As voters prepare for our upcoming election on November 5, 2024, many will only focus on the presidential and maybe the senate elections while neglecting the importance of state and local ballot measures. As such, here is a list of some local Los Angeles ballot measures that will be on the ballot this November.
The ballot measures on the local level are broken up into amendments and measures. According to the Library of Congress, amendments are “A proposed change to a pending text (e.g., a bill, resolution, another amendment, or a treaty [or an associated resolution of ratification]).” At the same time, measures are “A legislative vehicle: a bill, joint resolution, concurrent resolution, or simple resolution.”
Six charter amendments and four measures are on the ballot this November. They are charter amendments DD, ER, FF, HH, II, and LL, along with measures A, E, G, and US. All six amendments and measures are explained below, and all need a simple majority to pass.
Amendments:
Charter amendment DD, according to Ballotpedia, is a “Redistricting Amendment.” A vote in favor “ supports establishing an independent redistricting commission to redraw council district lines every 10 years.” While a vote against the amendment “opposes establishing an independent redistricting commission to redraw council district lines every 10 years.” There are no submitted supporters or opponents to charter amendment DD.
Charter amendment ER, according to Ballotpedia, is a “City Ethics Commission Authority and Operations Amendment.” Where a vote in favor “supports establishing a minimum annual budget for the City Ethics Commission; increasing the Commission’s authority over spending decisions and hiring matters; allowing the Commission to obtain outside counsel in limited circumstances; imposing additional qualification requirements on Commission members; and requiring the City Council to hold a public hearing on Commission proposals; and increase penalties for violations of City laws?” While a vote against the amendment, “opposes establishing a minimum annual budget for the City Ethics Commission; increasing the Commission’s authority over spending decisions and hiring matters; allowing the Commission to obtain outside counsel in limited circumstances; imposing additional qualification requirements on Commission members; and requiring the City Council to hold a public hearing on Commission proposals; and increase penalties for violations of City laws?” There are no submitted supporters or opponents of charter amendment ER.
Charter Amendment FF, according to Ballotpedia, is a “Fire and Police Pensions and Peace Officers Amendment.” Where a vote in favor “supports allowing certain peace officers to transfer membership from Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension plan, and require the city to pay for associated costs.” While a vote against the amendment “opposes allowing certain peace officers to transfer membership from Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension plan, and require the city to pay for associated costs.” No supporters or opponents of the charter amendment FF have been submitted.
Charter Amendment HH, according to Ballotpedia, is a “City Governance and Elections Amendment.” Where a vote in favor “supports requiring that commission appointees file financial disclosures before they can be confirmed, clarifying the Controller’s auditing authority regarding City contractors; expanding the City Attorney’s subpoena power; authorizing temporary appointments to certain general manager positions; and establishing a process to evaluate the impacts of laws proposed by initiative petition.” While a vote against the amendment, “opposes requiring that commission appointees file financial disclosures before they can be confirmed, clarifying the Controller’s auditing authority regarding City contractors; expanding the City Attorney’s subpoena power; authorizing temporary appointments to certain general manager positions; and establishing a process to evaluate the impacts of laws proposed by initiative petition.” There are no submitted supporters or opponents to charter amendment HH.
Charter Amendment II, according to Ballotpedia, is a “City Administration and Operations Amendment.” Where a vote in favor “supports clarifying that the El Pueblo Monument and the Zoo are park property; clarifying that departments may sell merchandise to support City operations; including gender identity in non-discrimination rules applicable to employment by the City; and clarifying the Airport Commission’s authority to establish fees and regulations.” While a vote against the amendment, “opposes clarifying that the El Pueblo Monument and the Zoo are park property; clarifying that departments may sell merchandise to support City operations; including gender identity in non-discrimination rules applicable to employment by the City; and clarifying the Airport Commission’s authority to establish fees and regulations.” There are no submitted supporters or opponents of Charter Amendment II.
Charter Amendment LL, according to Ballotpedia, is a “Redistricting for Los Angeles Unified School District Amendment.” A vote in favor “supports establishing an independent redistricting commission to redraw Board of Education district lines every 10 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District.” A vote against the amendment “opposes establishing an independent redistricting commission to redraw Board of Education district lines every 10 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District.” There are no submitted supporters or opponents to charter amendment LL.
Measures:
According to Ballotpedia, Measure A is a “Sales Tax Measure.” Where a vote in favor “supports repealing the Measure H tax and replacing it with a sales tax of 0.5% with revenue going to affordable housing, mental health and addiction treatment, and services to children, families, veterans, domestic violence survivors, seniors, and disabled people experiencing homelessness.” While a vote against the amendment, “opposes repealing the Measure H tax and replacing it with a sales tax of 0.5% with revenue going to affordable housing, mental health and addiction treatment, and services to children, families, veterans, domestic violence survivors, seniors, and disabled people experiencing homelessness.” Supporters of the measure include Women’s and Children’s Crisis Shelter, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, and Los Angeles Family Housing. Those who oppose the measure include the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, retired Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, and Jack Humphreville.
Ballotpedia says Measure E is a “Fire Protection District Tax Measure.” A vote in favor “supports authorizing an annual parcel tax of $0.06 per square foot of certain parcel improvements, generating an estimated $152 million per year, with revenue going to firefighters and paramedics.” A vote against the amendment “opposes authorizing an annual parcel tax of $0.06 per square foot of certain parcel improvements, generating an estimated $152 million per year, with revenue going to firefighters and paramedics.” Supporters of the measure include Firefighter Alexis Kendricks, Air Operations Paramedic Johnny Gray, Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, and Firefighters IAFF Local 1014. Those who oppose the measure include the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, retired Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, and Jack Humphreville.
According to Ballotpedia, Measure G is an “Ethics Commission Amendment.” Where a vote in favor “supports amending the county charter to create an elected County Executive as well as an Ethics Commission, establish a Legislative Analyst to review proposed policies, increase the Board of Supervisors from five to nine elected members, and require county departments to present annual budgets in public meetings.” While a vote against the amendment, “opposes amending the county charter to create an elected County Executive as well as an Ethics Commission, establish a Legislative Analyst to review proposed policies, increase the Board of Supervisors from five to nine elected members, and require county departments to present annual budgets in public meetings.” There are no submitted supporters of measure G. Those who oppose the measure include Los Angeles County firefighters and sheriffs, the community coalition, and Los Angeles County supervisors Kathryn Barger and Holly J. Mitchell.
Measure US, according to Ballotpedia, is a “Bond Measure.” A vote in favor “supports authorizing the district to issue up to $9 billion in bonds, with revenue going to fund improving schools, and requiring an estimated property tax levy of $25 per $100,000 in assessed value.” A vote against the amendment “opposes authorizing the district to issue up to $9 billion in bonds, with revenue going to fund improving schools, and requiring an estimated property tax levy of $25 per $100,000 in assessed value.” Supporters of the measure include Yolie Flores’s Families in Schools, Gene Hale’s Los Angeles AfAm Chamber, Dr. A. McQuarters, Charmaine Morales RN, and Ernesto Medrano’s Building Trades. Those who oppose the measure include Howard Jarvis’s Taxpayers Association, retired Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, and Jack Humphreville.
Overall:
Ballot measures are left blank on election day due to a lack of knowledge. As a result, your vote will count more overall than other portions of the ballot while directly changing your community. So, armed with this new knowledge on ballot measures, ensure you vote in the upcoming election if eligible to make your voice heard.
