Please note: the opinions expressed in this post are the opinion of me alone, and do not constitute any endorsement by the Calitics editorial board.

As we draw closer to March 3, I wanted to discuss some of the important things that are on the Los Angeles Municipal ballot.  Obviously, the Mayoral race is getting some attention, but it seems pretty obvious that Antonio will win that one in a cakewalk.  But there’s a lot of other stuff going on that I’d like to focus on–like local measures that can make a huge difference, as well as local races that will determine who gets to be the Democratic Party bench in the Los Angeles area.

I’d like to start with Measure B, a measure which, if passed, will end up generating 400MW of solar power within the L.A. Basin itself by providing funding for installation of solar panels on roofs all over the city.  Now, I’m not sure about the specifics, but apparently the measure got put on the ballot in some sort of backroom deal that hasn’t made some people all that happy–and they’re using that as a reason to vote against the measure.  Personally, I can’t think of anything more ridiculous than that.  If a measure is on the ballot, it should be judged by its merits, and then the process should be examined later.

And speaking of merits:

Measure B also requires the establishment of a training academy that will train people from underprivileged areas to install and maintain the facilities so that the workers don’t have to be imported from outside the city, and also gives a bid preference to equipment providers who are located within Los Angeles, which will incentivize the development of a solar industry in Los Angeles.  And if we have to import panels from China in the meantime, that’s still better than the alternative of burning coal.

So, bottom line: cleaner air, green-collar jobs, and industrial growth.  And how much will it cost?  Well, according to the Huron report commissioned by the DWP, it will cost the average ratepayer an addition of $1.05 on each monthly bill.  Not bad, all in all.  The best part about all this is that it can have an immediate stimulative impact, since many of the projects are ready to go once the measure is approved.  Not to mention, Measure B has the endorsement of just about every single prominent progressive politician and environmental organization in the area.  Bottom line: YES on Measure B.

There are also LAUSD School Board races and Community College races on the March 3 ballot, and Republicans have actually made an organized effort to win the Community College Board races, so getting out and voting in those is going to be especially important.  While Angela Reddock (2), Kelly Candaele (4), and Miguel Santiago (7) need you votes to win against the Republicans that are challenging them, Seat 6 is actually contested between three Democrats in addition to a Republican challenger: Nancy Pearlman is being challenged by labor movement figure Greg Akili, as well as Robert Nakahiro, a community activist whom I’ve met a few times.  That race might go to a runoff.

The LAUSD 4 race should also be interesting: it’s contested between two Democrats, Steve Zimmer and Mike Stryer.  While I think Mike is a great candidate, I was really impressed by Steve Zimmer when I got the chance to interview him.  Steve’s skill with organizing and his passion for improving education really shone through, and I’m definitely joining Eric Garcetti in pulling for Steve Zimmer.

Oh, and…Wendy Greuel for Controller and Jack Weiss for City Attorney (over Trutanich, please!).

• CalSTRS, along with CalPERS, has been a leading voice in the good corporate governance movement. Their next mission: get more women on corporate boards. They did a study, and apparently companies with higher female representation on the board fared better.

• Apparently some folks are mad that the Los Angeles plan, Measure B on the March ballot, to create 400 MW of solar power is using city workers instead of private contractors that do solar installations across the region. Taking a different tack, City controller Laura Chick has come out strongly against the plan, which was backed by Mayor Villaraigosa and Council President Eric Garcetti because cost estimates are very squishy.

• We keep trying to break out from under the thumb of the prison receiver.  This time it is AG Jerry Brown trying to argue it is unnecessary. Apparently, and somewhat laughably, he thinks the state should take control of the situation. The trouble is that we haven’t actually done anything to correct the problems that lead to the receiver’s appointment in the first place.

Our leaders have nobody to blame but themselves on this one. Their lack of courage, with only a few notable exceptions like Gloria Romero, has been exceptional in its cowardice.

• Asm. Pedro Nava loves animals.

• Another one: Apparently the primary fights are set to begin. Asm. Anthony Adams is already getting primary threats from none other than Dick Mountjoy. Yes, the same Dick Mountjoy that lost to DiFi by like 40 points or something. Apparently he has a term left, but hasn’t said anything official. He’ll just wait and see who will devour  Mr. Adams first.  Let the feeding frenzy begin.

• Check the video of Sen. Steinberg talking at the Sacramento Press Club (posted here). Regular readers might be interested in his explanation of the Big 5 meetings at about the 9:30 mark. (h/t CapAlert)

By Dave Johnson, Speak Out California

In Santa Clara County they want to extend Bay Area Rapid Transit down to San Jose.  To fund this they put Measure B, a 1/8 cent sales tax, on the ballot.  In California all tax measures must pass by a 2/’3 margin and on Election Day the voters approved Measure B by a 2/3 margin.

That would be the end of it, except the vote was very close to exactly 2/3.  For several days it looked as though the measure would fail because it reached a few votes short of exactly 66.66% but when the last ballot was counted the result was 66.78% in favor.  So in the face of a 2/3 vote by the people, a group sued to block certification pending a recount.  Yes, with 2/3 of the public voting for this, a group sued to stop it!

My observation is that this demonstrates something important about the “anti-tax” forces in our state.  Their intent is to hobble our democracy and thwart the will of the people.  It is time for us to take back democracy and return majority vote to tax measures!  

It is nearly impossible to get 2/3 for anything, ever, in an election.  Clearly this 2/3 requirement is about hobbling democracy, not protecting rights.  The public wanted to bring BART to San Jose.  A remarkable 2/3 voted for this, yet a group sues based on the count being close to exactly 2/3.  And in our state legislature the budget process has completely broken down as a 1/3 minority blocks every budget, every compromise and every last attempt to pass sensible measures to run our state!  We are now in a “Fiscal Emergency,” cutting back our schools and laying people off during a recession.  This is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing and of what the public wants, but there is no choice because we are hobbled by rules that anti-government extremists managed to sneak past misinformed voters decades ago.

We must get rid of the 2/3 requirement.  It is time.  Democracy and good government are back in fashion so let’s get on with it!

(By the way, California’s Secretary of State ruled that the law says automatic recounts occur when the vote count is very close to 50/50.  Since the vote count was 2/3 the law does not apply even though the election was close. A judge ruled Tuesday that the attempt to block Measure B came too late.

Click through to Speak Out California