1 Attachment(s)
Progressive Sebastopol's Downloadable Nov 2016 Voter Guide Candidates/Measures/Props
Progressive Sebastopol November 2016 Voter Guide: Local Candidates
Palm Drive Health Care District Board Gail Thomas & Rob Cary
This is by far the most important local contest of the 2016 election! Progressive Sebastopol urges you to vote only for Gail Thomas and Rob Cary as though your life depends upon it—because the lives of some of us in West County will depend on whether the Sonoma West Medical Center (SWMC) and its emergency room remain open. Shockingly, a slate of three other candidates led by Jim Horn are running on the platform of closing our hospital, selling the building, and illegally diverting our tax revenue to other health services (run by their political allies) that do not include emergency care. Yes, it remains a struggle to sustain SWMC in this day of institutionalized insurance consortiums controlling our choices. But we pay the same tax whether the hospital remains open or closed. There is no reason to vote anyone onto this Board who does not stand for keeping our hospital open and helping it thrive.
Sebastopol City Council Jonathan Greenberg & Michael Carnacchi
Jonathan Greenberg, a founder of Progressive Sebastopol, recused himself from this vote, but our other members are unanimous in this endorsement. Jonathan has been one of the city’s most effective leaders in reopening our hospital, and he correctly believes that our City Council needs to take an actively supportive role to help secure governmental grants and programs. We see no issue more important than keeping a life-saving emergency room open for our families and neighbors, and Jonathan is the only candidate with the endorsement of Palm Drive Board members Powers and Colthurst (the “Doc and the Cop”), as well as Dr. Jim Gude. Jonathan is an experienced policy expert with real solutions for addressing our housing crisis, restoring library hours, and adding zero-emission electric trucks for our city parks.
Michael Carnacchi does not believe in seeking endorsements, but through his dedication, integrity, and independent creative thinking, he has earned ours. As an artisanal bootmaker and public-interest champion of small businesses, Michael has remained a political outsider while heading the Sebastopol Downtown Chamber of Commerce. We endorse Michael because he, like Jonathan, brings fresh, politically independent insight to empower our City Council.
County Supervisor 5th District Neutral/No endorsement
Our 5th District is blessed that Noreen Evans and Lynda Hopkins are both extremely hard working, caring, intelligent, and capable progressive Democrats. During last June’s primary, Progressive Sebastopol endorsed Lynda Hopkins. For the November election, after reviewing both candidates’ responses to short questionnaires and receiving too many mailers from an anti-Evans PAC, we choose to remain neutral.
Both candidates have their advantages. Evans has a proven, reliable track record as an environmentalist and brings far more experience in government. She also supports some funding for restoring library hours should Measure Y fail. Yet, experience cuts both ways. Entrenched political insiders like Evans are less likely to reassess their failed policies, such as our County’s inadequate response to the housing crisis and out-of-control pension costs.
We like that Hopkins is an organic farmer and brings a fresh and responsive approach to challenging local issues like County pensions and attainably priced housing. On the other hand, we have become increasingly concerned about her funders and the negative PAC campaign attacking Evans’ solid record as an environmentalist. We were also disappointed at Hopkins’ unwillingness to commit to County co-funding to restore library hours should Measure Y fail.
Progressive Sebastopol 2016 Voter Guide: Ballot Measures
Local Ballot Measures
Measure K YES
We would have preferred that this initiative contained an exemption for affordable housing, but in general support maintaining green belts around our cities.
Measure L YES
Raises county revenue by raising tourist tax from 9 to 12%; more in line with other counties.
Measure M YES
A GMO-free Sonoma County that protects our thriving organic farms and dairies from GMO contamination can be ours on January 1. Monsanto and its allies are pouring mountains of cash into a campaign to misinform the public. Stick with our grassroots neighbors and vote YES to join surrounding counties in creating a GMO-free Northern California coastal zone.
*Measure Y YES
This tiny 1/8 of 1% sales tax will reopen our precious libraries on Mondays and evenings, and resolve the worst library funding crisis in County history. It needs a challenging 66.7% of the vote to pass, so please vote YES and spread the word
State Ballot Propositions (we are listing only those we take a position on)
*
Prop 55 YES Extends the tax on very wealthy to fund education.
