League of Women Voters e n io t ca th of li a b pu Glendale/Burbank President’ President’ss Message Chris Carson President LWVG/B October 2002 Calendar Wednesday October 2 7:30 PM Board Meeting Home of Chris Carson Monday October 21 Last Day to Register to Vote Wednesday October 23 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Candidates Forum Burbank City Hall Council Chambers 275 East Olive Avenue See flyer on page 2 Tuesday November 5 Election Day Wednesday November 6 BOARD MEETING Home of Chris Carson 7:30 PM SAVE THE DATE Wednesday December 18 WASSAIL BOWL Home of Mary Lou Howard When bad things happen to good ideas READING THROUGH THE Voter, you may well be surprised to discover that the League of Women Voters is opposing Propositions 49 and 51. The League opposing after school care programs and better transportation funding?! What is going on here?! What’s going on is thoughtful and courageous application of League positions in addressing government in our State. On the surface, after school care programs and better transportation funding are squarely in line with long held League positions in Social Policy and Natural Resources. What more could we want than to support establishment of a comprehensive statewide after school care program? How on earth could we not heartily endorse greater funding for mass transit and rational transportation funding? The problem is not the idea, but the execution. Where will the money to fund these programs come from? In both measures, the funding would come from existing sources. They do not provide a mechanism for new funds to pay for expanding the programs. In other words, the money would have to be taken from other existing programs, such as Health Care, Children’s Services and Public Safety. Further, both propositions set a dangerous precedent. Other sponsors with deep pockets, or politically savvy organizations, are likely to try to guarantee money for their pet projects through the initiative process. Discretionary spending is already limited in the state budget, and measures like these further tie up funds so that changing needs could not be met. League’s longstanding position on State and Local Government Finances states that “earmarked” funds and taxes should be adopted only in those situations where social benefit significantly outweighs the loss of flexibility, and it calls for earmarking to be statutory and to have an automatic sunset date and provisions for mandatory government body review and reauthorization. The League has lobbied for various bills dealing with programs similar to these using the LWVC Child Care, Juvenile Justice/ Dependency, Education, Transportation and Air Quality positions. However, in weighing these positions against our State and Local Finance position, the LWVC State Board determined that the social benefits of these measures did not outweigh the Continued on page 6 For program information and location directions, call the League at (818) 247-2407. Or visit our website www.gb.ca.lwvnet.org ? Candidates Forum Congressional and Assembly Districts Presented by the League of Women Voters Glendale/Burbank Wednesday October 23 7:00PM - 9:30 PM Burbank City Hall Council Chambers 275 East Olive Avenue Questions from the public can be submitted to the League before the date of the forum at (818) 247-2407 or [email protected] 2 THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY URGES A YES VOTE ON COUNTY MEASURE B County Measure B Provides Funding to . . . Your Life Is Worth Your Vote Yes on County Measure B PROTECT TRAUMA CARE SYSTEM A Treats anyone suffering a traumatic injury to a transportation center within 30 minutes A Trauma is the leading cause of death in the first four decades of life A In the event of a catastrophe, most of the injured will be treated at county emergency rooms and trauma care centers SAFEGUARD EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES A Emergency care saves lives A Anyone is a heart attack or a stroke away from needing an emergency room PROVIDE BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL TERRORISM RESPONSE A Our communities must be adequately prepared for protection against unforeseen attack County Measure B will bring in $168 million for the sole purpose of funding Trauma/Emergency Medical Services and Bioterrorism Response With the County facing a major shortfall all these services are in jeopardy of severe cuts. Residents are being asked to pay a small price to save lives. Merely an average of $43 a year based on $.03 per square foot on structural improvements to protect and improve life saving services. 