Though at the Federal level the Nov. 8 election results were a hard pill to swallow, at the state and local levels progressives and environmentalists saw plenty to be excited about.
From the statewide ban on plastic bags to Sonoma County’s overwhelming approval of anti-sprawl regulation Californians overwhelmingly voted to continue working to stand up for the environment.
Here is a run-down of the victories endorsed by Sierra Club Redwood Chapter.
California Propositions
Prop 56: Cigarette Tax
Facing heavily-funded opposition from the tobacco and convenient store industries, Prop 56 won with 64 percent of the vote to add a $2 tax onto packs of cigarettes and equivalent tax increases on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. Revenue from this tax will go to physician training to increase the number of primary care and emergency doctors, prevention and treatment of dental diseases, Medi-Cal, tobacco-use prevention, research on tobacco-related diseases, including cancer, and prevention programs in schools.
With this vote, California raised its cigarette tax more than 2 dollars higher than the national average. New York has the highest tobacco tax at $4.35 per pack.
Prop. 58: Multilingual Education
This proposition to strengthen non-English-language instruction in California public schools repeals most of 1998’s controversial Prop 227, which was intended to prohibit non-English languages from being used in public schools. Prop. 58 passed with almost 74 percent of the vote.
Prop. 58 allows schools to offer bilingual education to English Language Learners instead of sole English instruction.
Prop. 59: Overturn Citizen’s United
Californians took to the polls to call on officials to overturn the Supreme Court decision to allow unfettered corporate spending in elections, commonly known as "Citizen’s United."
Prop. 59 passed with 53 percent of the vote.
In 2010, the Supreme Court held in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that political contributions and spending were protected as “free speech.” Essentially, the law allowed corporations to act as people when contributing to campaigns. Opponents of Citizens United say this has opened the floodgates of pernicious money backing pro-fossil fuel, anti-labor, anti-regulation and socially conservative candidates.
Prop. 59 urges officials to use their power to fully regulate and limit campaign contributions and to show that corporations should not have the same constitutional rights as human citizens.
Prop. 67: Plastic Bag Ban Veto Referendum
Fifty-three percent of California voters agreed that 2014 legislation banning single-use, non-biodegradable plastic bags is a good idea and should be upheld. Since bans have been introduced in cities and counties throughout the state, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sonoma County, the plastic bag industry has been throwing money into overturning these decisions.
Prop. 67 was designed to prohibit large grocery stores and pharmacies from using the bags, and in the following year the directive would include small stores, convenience stores and liquor stores. Customers wishing to purchase a bag for 10 cents can do so. Prop. 67 also provides $2 million to state plastic bag manufacturers to help retain jobs and transition to making more environmentally-friendly bags.
Sonoma County Measure K: Protecting open space and farmland from sprawl
Sierra Club and other local groups campaigned to pass this measure, which mandates voter approval for changes to the county’s General Plan in relation to increased density or intensity of development on 17,000 acres of designated “community separators.” This will be upheld for another 20 years.
Proponents argued it helped retain the boundaries of the distinct communities within the county, while preserving vital natural areas and rural zones. More than 81 percent of Sonoma County voters approved this measure. Measure K upholds measures from the 1990s that aimed to support “city-centered growth.”
Sonoma County Measure M: Banning GMOs
Measure M passed with almost 56 percent of the vote on Nov. 8. The measure bans genetically modified organisms to be propagated, cultivated, raised or grown within the county.
The county ag commissioner is responsible for enforcing the ordinance.
The cause is gaining traction. Sonoma County follows Santa Cruz, Marin, Mendocino and Humboldt counties in a GMO ban.
Sonoma County Measure Y: Supporting Libraries
Second time’s a charm for the Sonoma County Library, which succeeded with 71 percent of the vote in getting a financial boost to its dwindling coffers. Measure Y, which was a re-iteration of a near miss 2014 measure to increase sales tax to support libraries, adds an eight of a cent of sales tax, funneling an estimated $10 million to the system. It needed two-thirds majority to win.
The added funds will go to buoy the public service, which has seen its operating hours dwindle, buildings needing updates and long waiting lists for books.
Mendocino County Measure AF: Marijuana Regulations
This flawed measure, opposed by Sierra Club, was defeated at the ballot with 62 percent of the vote. AF would have decreased regulations on commercial medical cannabis production. Local editorial boards urged for a No vote to uphold regulations that were set in place to rein in an industry that had been allowed to run rampant. The measure was proposed by marijuana growers, and among many points would render violations to environmental laws administrative rather than criminal.
With California legalizing marijuana statewide in this same election, Mendocino County will have a lot of experience to lend other municipalities as they confront the reality of the industry.