Prop 56 YES $2 a pack cigarette tax to fund research and education.
Prop 57 YES Reforms state’s unjust juvenile trial and parole system.
Prop 58 YES Repeals the ban on bilingual education.
Prop 59 YES Overturn Citizens United? Big YES!
Prop 60 NO This absurd bill would appoint its author to monitor all porn production in the state. This is not what our initiative process was created for.
Prop 61 YES Requires CA to pay less for pharmaceutical drugs.
Prop 62 YES Repeals the death penalty.
Prop 63 YES Strengthens background checks and safety systems for guns.
Prop 64 YES Legalizes recreational use of marijuana: We strongly support treating marijuana like alcohol & eliminating the racist prohibition racket.
Prop 65 NO Overturns state ban on plastic bags: no to this anti-enviro scam law.
Prop 66 NO Speeds up the death penalty: increases chance of executing the innocent.
Prop 67 YES Implements the 2014 initiative to ban plastic bags in state.
Who we are: Progressive Sebastopol (www.ProgressiveSebastopol.com) Founded to create voter guides during the 2010 election, Progressive Sebastopol is an independent group of citizens, seniors, parents and young voters. We are dedicated to responsive, transparent local government, a sustainable green future, public services (especially parks, hospitals and libraries), attainably priced housing as well as innovative solutions that serve the public interest. Our current members are: Andrea Culbertson, Jonathan Greenberg, Kai Lewis, Lynda McDaniel, Jim McGreen, and Jaime Mustacich.
FOR PRINTABLE TWO PAGE PDF CLICK BELOW:
Re: Progressive Sebastopol's Downloadable Nov 2016 Voter Guide Candidates/Measures/Props
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Peacetown Jonathan:
Jonathan, you are side stepping my question, transparency please. As already stated the names are there, but no background, level of expertise or associations, etc. in assisting voters to find any value in your voter group and who they represent. Why would anyone go with a recommendation without knowing who it is that is doing the recommending?
Example: Noted that your group recommended a "No" Vote on Prop 60 stating: "This absurd bill would appoint its author to monitor all porn production in the state. This is not what our initiative process was created for."
Well, why is that? Could that recommendation be based on members of your "Progressive Group" having a special interest or association/involvement to the named industry?
FYI, when I researched Prop 60, I found the following:
As of October 21, 2016, the following PACs were registered to support this initiative. The total amount raised and expended were current as of October 21, 2016.[29][31][32]
As of October 21, 2016, there was one PAC filed to oppose this initiative. The total contributions and expenditures listed below were current as of October 21, 2016.[30]
As of October 21, 2016, the top five largest donors in opposition to this initiative were:[29]
| Donor |
Amount |
|---|
| Wicked Pictures |
$44,000.00 |
| Jeffrey Greenberg and Affiliated Entities |
$40,000.00 |
| John Stagliano and Affiliated Entities |
$39,999.00 |
| Multimedia LLC |
$25,000.00 |
| PHE Inc. |
$25,000.00 |
Also fyi, related, interesting article about the fine line between prostitution and porn production:
CNN.com - The legal line between porn and prostitution - Aug 12, 2005
Jenny Paulino stands accused of running a prostitution ring on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.[
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Progressive Sebastopol's Downloadable Nov 2016 Voter Guide Candidates/Measures/Props
Please find the printable 2016 Progressive Sebastopol printable Voter Guide attached, or on our website at www.ProgressiveSebastopol.com.
Responding to "Pickles": We feel comfortable with the manner in which our names and the general description of our participants is provided. Perhaps, Pickles, you would like to link the readers here on Wacco with a voter or endorsement guide that lists all the background information and associations that you request about all of their participants?
And, no, your allegation was not the basis of our suggestion to vote No on Prop 60. We are in very good company opposing this ballot measure. Folks can read here for themselves the rationale for opposing it,, as well as the more than a hundred groups that oppose it and decide for themselves. Opposition includes Senator Mark Leno, SF Supervisor Scott Weiner, and virtually every LGBT and Democratic Party club in the North Bay and Southern California.
For easy viewing, here again is our Voter Guide attached below below for easy reference.
