DiPrima Voter Guide 2020/Baraka the Vote

by Dominique DiPrima (of House Baraka)  –

 Sooooo…I’m not an elected official, an attorney or an expert. This is just my take on things. It’s unofficial, unpaid and certifiably bullshit-free. It’s worth noting that my voter guides only came to be because listeners from my radio show on KJLH asked me to do one. It has only continued because my dear friends will call, text and dm me from the polls asking for it. I love you guys. I’m not saying I’m always right and I’m not telling you how to vote…But I read a lot of stuff and argue with a lot of folks and this is what I came up with. Starting with props and ending with people since more of us know which people we support. I hope it’s helpful. #VoteHimOut

Proposition 14 – Conditional Yes 

But if you’re feeling fiscally conservative I wouldn’t be mad at you for voting no…

California has carried the rest of the nation by paying for stem cell research after the Bush Administration ridiculously banned the feds from paying for it. Now that it’s allowable for the federal government to pay for it again maybe they should. That said, the program has led to significant medical progress and the creation of many great jobs in California. This research provides progress in overcoming Alzheimers, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, Epilepsy,  and other brain and central nervous system diseases…So I’m voting yes.

Proposition 15 – Hell Yes!

Big corporations have been fleecing California since 1978 and it’s time for them to pay their share. This provides money for K-12 education and bolsters local budgets. Wouldn’t it be great if in the middle of a pandemic big corporations and manufacturers in California would finally start paying their fair share? Don’t let the lies in the TV commercials scare you into thinking this will raise individual or family property tax. That’s simply bullshit.

Proposition 16 – F***  Yes!!

Ends the prohibition on affirmative action in the state of California. Helps level the playing field and bring equity for Black people and others hobbled by systemic racism, hate and unconscious bias. Brought to you by the woman who authored the nation’s first reparations bill – Dr. Shirley Weber of San Diego – Prop 16 is a bill that directly fights systemic racism, provides scholarships for Black and POC children and enables contracts for Black BIPOC small businesses. It’s a chance to turn hashtags into IRL action.

Prop 17 – Yes

This restores voting rights to people the minute they get out of prison in California. It’s a massive expansion of voting rights for African American, Latinx, low income and other disenfranchised voters. Definitely yes.

Prop 18 – Another Yes

Allows 17-year olds who will be 18 by the general election to vote in the primary. Another expansion of voting rights – this time for teenagers, this legislation will increase voter engagement among young people.

Prop 19 – I’m Voting No

I always follow the money. This one is funded by the Association of Realtors and the Firefighters. I feel like they need to get with lawmakers and craft some thoughtful legislation to address what they are trying to do rather than foist something flawed on voters.

Prop 20 – Danger Danger Danger!! Tell a Friend – NO ON PROPOSITION 20

This is a reckless and mean-spirited attempt to undo criminal justice reforms wisely approved by California voters on three separate occasions. It will increase our mass-incarceration problem and waste money. Another law written by the kind of folks who love to criminalize Black people. No. No. Just no.

Prop 21 – Neutral  Yes

Please note Attorney Nana Gyamfi and BobbieJean Anderson just convinced me to vote yes on this. The governor just signed new rent control into law. It went into effect in January. The Governor has asked us to give it time to work.  Local municipalities like Inglewood and Pasadena have passed rent control measures that are even stricter than the new state law. Rents are falling because of the CoVid housing crisis. It’s true we need to get rid of the stupid Costa Hawkins law that restricts rent control on many newer buildings, however Prop 21 is not a clean bill to do that. Mom and Pop landlords and homeowners and builders are worried about the unintended consequences on this bill. Do I support Moms4Housing? – Yes! Do I think radical solutions are needed to solve California’s housing crisis?  Hell yes! And all who listen to me on the radio know I am a huge proponent of rent control…Our state is making progress. Activists are on the move to hold the Governor and other lawmakers accountable. And After the debacle that is AB5 I’m feeling cautious.

