How I voted in downtown Sacramento, CA today

I live in downtown Sacramento.  Here’s how I voted today on the whole ballot

I’ll start with ballot initiatives and move “up” to city races (Katie Valenzuela for City Council over Steven Hansen), Democratic Central Committee members and then Congress and President.  Scroll down as far as you dare.

Statewide

Prop 13  –YES  (no, not that Prop 13) Authorizes $15 billion in bonds for Facility repair, construction, and modernization at Public preschools, K-12 schools, community colleges and universities— (bonds, or loans are not the most progressive way of funding public schools, that would be a progressive income tax that taxes the rich at a higher rate, but the money is genuinely needed and this is supported by the schools)

Local

Los Rios Community College District

Measure E— YES authorizes $650 million in bonds without increasing tax rates to repair class rooms in all community colleges within the district—(same reasoning as Prop 13)

Sacramento City

Measure G—NO--sets aside 2.5% of city’s unrestricted revenues for a Children’s Fund for 12 years to be spent only on qualifying youth and child services—. 

Sounds good but is opposed by Mayor Steinberg, former mayor Heather Fargo and others because it could result in services like our neighborhood pool being shut down during lean years.  Steinberg is crafting a compromise measure that would dedicate funds to youth and children without endangering those services. 

Member, County Central Committee, District 1

If you are a registered Democrat, you will have an opportunity to vote for 6 Democratic delegates to the Central Committee  in various districts that correspond to your county supervisor district.

The Wellstone Democratic club, which I am member of, has run specific slates of progressive Democrats for these districts. 

In District 1 the slate is

Robert Longer, David Lee Mandel, Michelle Pariset, Karen Bernal, Timothy Irvine, Shirley Toy

You can see the other districts here.

Mayor: Darrell Steinberg

State Assemblymember:  Kevin McCarty

Congress:  incumbent Doris Matsui is okay but I’m voting for Benjamin Emard as a protest against Matsui failing to enact a progressive agenda.

Member, City Council, District 4:  Katie Valenzuela over incumbent Steve Hansen. Katie, a progressive environmental advocate, is smart, capable and energetic.  Steve Hansen is smart, ambitious and closely aligned with Sacramento business community.  We can do better.  Katie is running a spirited campaign, recently packed an auditorium at McClatchy High school to debate Hansen.

Democratic Nominee for President of the United States

Bernie Sanders D-VT

With his diverse energetic engaged coalition, his approval ratings and trust-worthiness, Bernie is best poised to beat the incumbent president in key battleground states.  The president is privately reported to be most worried about running against Bernie because he draws the biggest crowds and can’t and won’t be thrown off his stride by anything the president does.