Sound: Experiments in Sound
Prop. Z
Voters in 2008 passed a measure, Prop. S, allowing the San Diego Unified School District to sell $2.1 billion in bonds to fix up campus facilities. So far, the district has spent roughly $400 million of that. As we understand it, because the district is so deep in debt, and because of a drop in property value resulting from the bad economy, the district has a cashflow problem and doesn’t have enough money to pay down debt from the issuance of conventional, reasonable bonds. So, it seems it can’t get at the rest of the money that voters allowed it to spend.
The district gets its operating revenue from the state, but it’s needed revenue from local property owners to upgrade its facilities. Currently, property owners annually pay $66.70 for every $100,000 in property valuation—Prop. S merely extended that rate; it didn’t increase it. Prop. Z would nearly double the current levy. Without new revenue, improvements to facilities—whether on the Prop. S project list or any new projects—would slow down to a crawl.
So, Prop. Z would inject the district with needed cash to issue remaining Prop. S bonds, as well as authorize the sale of $2.8 billion in bonds for a list of new projects under Prop. Z. It’s worth noting that before Prop. S was launched, the district identified a $7 billion list of needed improvements. To be sure, Prop. Z ain’t pretty; it’s a whopper of a tax increase. But our recommendation is to vote yes and pray that the economy starts humming again.
Medical-marijuana measures
After the shit-tornado that was the city of San Diego’s failed medical-marijuana ordinance left the pro-cannabis community in tatters, activists realized it would be much simpler to pursue change in smaller municipalities. So, if you live in Del Mar, Lemon Grove, Solana Beach or Imperial Beach, it is absolutely imperative that you get your ass to the poll to vote yes on these cities’ medical-marijuana initiatives.
Del Mar’s, Lemon Grove’s and Solana Beach’s initiatives are almost identical, having been proposed by the advocacy group Citizens for Patients Rights. The measures would create reasonable restrictions on where and how dispensaries may operate and also implements a 2.5-percent additional tax on cannabis sales that feeds right into those cities’ general funds. However, Lemon Grovers should vote hell-fucking-no on Prop. Q, the city’s alternative measure, which would levy a $200-per-patient fee. Imperial Beach’s initiative was developed by Americans for Safe Access and does not include additional taxes, but it does allow for collective members to consume marijuana on site, under strict circumstances—an important provision since many landlords still forbid marijuana use in rental properties.
Vote yes on Del Mar’s Prop. H, Solana Beach’s Prop. W, Lemon Grove’s Prop. T and Imperial Beach’s Prop. S, and vote no on Lemon Grove’s Prop Q.
