Carl DeMaio and Reform California have released their “Plain English” voter guide to give you an easy-to-understand explanation of the ballot measures and to grade candidates.
WARNING! CA politicians have placed several deceptively-worded measures on your ballot – and special interests are funding dishonest campaigns to trick voters and split the vote in key races.
Check out Reform California's “Plain English” Voter Guide below so you know what you are actually voting on – complete with ratings for all candidates on your ballot (including school board and judges) along with red flags on any measures with hidden tax hikes.
Review the guide below - and share it with your friends, family and neighbors!
No on Prop 1: Borrows $11.25 Billion for Costly Housing Projects
Politicians want to borrow $10 Billion on the taxpayers’ credit card — and you’ll pay back over $17 billion with interest. Provides taxpayer-funded subsidies to developers without reforming costly mandates that make housing so expensive. Prop 1 does nothing to make housing more affordable. Many of the boondoggle projects supported by this bond will cost more than $1 MILLION per unit! Campaign contributors to politicians also get special contracts under Prop 1.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 1
No on Prop 2: Guts State Budget Spending Limit and Cancels Tax Rebates
**DECEPTION ALERT: Appears on your ballot with the politicians’ FALSE ballot title of “Increases State’s Rainy Day Fund.”
Prop 2 claims to create a bigger rainy day fund in the state budget, but in reality it creates a new slush fund for politicians to engage in more wasteful spending. Prop 2 eviscerates the current voter-imposed spending limit on state politicians. Worse, it virtually eliminates the requirement that taxpayers receive tax rebates if revenues exceed the spending limit. With Prop 2, politicians get to keep more of your money so they can waste more of your money.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 2
No on Prop 3: Income Tax Increase
**DECEPTION ALERT: Biased title plays up funding for schools and health care without accountability for how the money is spent.
Makes permanent California’s highest-in-the-nation income tax rates at a time when California is losing employers, jobs and taxpayers to other states and seeing lower tax revenues as a result. Worse, Prop 3 does nothing to reform wasteful spending in the programs it purports to fund, so taxpayers will not see better services. This tax was sold as “temporary” in 2012, extended in 2016 and now politicians want to make it permanent before it even expires.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 3
No on Prop 4: Gives Your Tax Dollars to Politicians’ Campaigns
**DECEPTION ALERT: False cost estimate of only a “few hundred thousand dollars each year” when it will cost MILLIONS a year.
Repeals a previously approved ban on public financing of politicians’ campaigns. Voters wisely decided years ago that their tax dollars should never be used to fund the campaigns of politicians, but with Prop 4 the politicians are refusing to take no for an answer. They already tried to sneak this through the legislature in 2016. The courts threw it out and ruled that voters must decide. Ten years later they’re back, hat in hand, asking to spend your tax dollars on their attack ads. Tell them the same thing the courts did: NO.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 4
No on Prop 5: Weakens Citizens’ Right to Recall Politicians from Office
Makes it harder to Recall a politician from office and simultaneously replace them with a candidate of the voters’ choosing. Under Prop 5, if the voters recall the Governor, you don’t get to choose the replacement — the office is automatically handed to the political machine’s second-in-command. The decision will be entirely out of the voters’ control.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 5
No on Prop 37: Borrows $25 Billion for Costly Housing Projects
Provides taxpayer-funded subsidies to developers without reforming costly mandates that make housing so expensive. Worse, Prop 37 makes the State of California one of the biggest mortgage lenders in America overnight – and taxpayers are left holding the bag for any losses. Many of the boondoggle projects supported by this bond will cost more than $1M per unit! Campaign contributors to politicians also get special contracts under Prop 37.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 37
Yes on Prop 38: Public-Private Partnership Bonds for Immunology Research
Authorizes $8 billion in bonds to support immunology research with the repayment coming from proceeds of cures and treatments. This is the only bond on the ballot that puts the strings on the government instead of the taxpayer. Every drug and treatment developed with this funding must be sold in California at 20% BELOW the national average price. Half of the research money is required by law to target cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 38
