State Ballot Propositions

• Yes on Proposition 2, a bond measure that would provide $8.5 billion in funding for construction at TK-12 schools and $1.5 billion for community colleges. Children in California deserve school facilities that are in good repair. Providing no funding would hurt all students.

• Yes on Proposition 3, The Right to Marry and Repeal Amendment: Would recognize in California Constitution the fundamental right to marry, regardless of race or sex. And would ensure California’s Constitution keeps up with changing public sentiment.

• No on Proposition 4, fiscally irresponsible measure to fund host of environmental projects designed to placate political constituencies rather than ensure efficient and effective allocation of precious funds.

• No on Proposition 5, lowering vote threshold for many local measures. The future that Prop. 5 promises is one in which many Californians will pay higher property taxes in the name of improving affordability. Protect existing taxpayer protections.

• No on Proposition 6, end prison labor “slavery.” Inmates should not be legally empowered to dictate what chores they’re willing to do while behind bars.

• No on Proposition 32 that would boost the state’s minimum wage from $16 an hour to $18 in 2025, making California’s minimum wage the highest in the U.S. Measure is a flawed way to deal with deeper problems that will not be solved by simply mandating higher wages.

• No on Proposition 33, rent control. Would free local governments to set rent rules without restrictions. But, expanding rent control would only exacerbate the state’s housing crisis.

• Yes on Proposition 34, targeting AIDS foundation’s reselling of medications. Would cut off Michael Weinstein’s fundraising to support rent controls under the banner of AIDS health care, which is deliberately misleading use of AIDS funds and needs to end.

• No on Proposition 35, the Medi-Cal funding measure: More special-interest, ballot-box budgeting. The allocation of limited general fund money should be made when all the competing demands are weighed by state lawmakers.

• Yes on Proposition 36 to increase penalties for major theft crimes and serial offenders. The measure is a smart response to the state’s homelessness, retail theft and opioid-addiction crises.

Local Ballot Measures

• No on Measure R, Central Fire: The “ask” of $221 million is too much even for a district serving about 90,000 people that includes seven fire stations. District can return with a more reasonable measure that won’t further burden taxpayers.

• Yes on Measure S, Scotts Valley Fire, $24.5 million bond to replace station, and increase safety. The bond money would help pay for a new, centrally located fire station on La Madrona Drive near the Hilton hotel, to replace a decades-old facility on Erba Lane that would be unsafe in an earthquake.

• Yes on Measure T, Zayante Fire: Would replace an annual $75 parcel tax with a new tax from $50 to $290. Volunteer department would get funds to provide daytime staffing and repair and purchase equipment.

• No on Measure Q, the Land Trust-backed wildfire and water protection property tax. Measure is too broad and benefits one local nonprofit in particular. For all the expressed benefits, we would have liked to see a measure much more well defined, and one that doesn’t further increase already high taxes on property owners in the county.

• No on Measure U, SLV water fixed rates: Measure would hurt SLV schools and some other water users that would see costs rise dramatically. Also, the district needs a reliable source of funding for needed repairs — but water board should look into moderating increase.

• Yes on Measure X, Scotts Valley business license tax: Businesses already pay a license fee to operate in the city and the funds raised help pay for city services. This fee hasn’t changed since 1992.

• No on Measure Z, Santa Cruz city soda tax: Regressive tax will hurt lower-income families. Anyone wanting to purchase an untaxed sugar-sweetened beverage can just journey outside Santa Cruz city limits to do so. If a soda tax is that vital, then local leaders should work with legislators to make it statewide.

• Yes on Measure V would expand eligibility for city committee and commission members to all Watsonville residents. Will allow more equitable representation in providing guidance on issues that affect everyone in Watsonville.

• No recommendation on Measure W, updates on Watsonville city charter.

• Yes on Measure Y, Capitola sales tax increase. City’s tax if raised from 9% to 9.25% will be comparable to other cities in the county and the unincorporated area.

Candidates

• Scotts Valley City Council: Donna Lind, Dustin Lopez, Steve Clark. Lind will soon have completed four terms on council; Lopez, 24, would bring a new face and he worked modernizing the city’s website and writing the updated business license tax measure; Clark is a former deputy police chief in Santa Cruz with an extensive record of volunteering within the city and working as a government-policy consultant.

• Watsonville City Council: Trina Coffman-Gomez (District 6). Former councilmember running to replace a legally compromised sitting council member; has shown she will work improving homeless services and has pledged to make future affordable housing projects more financially conceivable for developers.

• Capitola City Council: Margaux Morgan, Gerry Jensen. Incumbent Morgan brings small-business perspective and experience to council; Jensen’s extensive public service record, and widespread support, in the city has prepared him for a next phase of serving residents.

• County Supervisorial District 2: Kristen Brown. Capitola City Councilmember Brown is chair of the county Regional Transportation Commission and former president of the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG), where she worked on the Regional Housing Needs Assessment process. Although her opponent, Kim De Serpa would also make a fine supervisor (and has extensive support in the southern part of the district), Brown’s extensive expertise in public policy makes her the choice here.

• County Supervisorial District 5: Monica Martinez. Although her opponent, Christopher Bradford is a strong candidate with support from CZU fire victims, Martinez, CEO of Encompass Community Services, the largest health and human services nonprofit in the county, has an established track record working with county departments and budgets, along with proven problem-solving abilities.

School Bonds

• Measure D – Aromas-San Juan School District Bond: $44 million bond.

• Measure L – Bonny Doon Elementary School District Bond: $7 million.

• Measure M – Pajaro Valley Unified School District Bond: $315 million.

• Measure N – Live Oak School District Bond: $45 million.

• Measure O – Scotts Valley School District Bond: $85 million.

• Measure P – Soquel Elementary School District Bond: $73 million.

Although K–12 enrollment is declining, schools still need funds for modernization and construction. We recommend a Yes vote on all six, although with one, Measure M for the PVUSD, it’s with some reluctance due to its overall size, and the burden on local taxpayers already paying for previous bonds. Still, the need for upgrading facilities is real. With another, Measure N for Live Oak, intended mainly to build teacher housing, we urge the school district to attach conditions allowing senior services to remain at their present site or have dedicated space at another location.

PVUSD School Board

Our Editorial Board doesn’t usually make recommendations for local school boards; however, we feel it is necessary to bring the PVUSD board election to the attention of our readers.

A year ago, PVUSD took the reasonable and responsible step to not hire a Liberated Ethnic Studies consulting firm. However, the board did not reject Ethnic Studies as some would have you believe. Instead, they would not hire a private Ethnic Studies consulting firm led by the key architect of the extremely divisive curriculum that Gov. Newsom, State Board of Education President Darling-Hammond, and the California Department of Education had already rejected.

Well ahead of the state deadline, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board jumped in to offer six Ethnic Studies courses, all which are here to stay in PVUSD, as it should be. The dispute is which consultant should be retained to guide district staff.

We urge voters to support Georgia Acosta and Oscar Soto who do not support this divisive program and to reject the candidates who are vowing to bring it back — Carol Turley, Gabriel Jesse Medina and Jessica Carrasco.

Ethnic Studies should be an important part of school curriculum. The program should recognize the importance of the contributions of our diverse population and the challenges they face. It should promote understanding and tolerance.

Editorials providing details on all the recommendations found here can be read at https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/endorsements/.