3 Cuts to Health System Approved by Supervisors 15 Clinics Closed ∑ Alhambra Health Center ∑ Azusa Health Center ∑ Bell Gardens Health Center ∑ Florence/Firestone Health Center ∑ Imperial-Heights Health Center ∑ Lawndale Health Center ∑ North Hollywood Health Center ∑ Norwalk Health Center ∑ Pico Rivera Health Center ∑ San Antonio Health Center ∑ Tujunga Health Center ∑ Gardena High School-Based Clinic ∑ Kennedy/Monroe School-Based Clinic ∑ Pacoima School-Based Clinic ∑ Vaughn Street School-Based Clinic Cut Immunizations and Treatment for Communicable Disease at the following Clinics ∑ Burke Health Center ∑ Central Health Center ∑ Curtis Tucker Health Center ∑ Glendale Health Center ∑ Hollywood-Wilshire Health Center ∑ Monrovia Health Center ∑ Pacoima Health Center ∑ South Health Center ∑ Torrance Health Center ∑ Whittier Health Center Beds, Services and Budgets at County Hospitals ∑ High Desert Hospital to be converted to outpatient only ∑ Slash more than $21 million from King/Drew over the next two years and cut 50 inpatient beds ∑ Slash more than $18 million from LAC+USC over the next two years and cut 100 inpatient beds 4 THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS RECOMMENDS NOVEMBER 2002 ELECTION YES ON PROPOSITION 46 HOUSING BONDS Support Proposition 46 for Housing and Emergency Shelters. California must address the widening gap between the supply of safe, decent housing and the demands of our growing population. The bonds will provide funds to help cities and counties meet their own most critical needs. These can include housing for seniors and low-income families, including working families. Proposition 46 will also provide emergency shelter beds, including shelters for battered women and their children. YES ON PROPOSITION 47 SCHOOL BONDS Support Proposition 47 for Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities. California is failing to provide its children with schools that are safe and comfortable and have the modern technology they need to prepare them for college or careers. Local school districts need the matching funds in this bond measure to provide these facilities and to add the classrooms needed to meet growing enrollments without increasing class size. NO ON PROPOSITION 49 BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM Oppose Proposition 49 to Protect Flexibility and Fairness in Budgeting. The League supports a variety of before and after school programs, but this measure singles out one program for special treatment, whether it best meets local needs or not. It does not provide new revenue, but simply guarantees funding for this program at a set level each year unless rescinded by voters. The funding level would not be considered in the annual budget process, even in tough economic times when money might be better spent on more critical needs like health care, public safety or even other children’s programs. If this measure passes, other special interests will try the same strategy to fund programs that seem popular, further reducing the flexibility to meet changing needs. YES ON PROPOSITION 50 WATER BONDS Support Proposition 50, the Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Act of 2002. These bonds will fund the state and local water system improvements needed to assure that California will have a reliable supply of clean drinking water. It will also fund improvements to aging sewer and storm water systems that pollute beaches and fund protection and restoration of coastal wetlands, fisheries and wildlife. NO ON PROPOSITION 51 EARMARKING OF MOTOR VEHICLE TAXES Oppose Proposition 51, the Transportation: Distribution of Existing Motor Vehicle Sales & Use Tax Initiative. It would guarantee funding from the state General Fund for a number of specific programs and projects unless it was later changed by the voters. These programs are not necessarily based on local priorities and may not have the greatest impact on transportation or traffic problems. The projects funded would tie up nearly $1 billion per year and would not have to be reviewed in the annual budget process. As with Proposition 49, this would set a precedent that could encourage others to try the same strategy. YES ON PROPOSITION 52 ELECTION DAY VOTER REGISTRATION Support Proposition 52 for Election Day Voter Registration. This measure ensures that all legally eligible voters will have the opportunity to have their voices heard on election day. Citizen participation in elections may continue to drop until there is a real question as to whether our government operates with the consent of the governed. This system is already the law in six states and has worked without serious problems. Citizens registering on election day would have to provide legally valid ID to prove they were voting in the correct precinct, and in future elections would receive ballot materials in advance. LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA 926 J STREET SUITE 515 SACRAMENTO CA 95814 916-442-7215/FAX 916-442-7362 Email:[email protected] Website: http://ca.lwv.org 5 Our Advertisers PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE continued from page 1 generously support the work of the League—Voter Service, Citizen Education and Advocacy. They make our projects possible. Please patronize them and ask your friends to do the same. And let them know who you are. They need to know that we’re supporting them. loss of flexibility they introduce. Moreover they have no sunset or provision for adequate, ongoing review and reauthorization. Was this a “popular” decision? No indeed. The League has already