With Majority of Votes Counted, Results of Statewide, Local Measures Available

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

In addition to casting their presidential pick, California voters had the opportunity to vote on the fate of 12 statewide propositions during this year’s election, covering issues from property taxes to affirmative action and more.

Propositions require approval by a majority vote, and those approved by voters will take effect once election results are certified in December.

With polls closed as of Tuesday, November 3, the majority of votes are in, with millions more absentee, mail-in and provisional ballots yet to be counted.

Three measures of the 12 had implications on California’s public education system and youth.

Proposition 15 would raise commercial and industrial property taxes, allowing them to be taxed at their market value rather than their purchase price, drawing in additional tax revenue for local government services and schools. Voters rejected this initiative.

Proposition 16 would repeal 1996’s Proposition 209, allowing the use of affirmative action or decision-making policies to consider race, ethnicity and sex in a way to address diversity. This initiative did not pass.

Proposition 18 would allow 17 year olds who would be 18 by the time of the general election to register and vote in the primary election. Voters rejected this initiative.

Los Angeles also had a number of county-specific measures on the ballot.

Measure RR would authorize Los Angeles Unified School District to issue billions in bonds to update classrooms, labs and technology for 21st century learning, implement COVID-19 facility safety standards, address school inequities, and more.

According to LAVote.net, 55% of votes were cast as the Palisadian-Post went to print Tuesday evening, with more than 70% leaning yes toward the initiative.

Measure J would require the county to budget no less than 10% of the county’s locally generated, unrestricted revenues in the general fund to address disproportionate impacts of racial injustice through community investment and alternatives to incarceration.

According to LAVote.net, the majority of votes were cast as the Post went to print Tuesday evening, with more than 57% leaning yes toward the initiative.

LA Unified School Board Member Nick Melvoin, serving Board District 4, which includes the Palisades, spoke to the success of the two measures in a statement.

“Locally, I am proud of Los Angeles County for showing where we can go when we put kids and communities first,” he said. “This roadmap included voting overwhelmingly to pass Measure RR … and Measure J. This is not the end of the road for our advocacy on behalf of our kids’ future.”

In addition to statewide and local measures, the AP called the race for Assemblymember and former Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom.

Bloom is a current member of the California State Assembly representing District 50, which spans the Santa Monica Mountain range along the coast, through the Palisades, Malibu, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.

He assumed office in 2012, with his current term slated to end on December 6 of this year.

Bloom ran for re-election to the California State Assembly and won comfortably with 80% of the vote, beating Will Hess.