Prop 22 – No

I agree with the big tech companies along with many non-profits, small businesses and freelancers that AB5 is a nightmare and needs to be meaningfully and immediately reimagined. But I don’t think Proposition 22 is the solution. This situation in our state is beyond a proposition. It requires 21st century solutions that are fair for everyone. Labor, big tech and lawmakers need to sit down and figure out new rules. Independent workers deserve access to portable benefits, wage guarantees and ppe. Small businesses and nonprofits deserve rules that don’t drive them out of business due to cumbersome requirements that break their budgets. Freelancers should have the flexibility and opportunity afforded them by independence. Workers that rightfully deserve to be categorized as full time should not get the shaft and end up subsidizing their bosses. Between CoVid and technology the future of work is now and it’s drastically different than how it’s been for the past 100 years. Until we get medicare for all and/or a universal basic income we need to find ways to extend the protections of organized labor to workers in the context of a modern gig/independent/entrepreneurial system that is here to stay.

Prop 23 – Not Sure (So I’ll probably vote no) 

Requires dialysis clinics to have a Doctor on site. This one, prop 22 and prop 19 are the kind of things that make me wonder if California’s legislation-by-proposition system is really such a great idea.

Prop 24 – No

Pretends to increase internet privacy but it appears it will do the opposite. Creates bureaucracy not privacy.

Prop 25 – No

I would like to get rid of the cash bail system. But activists who I really respect say this proposition makes us prisoners of a racist algorithm and offers no other recourse to get released from prison. I really, really, really think we should get rid of the cash bail system. But Black Lives Matter LA and others I respect say to vote “No” so I am going to defer to them on this one. I sure hope we overcome the big money interests and annihilate the cash bail system.

LA County Measure J – Shout from the Rooftops YES!

This measure is the closest thing on the ballot to turning our protests directly into law, A Yes on Measure J will literally reimagine the county budget to include more funding for mental health services, housing and jobs and less for jails.

LA City Measure RR – Yes

This is a bond measure to upgrade Los Angeles schools with safety measures such as removing asbestos and lead paint and removing hazardous water conditions. Whose communities do you think are in need of these upgrades?

Long Beach Measure US – Yes

Taxes oil and minerals a nominal fee to help pay for city services and balance the municipal budget. Yup. We want that for Long Beach.

Top of Ticket – Duhhh Biden/Harris All Day!! (Do I really need to say this?)

Congresswoman Karen Bass (in my district,) or Congresswoman Maxine Waters (your district?) In California we are blessed to have competent, progressive and talented leadership in Congress.

Council District 10 – Mark Ridley-Thomas  

He is progressive. He is Black. He delivers. What more do you want??

Supervisor District 2 – Herb Wesson   

As a former Speaker of the Assembly and L.A.’s first Black City Council President he has the experience to do this job on day one. He is endorsed by Melina Abdullah of Black Lives Matter. I love his opponent but she is younger and will have a turn at this seat or Congress or the Senate. I will gladly vote for her then. But I’m all in for Mr. Wesson now.

George Gascon for District Attorney

He’s a progressive prosecutor with a proven track record in the Bay Area. He’s an LAPD vet so he should know local law enforcement well enough to be an effective reformer. He’s endorsed by Kamala Harris. After the Villanueva disaster, all eyes will be on Gascon to live up to his promises. And in the words of BLMLA “Jackie Lacey Must go”

Superior Court Judges:

Seat #72 – Myannna Dellinger – A progressive law professor who also brings gender diversity to the bench

Seat #80 David Berger – a veteran judge and former DA who civil rights attorneys rank as fair and polite

Seat #162 Scott Andrew Yang – endorsed by the L.A. Sentinel and the L.A. Federation of Labor

Los Angeles Community College District:

Seat 1 Charne Tunson – African American woman who is part of a progressive slate of Black women seeking to diversify this board

Seat 3 Gerry Anderson – African American man who teaches at West L.A. College. He scored an endorsement from the L.A. Times

Seat 5 Nichelle M. Henderson – An African American woman (also got the Times endorsement) who is part of the progressive Justice4laccd slate. She is a  former middle school teacher and current Cal State lecturer.

Seat 7 Raquel Watts – Although the incumbent, Mike Fong is quite good Ms. Watts is part of the progressive LACCD slate. She is well qualified and voting for her  allows me to vote for all black candidates for this board which currently has not one African American on it despite serving so many Black students in it’s system. She has worked on behalf of injured workers, as a long time volunteer at Crenshaw Christian Center and advocate for underrepresented students at USC.