Yes on Prop 39: Voter ID to Improve Trust in Elections
**DECEPTION ALERT: Appears on your ballot with the politicians’ FALSE ballot title of “Prohibits Citizens From Voting.”
Prop 39 is a bipartisan solution for Voter ID! That’s why it is supported by large majorities of Democratic, Republican and Independent voters. Prop 39 requires cleaning up and auditing of voter rolls and citizenship verification of anyone registering to vote. It keeps voting simple while adding integrity reforms to make voting more secure. The politicians falsely claim Prop 39 prohibits citizens from voting when it will only prevent non-citizens and ineligible individuals from voting. Prop 39 protects the right of every citizen to vote and restores public trust and confidence in our elections.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 39
No on Prop 40: “Billionaire” Tax that Is Really an “Everybody” Tax
Prop 40 is deceptively being sold as the "Billionaire's Tax" but it is really the "Everybody Tax!" Worse, Prop 40 creates the first-in-the-nation Wealth Tax (or Savings Tax) on Californians. Prop 40 contains a provision allowing state politicians to expand the Wealth Tax to everyone without another vote of the public. Prop 40 allows government to tax the value of your savings, checking account, 401k, stock portfolio, and current equity in your home. If you don't have the cash to pay the Wealth Tax, then you'd be forced to sell some of what you own.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 40
Yes on Prop 41: Audit Special Taxes
Prop 41 would make it harder for state and local politicians to impose special taxes on you. Prop 41 requires that all special taxes include audits on all revenues raised and programs funded through the tax to prevent waste, fraud and abuse or diversion of the funds by politicians. Prop 41 also requires that these special taxes adhere to the state's constitutionally-mandated spending limit. Under California law, when two conflicting measures pass, the one with more votes wins. Even if Prop 40 passes, a bigger yes on Prop 41 cancels it.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 41
Yes on Prop 42: Stop the Savings Tax
Prop 42 would prohibit state and local politicians from imposing a Savings Tax on Californians. Prop 42 would prohibit politicians from taxing the value of your savings, checking account, 401k, stock portfolio, and current equity in your home. We already pay the highest taxes on income, sales, property, gas and our cars— we don't need a Savings Tax on top of all that! If Prop 42 gets more votes than Prop 40, the Wealth Tax dies even if it passes. Every YES on 42 is a second NO on 40.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 42
Yes on Prop 43: Local Taxpayer Protection Initiative (Saves Prop 13)
**DECEPTION ALERT: Appears on your ballot with the FALSE title of “Limits Voters Ability to Raise Revenues for Local Government Services.”
Prop 43 is known as the Save Prop 13— Local Taxpayer Protection Initiative. Prop 43 makes it harder for local politicians to raise your taxes by restoring the two-thirds vote requirement on any local tax measures. It also closes loopholes the politicians have created in Prop 13 to violate the property tax caps that voters originally imposed. Opponents of Prop 43 simply want more of your money to fund their waste and fraud. Vote Yes on Prop 43 to turn the tide to make California more affordable.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 43
No on Prop 44: Imposes Costly Mandates on Community Health Clinics
Increases mandates and costs on community health clinics, threatening their ability to provide patient care. Clinics that miss the arbitrary 90% mandate pay penalties into a government account and hotwired to a narrow special interest group who is one of the politicians’ biggest campaign contributors. Trusted healthcare experts warn that Prop 44 would trigger $1.7 billion in penalties in the first year alone and force clinics across California to close their doors.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 44
Yes on Prop 45: Reduce Housing Costs by Cutting Red Tape
Reduces regulation and combats frivolous lawsuits that have increased the cost of housing projects. California’s environmental review law (CEQA) has been weaponized to block and delay housing, adding years and millions of dollars to every project. Prop 45 is the first time voters have ever been handed the chance to reform CEQA at the ballot box.
Measure D (NO)
City of Burlingame Business Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly business tax despite that will destroy jobs to simply support more massive levels of wasteful spending by the city.
Measure E (NO)
Redwood City Rent Control and Eviction Control Initiative
Imposes rent control that shrinks housing supply and drives up rents on everything it does not cover, extends eviction mandates to single-family homes and ADUs owned by small landlords and retirees, and builds a new city bureaucracy costing $5 to $11 million a year — funded by fees on property owners that get passed straight through to the tenants it claims to help.
Measure F (NO)
San Mateo Charter “Cleanup” and Emergency Powers Expansion
Masquerades as routine charter cleanup while allowing emergency ordinances to remain in force indefinitely, eliminating guaranteed twice-monthly evening council meetings, stripping elected councilmembers of confirmation over the city’s top financial officer, and doubling how long politicians may leave a council seat vacant.
Measure G (NO)
City of San Carlos Sales Tax Increase
Imposes a costly sales tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure H (NO)
City of San Mateo Sales Tax Increase
Imposes a costly sales tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure I (YES)
Half Moon Bay Downtown Boundary Update
A locally chosen boundary adjustment giving 286 property owners development options they do not have today, with the city's voter-imposed 1 percent annual growth cap left fully intact.
Measure J (YES)
San Mateo County Vacancy Public Comment Requirement
Requires the Board of Supervisors to hold at least one public meeting before handing anyone an elected county office, ending the practice of settling appointments privately and ratifying them in a single agenda item.
Measure K (NO)
San Carlos School District Property Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly property tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure L (NO)
San Mateo County Charter Climate Priority Declaration
Writes a symbolic extreme-weather priority into the county charter preamble, changing nothing the county cannot already do while manufacturing the legal justification for the spending, mandates and fee programs that follow.