encountered no end of criticism for its stand. But we don’t court popularity or subscribe to the concept of the “easy fix.” Our dedication to supporting good government which acts wisely and prudently in accomplishing its mission to provide its citizens with the best government possible leads us to take action this November. We must oppose good ideas that will have the result of damaging the process of government in our State. C ULVER VAN BUREN Attorney at Law E STATE P LANNING 348 EAST OLIVE AVENUE , SUITE F BURBANK , CALIFORNIA 91502 Vote with the League. No on Proposition 49 and 51!! (818) 846-7438 (818) 846-3802 FAX Hours: M-F 7-7 Sat 8-4 CATHY SELLITTO NOTARY PUBLIC Mobile Service Business Hospitals Residence (818) 502-0661 Country Gifts & Such NEW LOCATION First Congregational Church of Glendale 2001 Canada Blvd., Glendale Please no strollers allowed LARRY MILLER 1150 N. BRAND BLVD. GLENDALE CA 91202 (818) 246-1753 6 Action Items We need your help to pass these measures that are on the November ballot. Talk to friends and neighbors. Write the newspaper. Spread the word. Prop. 46 Prop. 47 HOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTER TRUST FUND ACT KINDERGARTEN-UNIVERSITY PUBLIC EDUCATION FACILITIES BOND ACT IT WILL FUND programs to meet the needs of people throughout the state, including low and moderate income families, women, children, seniors, workers, the homeless, students, teachers and other school personnel, homebuyers and the disabled. IT WILL BUILD new schools to relieve overcrowding and will provide funds to repair and renovate old and outdated schools. It’s a reasonable response to our current housing crisis that is leaving a growing number of Californians without safe, decent housing. It will provide funds to meet earthquake and fire standards. The money will be fairly distributed. There will not be competition for funds as in the past. It will encourage joint-use facilities between K12 and higher education. It will replace cuts to the General Fund spending for housing programs made because of this year’s budget problems. It will provide classrooms in overcrowded colleges and upgrade college labs, libraries and research facilities. It will help build 136,000 homes for first-time homebuyers, create 276,000 jobs and provide $800 million in low-interest loans to encourage multifamily housing construction. ACTION continued on page 8 Membership Application It is easy to join the League of Women Voters of Glendale/Burbank. All citizens of voting age are welcome. YES! I want to add my voice to yours by joining the League of Women Voters as part of your voice for citizens and force for change. I enclose: (please check one or more of the following) Name/Names _______________________________ ❏ $50.00 for a one-year individual membership (includes a copy of our VOTER, nine times per year) ❏ $70.00 for a one-year household membership for two members who share the same address (includes a copy of our VOTER, nine times per year) ❏ I am unable to join League at this time, but enclose a contribution of $ ____ Telephone _________________________________ Address ___________________________________ City, State, Zip ______________________________ ❏ I would like to receive my VOTER by email. My email address is _______________________ Make check payable to League of Women Voters. Mail to Vera Naylor, 7714 Via Capri, Burbank CA 91504. Gifts made payable to “LWV Education Fund” are tax deductible. 7 ACTION continued from page 7 County Measure Prop. B TRAUMA CENTER TAKE A LOOK at the health care cuts already in place. The next round of cuts will be the Trauma Network. These cuts affect you no matter where you live or work in Los Angeles County. All the medical insurance in the world won’t save your life if you can’t get to a trauma center within 30 minutes. Unless you can absolutely guarantee that you or someone you love will not have a heart attack, stroke, automobile accident, serious burn or other trauma injury—that there will be no earthquakes or other natural disasters—and that LA County will never suffer a bioterrorism attack you need to vote for this measure. The Voter is published nine times a year by the League of Women Voters of Glendale/Burbank, California. President: Chris Carson Editor: Chris Carson Production: Carole Dougherty Circulation: Anna Rundle The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization open to citizens—women and men—of voting age. The purpose of the League is to promote political responsibility through informed participation of citizens in government, and to act on selected issues. OUT! T I K ible on CHEC access is now a.lwvnet.org R E T .c O Our V ite. www.gb ! ebs s great our w It look 7714 Via Capri Burbank CA 91504 (818) 247-2407 League web sites: LWV Glendale/Burbank http://www.gb.ca.lwvnet.org LWV California http://ca.LWV.org LWV United States http://www.LWV.org Printed courtesy of Mail Boxes Etc. Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Glendale California Permit No. 1124 Dated Material Please do not delay
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