Mar 04 2011
Los Angelinos Face 10 City Ballot Measures
There are ten measures on the March 8th Los Angeles city ballot. With little campaign fanfare, it is difficult for voters to decide which way to vote, and the measures’ technical language does little to help. Additionally, local elections in March often attract the tiniest of turnouts. But many of the ballot measures deal with various aspects of the city budget and in these tough times, it’s important for voters to take such decisions. Measure G would address the generous pension plans of public security officers won under the mayor-ship of Republican Richard Riordan. Measure H is an attempt to increase the size of the city’s public financing pot and undermine the conflicts of interest that exist when city contractors make campaign contributions to local candidates. Measures I and J would establish oversight of the LA Department of Water and Power and require budgetary accountability to the City Council respectively. Measure L, which has garnered perhaps the most attention, would adjust the city budget to allow Los Angeles’ libraries to stay open 6 days a week, instead of the current recession-era 5-days a week. Measure M is a medical marijuana city tax which comes at a time when hundreds of dispensaries are facing forcible city closures. Measure N also relates to campaign financing, amending the charter to be consistent with recent court decisions. Measure O is an oil-extraction tax supported by all but one member of the LA City Council. And, finally Measure P would create a city reserve account in case of emergencies such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks.
GUEST: Dante Atkins, Regional Vice Chair for the Los Angeles County Democratic Party
Check out the Courage Campaign’s Progressive Voter Guide here: http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/share/MarchVoterGuide
4 Responses to “Los Angelinos Face 10 City Ballot Measures”
VOTE NO on Measure M – Medical cannabis should not have a “Sin Tax” on top of the 9.75% tax paid on the medicine. Collectives pay taxes already to the State Board of Equalization.
Measure M is only to INCREASE the tax already imposed an EXTRA 5%. This would be more than acceptable if it were to tax legal cannabis use for adults. This is not that tax.
This measure is to tax the patients a “sin tax” because the word marijuana is associated with a negative connotation. Please don’t tax the sick and dying because city government can’t balance their finances.
When recreational cannabis use is legal I will vote to tax it, but until then, like the budget gap shouldn’t rest on the backs of teachers in Wisconsin, so too should our local government look elsewhere than those who cannot afford it to pay for the difference in our local budget crisis.
Vote No on Measure M – Don’t put a sin tax on medicine!
vote NO on Measure M.
Measure M is not fair for patients. The new 5% tax is in addition to existing county sales tax, bringing the patients’ total tax burden to 14.75%! Proponents say that patients’ associations must pay their “fair share,” but the Measure M tax is almost ten times higher than any other business license tax in the city. How can that be fair?
The city’s medical cannabis ordinance already requires patients’ associations to pay for registration, inspection, and enforcement. Funds raised by Measure M are not ear-marked for that purpose. In fact, Measure M is simply an effort to close the city’s budget shortfall. Vote NO on Measure M to let the City Council know they need to find a better way to balance the budget – one that doesn’t put the burden on law abiding medical cannabis patients.
Turnout for Tuesday’s Primary Election is likely to be small, so we can have a big impact! Patients and advocates can stop Measure M – if they turn out to vote. Find your polling place in Los Angeles and make it a priority to vote NO on Measure M on Tuesday, March 8.
What will happen once measure m passes is that dispensaries will be forced into a for profit structure due to the tax
This has happened else where in Northern California.
If you are against Measure M you are for the war on drugs
The Mexican drug cartels do not want measure m to pass because It will legitimize medical marijuana
The police who make millions off of criminalizing marijuana and marginalizing medical marijuana are against measure m just like the big drug cartels in Mexico!
Let’s legitimize medical marijuana and put more teachers and firefighters to work!