Who we are: Progressive Sebastopol (www.ProgressiveSebastopol.com) Founded to create voter guides during the 2010 election, Progressive Sebastopol is an independent group of citizens, seniors, parents and young voters. We are dedicated to responsive, transparent local government, a sustainable green future, public services (especially parks, hospitals and libraries), attainably priced housing as well as innovative solutions that serve the public interest. Our current members are: Andrea Culbertson, Jonathan Greenberg, Kai Lewis, Lynda McDaniels, Jim McGreen, and Jaime Mustacich..
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Pickles:
Jonathan, you are side stepping my question, transparency please. As already stated the names are there, but no background, level of expertise or associations, etc. in assisting voters to find any value in your voter group and who they represent. ...
Re: Progressive Sebastopol's Downloadable Nov 2016 Voter Guide Candidates/Measures/Props
Thank you once again Progressive Sebastopol! This guide is very helpful. It doesn't cover absolutely everything that is on the ballot, but it covers a lot, and it confirms all of what I have heard in the realm of responsible voting.
Looking forward to half a dozen historic reasons to rejoice on November 9
Thanks Kai! I filled out and sent in my ballot today. I got through it much more quickly with the printable Progressive Sebastopol Voter guide. This has been a contentious election but today I feel excited by the fact that it is also a historic one, and not, I hope, in a bad way.
I feel 99% sure that we will:
1) Elect our first woman president while electing the most fascistic candidate in modern history.
2) We will end the almost century old assault on our basic civil right to choose a recreational substance proven in every way to be less harmful than alcohol, and finally fully Half a legalize marijuana, also ending the racist system of incarceration of poor folks, dark skinned people and the unlucky.
3) Elect Thomas and hopefully Cary as well for a Palm Drive District Board majority that will work to keep our hospital and tis emergency room open for may family and our community,
I feel 75% sure that:
4) The Democrats will take back the U.S. Senate and allow our government to nominate Supreme Court Justices who have not yet to emerge from the cave of our sexist, racist, homophobic, anti-labor, anti-environmental past.
5) Sonoma County will pass a GMO farm ban and join five other counties to create the largest GMO-free farm zone in the United States!
6) Sonoma County will get the 66.667% of the votes necessary to pass Measure Y and resolve the worst library funding crisis in history, thereby restoring Monday and evening hours to where they ere before they were cut back more than five years ago.
These are the half dozen historic reasons that I think we, the people of Sonoma County, will have to rejoice on November 9th!
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Kai Daniel:
Thank you once again Progressive Sebastopol!
This guide is very helpful. It doesn't cover absolutely everything that is on the ballot, but it covers a lot, and it confirms all of what I have heard in the realm of responsible voting.
For Election Day Voters: Progressive Sebastopol's Downloadable Nov 2016 Voter Guide
For those who have not yet voted...
Progressive Sebastopol November 2016 Voter Guide: Local Candidates
Palm Drive Health Care District Board Gail Thomas & Rob Cary
This is by far the most important local contest of the 2016 election! Progressive Sebastopol urges you to vote only for Gail Thomas and Rob Cary as though your life depends upon it—because the lives of some of us in West County will depend on whether the Sonoma West Medical Center (SWMC) and its emergency room remain open. Shockingly, a slate of three other candidates led by Jim Horn are running on the platform of closing our hospital, selling the building, and illegally diverting our tax revenue to other health services (run by their political allies) that do not include emergency care. Yes, it remains a struggle to sustain SWMC in this day of institutionalized insurance consortiums controlling our choices. But we pay the same tax whether the hospital remains open or closed. There is no reason to vote anyone onto this Board who does not stand for keeping our hospital open and helping it thrive.
Sebastopol City Council Jonathan Greenberg & Michael Carnacchi
Jonathan Greenberg, a founder of Progressive Sebastopol, recused himself from this vote, but our other members are unanimous in this endorsement. Jonathan has been one of the city’s most effective leaders in reopening our hospital, and he correctly believes that our City Council needs to take an actively supportive role to help secure governmental grants and programs. We see no issue more important than keeping a life-saving emergency room open for our families and neighbors, and Jonathan is the only candidate with the endorsement of Palm Drive Board members Powers and Colthurst (the “Doc and the Cop”), as well as Dr. Jim Gude. Jonathan is an experienced policy expert with real solutions for addressing our housing crisis, restoring library hours, and adding zero-emission electric trucks for our city parks.
