to transfers between grandparents and grandchildren if the children’s parents are deceased. Proposition 19 would require property transferred within families to be reassessed to market value as of the date of transfer, resulting in a huge property tax increase for long-held family homes. The only exception is if the children move into the home within a year and make it their principal residence. This is a billion-dollar tax increase on California families. Proposition 19 contains other provisions, which HJTA has supported in the past, to expand the opportunities for older homeowners to transfer the base-year value of their home (under Prop. 13) to a replacement home. This was on the ballot in November 2018 as Proposition 5, but voters rejected it. Now, with a massive tax increase added, the price is too high. HJTA opposes this measure. VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 19.

More Information    Download Flyer

No on 21
Why we’re against it
Proposition 21 would change state law to allow radical rent control laws to be passed in cities that are already suffering from an inadequate supply of housing. In 2016, California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office issued a report that found that expanding rent control “likely would discourage new construction” by limiting the profitability of new rental housing. Under current law—the 1995 Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act—housing providers have the right to raise the rent on a vacant unit to market value after a tenant moves out. The same law also bans rent control on units constructed after February 1995 and on single-family homes and condos. Proposition 21 would repeal this law and allow unelected rent boards (or elected rent boards) to impose radical rent control and regulations, even on single-family homes. VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 21.

Yes on 22
Why we’re for it
In 2019, the Legislature passed, and the governor signed Assembly Bill 5, a law aimed at destroying the “gig economy” and forcing companies to stop using independent contractors as part of their business. Supporters said companies must put all workers on the regular payroll as employees, with control over their hours and wages. The Legislature carved out exceptions for many industries, but the ride-share and restaurant delivery industry wasn’t granted an exception. Proposition 22 was put on the ballot by Uber, Lyft and DoorDash. It would create an exemption from AB 5 for the companies’ drivers, while providing them with basic benefits and protections. Without this exemption, the companies would likely stop offering their services in California, depriving state residents of convenient and affordable transportation and delivery services. VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 22.

No on 24
Why we’re against it
In 2018, the Legislature passed, and the governor signed the California Consumer Privacy Act, which gave state residents more rights and control over how their data is shared when they go online. The CCPA took effect this year, and businesses have worked to learn the new legal requirements and comply with them. Proposition 24 is a new privacy law to replace the CCPA. It changes the rules before we even know if they’re working well. Worse, it creates a new state agency to write and enforce regulations that have the effect of new laws, but that no elected official will vote on. This new agency will cost taxpayers $10 million a year, but it will cost California businesses far more. Companies will be effectively forced to hire lawyers to review every technological change or upgrade in order to show the new agency that they are in compliance. This will be a great advantage to the largest companies, because many small start-up companies will not be able to afford the legal bills to file the compliance documents, or the cost of defending themselves from complaints, even meritless complaints. The regulatory burden will strangle technological innovation in California and protect tech giants while hurting small businesses. VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 24.

No on 25
Why we’re against it
Proposition 25 is a referendum on a state law, Senate Bill 10, that eliminated cash bail and replaced it with a system based on judging risk, specifically the risk that an arrested person poses to public safety and the risk that the person will fail to show up for a court appearance. Because opponents of the law qualified a referendum, SB 10 did not take effect. A “yes” vote is in favor of the law going into effect; a “no” vote means you do not want the law to take effect. Proposition 25 would result in immense new costs to counties. The new system of risk-based release instead of cash bail would cost taxpayers somewhere in the mid-hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the Legislative Analyst. It’s not clear where this money will come from. This is a huge new cost at a time when counties are already struggling to meet their financial obligations. VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 25.

Local Measures

Los Angeles Unified School District
No on Measure RR
Why we’re against it
Measure RR is a massive increase in debt for LAUSD, $7 billion in borrowed money (bonds) for school construction. It will add new charges to property tax bills, and there is no exemption for seniors or low-income families. Measure RR will cost the owner of a home assessed at $500,000 an estimated $108 per year, adding up to more than $3,800 by the time these bonds are paid off. In addition, Measure RR would authorize the district to seek a waiver of its debt limit so it can borrow more than the law allows. The borrowed money from Measure RR can only be used for buildings, not for instruction. Since 1997, LAUSD has spent $26 billion on school construction projects, yet they’re still promising to remove asbestos and lead paint. Why haven’t they fixed this yet? LAUSD wastes your money and then wants to raise your taxes. VOTE NO ON MEASURE RR.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) is the largest taxpayers association in California with a membership of over 200,000. Founded by the late Howard Jarvis, the author of Proposition 13, HJTA’s name is synonymous with tax relief and the uncompromising defense of the California property owner.

To learn more at about the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and how your vote impacts the upcoming election, visit https://www.hjta.org/election-information/