As the United States tumbles towards white Christian nationalism — what our parents and grandparents called fascism — each election takes on ever greater importance. Here are my endorsements for 2020, with a north Berkeley emphasis, meaning I do not cover other assembly districts. Sorry. In the order they appear on my ballot, here are my endorsements:
PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT: Joseph R Biden and Kamala D Harris
13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Barbara Lee
9TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT: Nancy Skinner
15TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT: Buffy Wicks
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE: Mark Fickes
CITY OF BERKELEY RENT STABILIZATION BOARD: Mari Mendonca, Dominique Walker, Leah Simon-Weisberg, Xavier Johnson, Andy Kelley
SCHOOL DIRECTORS: Laura Babitt, Ana Vasudeo
AC TRANSIT DISTRICT DIRECTOR, AT LARGE: Chris Peeples
AC TRANSIT DISTRIC DIRECTOR, WARD 2: Jean Walsh
EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT DIRECTOR, WARD 1: Elizabeth Echols
PROPOSITION 14: YES (Opponents say “We can’t afford to waste billions.” But this plays directly into the hands of anti-science, so-called “pro-life” opponents of stem cell research. If there are administrative flaws, these need to be addressed administratively, not fiscally.)
PROPOSITION 15: YES
PROPOSITION 16: YES
PROPOSITION 17: YES
PROPOSITION 18: YES
PROPOSITION 19: YES (Sorry Fred and Maureen. I just have a hard time opposing any proposition whose opponents include the “Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association,” the same group that brought us the horrid Proposition 13. Yes, it is not a perfect proposition. It allows homeowners to maintain low tax rates even when they move elsewhere in the state, even when they purchase properties more expensive than the properties they sold. This places a burden on state and local revenues. At the same time, it limits the properties to which this rule applies to properties, including farmlands, under $1M. Not a perfect Proposition. But Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association? No. Vote Yes.)
PROPOSITION 20: NO
PROPOSITION 21: YES
PROPOSITION 22: NO (Because of the dirty advertisements its proponents have been fielding, I call this the “sharecropper” proposition. The advertisements feature women of color begging voters to allow them the freedom to enjoy low wages, no job security, no benefits, and no bargaining rights.)
PROPOSITION 23: YES
PROPOSITION 24: NO
PROPOSITION 25: YES
COUNTY PROPOSITION V: YES
COUNTY PROPOSITION W: YES
BERKELEY FF: YES
BERKELEY GG: YES
BERKELEY HH: YES
BERKELEY II: YES
BERKELEY JJ: YES
BERKELEY KK: YES
BERKELEY LL: YES
BERKELEY MM: YES
BERKELEY MAYOR: Jesse Arreguin
BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 6: Richard Illgen
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Methodology: I canvassed five lists: the Alameda Labor Council, the Berkeley Democratic Club, Fred and Maureen’s list, the Democratic Socialists of America list, and the Green Party CA, Alameda County list. Where three of these five lined up, which often they did, the choice was clear. Where they did not line up, I consulted the Official Voter Information Guide for California, read the Proposition, read the arguments pro and con, took note of who endorsed and who opposed the proposition, and made my mind up on that basis.
If you like, feel free to contact me at joseph.lough@gmail.com.