Measure M (NO)
Jefferson Union High School Property Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly property tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure N (NO)
Portolo Valley Adoption of Town Charter + Transfer Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly business tax despite that will destroy jobs to simply support more massive levels of wasteful spending by the city.
Measure O (NO)
City of East Palo Alto Property Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly property tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure P (YES)
Menlo Park Downtown Parking Voter Approval Initiative
Citizen-initiated measure requiring the consent of the residents who paid for eight downtown parking plazas before City Hall can sell, lease or shrink them out from under the small businesses that depend on them.
Measure Q (NO)
Half Moon Bay 99-Year Dollar-a-Year Land Giveaway
Hands city-owned property worth millions to a private developer on a 99-year lease at one dollar a year — no rent, no revenue, no reversion for a century — when the city could lease at fair value and fund the same housing with a subsidy voters can see, price and end.
Measure R (NO)
Burlingame School District Property Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly property tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure S (NO)
San Bruno Repeal of Voter Approval Over Major Developments
Asks San Bruno voters to permanently surrender their own right to approve the tallest and densest projects in their city, handing the final word on height, density and scenic corridors to staff and a four-vote council majority.
Measure T (NO)
Pacifica School District Property Tax Renewal
Renews a costly sales tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure U (YES)
San Mateo County Independent Redistricting Commission
Takes the pen out of the hands of the politicians who run in the districts, requiring an independent commission to redraw supervisorial boundaries after each census instead of letting incumbents manufacture their own safe seats.
Measure V (NO)
San Mateo County Community College District Property Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly property tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure W (NO)
San Mateo-Foster City School District Property Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly property tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure X (NO)
City of Brisbane Business License Tax
Imposes a new costly business tax despite that will destroy jobs to simply support more massive levels of wasteful spending by the city.
Measure Y (NO)
City of Belmont Property Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly property tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure Z (NO)
Cabrillo Unified School District Property Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly property tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure AA (NO)
San Mateo County Charter Equity Declaration
Adds equity and belonging language to the county charter preamble, duplicating rights already guaranteed by the U.S. and California Constitutions while creating the hook for hiring, contracting and program preferences no voter approved.
Measure BB (NO)
City of Pacifica Sales Tax Increase
Imposes a costly sales tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Measure CC (YES)
East Palo Alto City Council Term Limits
Caps City Council service at three consecutive terms where no limit exists today, and closes the loophole that lets an appointee bank nearly two extra years before the clock starts running.
Measure DD (NO)
San Bruno Fire-Marshall-Approved-Fireworks Ban
Bans the State Fire Marshal-approved fireworks that are the legal alternative to illegal fireworks, while doing nothing about the illegal fireworks that actually start the fires.
Measure EE (NO)
City of San Bruno Business License Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly business tax despite that will destroy jobs to simply support more massive levels of wasteful spending by the city.
Measure RTM (No)
Regional Sales Tax Increase
Imposes a new costly sales tax despite massive levels of wasteful spending, giving government workers massive salary hikes and pension spikes, and awarding contracts to political supporters without fair and open competition.
Governor: Steve Hilton
Lt. Governor: Gloria Romero
Attorney General: Michael Gates
Secretary of State: Don Wagner
Treasurer: Jennifer Hawks
Controller: Herb Morgan
Insurance Commissioner: You are Doomed
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Sonja Shaw
State Board of Equalization
District 2: You are Doomed
Every four years voters get to decide whether to vote to retain or not retain justices to the CA Supreme Court and the six Court of Appeals.
California Supreme Court
Kelli Evans - DO NOT RETAIN
Joshua Groban - DO NOT RETAIN
1st District - California Court of Appeal Justices
Kathleen M. Banke (Associate Justice) - RETAIN
Tracie L. Brown (Presiding Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Gordon B. Burns (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Danny Y. Chou (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Tara M. Desautels (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Carin T. Fujisaki (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Jeremy M. Goldman (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Jim Humes (Administrative Presiding Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Teri L. Jackson (Presiding Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Marla J. Miller (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Ioana Petrou (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
James A. Richman (Associate Justice) - RETAIN
Victor A. Rodriguez (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Mark B. Simons (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Charles A. Smiley III (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Therese M. Stewart (Presiding Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Jon B. Streeter (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Alison M. Tucher (Presiding Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
Monique Langhorne Wilson (Associate Justice) - DO NOT RETAIN
U.S. House of Representatives
District 15: Charles Hoelter
District 16: Peter Soule
Senate
None listed
Assembly
District 19: You are Doomed
District 21: Jabra John Muhawieh
District 23: Dave Johnson
San Mateo Union High School District
Trustee Area 1: Jennifer Jacobsen
NOTE: If we do not make a recommendation on a candidate or ballot measure, we either could not support the measure or candidates running in that race, or do not have enough information to make an informed recommendation.
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