March 2, 2020

Voting locally matters! That’s why we created this handy guide for the 2020 California primaries for you. Read on to see our suggestions for the local measures and propositions as well as thorough candidate profiles for the Los Angeles DA race. 

Proposition 13: Vote Yes

School and College Facilities Bond

Supporters

Organizations

California Democratic Party

California Teachers Association

Officials

Governor Gavin Newsom

Secretary of State Alex Padilla

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Summary: Authorizes $15 billion in state general obligation bonds for construction and modernization of public education facilities. Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs to repay bonds estimated at about $740 million per year (including interest) over the next 35 years. 

Pros: Funding essential repairs to make California public schools safer and healthier. Removal of toxic mold and asbestos from aging classrooms. More school nurse facilities. Cleaner drinking water. Fire and earthquake safety upgrades. Strong taxpayer controls. 

Cons: Potential to drive up cost of new housing and would let local school districts propose larger bond measures of their own than the law currently permits

MPAC Recommendation: Vote Yes

Measure R: Vote Yes

(Los Angeles County) Civilian Police Oversight Commission and Jail Plan Initiative 

Supporters 

Organizations

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) 

L.A. County Democratic Party 

Officials

Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA - D)

Senator Bernie Sanders (VT - D) 

Summary: Authorizes the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission in Los Angeles to develop a plan to reduce incarceration, ease jail overcrowding, reduce recidivism -- in particular among mentally ill and chronically unhoused populations -- and mandate that alternatives to incarceration for vulnerable populations be studied and prioritized over the building of new jails. Additionally it also gives the commission a better ability to investigate police misconduct by giving them the power to subpoena testimony and evidence. 

Pros: Tackles the on-going problems of massive overpopulation of LA jails and the mental health facilities within them and gives the Commission power to investigate police misconduct. 

Cons: Critics say that Measure R won’t improve public safety or transpactance and will lead to lawsuits that cost taxpayers money.   

MPAC Recommendation: Vote Yes

Los Angeles DA Race

Candidate Profiles

*As a 501c3 non-profit, MPAC cannot endorse candidates running for office. However we have created these candidate profiles to help you as you make your decision for this race.

George Gascón

History: Former DA for San Francisco, army veteran & career police officer, prosecutor 

Platform Issues

Death Penalty: Supports the ablishment of the death penalty, has commited to never using it. 

Supports Bail Reform: Calls for the complete abolishment of the cash bail system. 

Criminal Justice Reform:  Supports need to address systemic racism in the criminal justice system. Gascon co-authored Prop. 47, which reduced some non-violent felonies to misdemeanors. 

Police shootings: Willing to consider independent special prosecutor in cases of police shootings. 

Endorsements

Organizations

Los Angeles Times

California Democratic Party

Muslim Democratic Club of Southern California

Officials

Senator Kamala Harris (CA - D)

Rep. Maxine Waters (CA - D) 

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Jackie Lacey (incumbent)

History: Career prosecutor, headed major crimes and narcotics units in Central Operations Bureau 

Platform Issues

Death Penalty: Supports death penalty for “worst of the worst offenders, including child murderes and serial killers”  and has used it in the past. 

Bail Reform: Supports bail reform, but not its outright elimination, wants allowances for Judges to implement it in certain cases.

Criminal Justice Reform: Says it’s important to be aware of things like racial income disparities, but sees her main priority as protecting the victims of crime.

Policy Shootings: Has a weak record on police shootings, says it is "very, very difficult" to prosecute these cases.  

Endorsements

Organizations

Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs 

Los Angeles Police Protective League 

Officials

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA - D)

Mayor Eric Garcetti  (CA - D)

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Rachel Rossi  

History: Public defender, majority counsel to House of Representatives’ subcommittee on crime, terrorism, and homeland security.

Platform Issues

Death Penalty: Supports the ablishment of the death penalty, has commited to never using it. 

Supports Bail Reform: Calls for the complete abolishment of the cash bail system. 

Criminal Justice Reform: Supports need to address systemic racism in the criminal justice system. Supported Prop. 47, which reduced some non-violent felonies to misdemeanors. 

Police shootings: Calls for the use of outside prosecutors to investigate police shootings to ensure fair inquiries.  

Endorsements

Organizations

Black L.A. Young Democrats

Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles Chapter

Officials/Individuals

Councilmember Daniel Lee (CA)

Councilmember Jawane Hilton (CA)

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