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As We See It: Ballot Measures to Support

EDITORIAL
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Published: October 17, 2006

Like most California voters who face an array of ballot measures on the Nov. 7 ballot, we admit we're tempted simply to vote no on them all.

The Sentinel is publishing a number of recommendations on ballot measures this week. These measures are complex, and take some study. But it's not just the complexity of the measures that concerns us. Rather, it's the nature of ballot measures in general.

Ballot measures often are written by advocates, and the language of the measures does not get tested in the public arena.

For example, a legislative bill is put to the test as it goes through the halls of the Legislature. The very process of conferences and compromises improves a bill, and often addresses one of the biggest area of concerns of any new law: unintended consequences.

A good law takes more... than good intentions. Unfortunately, many of the ballot measures this year as well as previous years, fall in this category.

Many people take a brief look at a measure's goal and its cost and makes a decision. Unfortunately, there often is more to it all than that.

This year, in our view, there are five measures that make good financial sense and that we don't hesitate to endorse. We recommend that these five measures be approved:

... MEASURE 1C: This measure would raise about $2.85 billion for shelters for battered women, housing for low-income seniors and homeowner assistance for the disabled and others. It would also help pay for repairs and better accessibility in rental housing, again for those who can't afford the improvements....

We urge voters to approve these measures, which would help California take care of some significant problems that need attention.