Michael Carnacchi does not believe in seeking endorsements, but through his dedication, integrity, and independent creative thinking, he has earned ours. As an artisanal bootmaker and public-interest champion of small businesses, Michael has remained a political outsider while heading the Sebastopol Downtown Chamber of Commerce. We endorse Michael because he, like Jonathan, brings fresh, politically independent insight to empower our City Council.
County Supervisor 5th District Neutral/No endorsement
Our 5th District is blessed that Noreen Evans and Lynda Hopkins are both extremely hard working, caring, intelligent, and capable progressive Democrats. During last June’s primary, Progressive Sebastopol endorsed Lynda Hopkins. For the November election, after reviewing both candidates’ responses to short questionnaires and receiving too many mailers from an anti-Evans PAC, we choose to remain neutral.
Both candidates have their advantages. Evans has a proven, reliable track record as an environmentalist and brings far more experience in government. She also supports some funding for restoring library hours should Measure Y fail. Yet, experience cuts both ways. Entrenched political insiders like Evans are less likely to reassess their failed policies, such as our County’s inadequate response to the housing crisis and out-of-control pension costs.
We like that Hopkins is an organic farmer and brings a fresh and responsive approach to challenging local issues like County pensions and attainably priced housing. On the other hand, we have become increasingly concerned about her funders and the negative PAC campaign attacking Evans’ solid record as an environmentalist. We were also disappointed at Hopkins’ unwillingness to commit to County co-funding to restore library hours should Measure Y fail.
Progressive Sebastopol 2016 Voter Guide: Ballot Measures
Local Ballot Measures
Measure K YES
We would have preferred that this initiative contained an exemption for affordable housing, but in general support maintaining green belts around our cities.
Measure L YES
Raises county revenue by raising tourist tax from 9 to 12%; more in line with other counties.
Measure M YES
A GMO-free Sonoma County that protects our thriving organic farms and dairies from GMO contamination can be ours on January 1. Monsanto and its allies are pouring mountains of cash into a campaign to misinform the public. Stick with our grassroots neighbors and vote YES to join surrounding counties in creating a GMO-free Northern California coastal zone.
*Measure Y YES
This tiny 1/8 of 1% sales tax will reopen our precious libraries on Mondays and evenings, and resolve the worst library funding crisis in County history. It needs a challenging 66.7% of the vote to pass, so please vote YES and spread the word
State Ballot Propositions (we are listing only those we take a position on)
*
Prop 55 YES Extends the tax on very wealthy to fund education.
Prop 56 YES $2 a pack cigarette tax to fund research and education.
Prop 57 YES Reforms state’s unjust juvenile trial and parole system.
Prop 58 YES Repeals the ban on bilingual education.
Prop 59 YES Overturn Citizens United? Big YES!
Prop 60 NO This absurd bill would appoint its author to monitor all porn production in the state. This is not what our initiative process was created for.
Prop 61 YES Requires CA to pay less for pharmaceutical drugs.
Prop 62 YES Repeals the death penalty.
Prop 63 YES Strengthens background checks and safety systems for guns.
Prop 64 YES Legalizes recreational use of marijuana: We strongly support treating marijuana like alcohol & eliminating the racist prohibition racket.
Prop 65 NO Overturns state ban on plastic bags: no to this anti-enviro scam law.
Prop 66 NO Speeds up the death penalty: increases chance of executing the innocent.
Prop 67 YES Implements the 2014 initiative to ban plastic bags in state.
Who we are: Progressive Sebastopol (www.ProgressiveSebastopol.com) Founded to create voter guides during the 2010 election, Progressive Sebastopol is an independent group of citizens, seniors, parents and young voters. We are dedicated to responsive, transparent local government, a sustainable green future, public services (especially parks, hospitals and libraries), attainably priced housing as well as innovative solutions that serve the public interest. Our current members are: Andrea Culbertson, Jonathan Greenberg, Kai Lewis, Lynda McDaniel, Jim McGreen, and Jaime Mustacich.
