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                          [1][Sierra Club]Sierra Club
                                       
   Protect America's Environment: For Our Families, For Our Future
   
   
         Sierra Club California Proposition Endorsements [California]
                                       
[Flag] Sierra Club California Proposition Endorsements

   November Election, 5 November 1996
   
   Statewide Ballot Measures:
   
     * [2]Prop. 204 - Water Bond - YES
     * [3]Prop. 209 - Eliminate Affirmative Action - NO
     * [4]Prop. 210 - Increase Minimum Wage - YES
     * [5]Prop. 217 - Reinstate Top Income Tax Brackets - YES
     * [6]Prop. 218 - Restrict Local Tax Assessments - NO
       
[Flag] Yes on Proposition 204

Sierra Club supports Proposition 204 because it finances a long list
of environmentally beneficial water projects.

It provides nearly $600 million for ecosystem restoration in the
Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems, including the Delta and San
Francisco Bay. These restoration programs should reverse some of the
damage that has been caused by dams and diversions of the natural flow
of these rivers.

In addition, Proposition 204 authorizes $27 million for river parkway
acquisition and riparian habitat protection. Another $10 million goes
to the Tahoe Conservancy for programs to control soil erosion, restore
watersheds, and preserve environmentally sensitive lands.

The measure aids cities, counties and water districts with $200
million for wastewater treatment, water recycling, reclamation,
conservation and groundwater recharge.

Proposition 204 reflects a growing consensus that the state's water
problems cannot be solved at the expense of the state's environment.
In addition to being endorsed by the Sierra Club and other leading
environmental organizations, Proposition 204 is also supported by the
Metropolitan Water District, the California Farm Bureau, the Chamber
of Commerce and other major water interests.

[Flag] No on Proposition 209

Proposition 209 is portrayed as a "Civil Rights Initiative" against
Affirmative Action. In reality, it would perpetuate environmental
discrimination against people of color -- via disproportionate
exposure to environmental toxics. Consider lead poisoning as one
example.

Lead poisoning is far more correlated with race than with income. The
U.S. government reports that among low-income families, 28% of black
children sufferhealth impacts from lead, vs. 9% of white children.

Proposition 209 would terminate state funding for programs that target
environmental education at those minorities most impacted by
environmental toxics -- programs that counsel minority parents how to
save their children from lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning is the "number one environmental health threat to
children." Scientific studies show that childhood lead exposure causes
lowered IQs, learning disabilities, shortened attention spans and
behavioral problems.

Children with moderate lead levels are seven times more likely to drop
out of high school, and six times more likely to suffer reading
disabilities.

Proposition 209 assumes that all Americans enter the educational
system and the workforce on a "level playing field" that is
color-blind. But toxics like lead have tilted the environmental
playing field sharply against children of color.

Sierra Club opposes Proposition 209 because equal opportunity requires
equal rights to a safe and healthy environment for *all* families.

[Flag] Yes on Proposition 210

Sierra Club supports Proposition 210 to increase the minimum wage in
California. This measure has been endorsed by a long list of
community, religious, ethnic and labor organizations.

In joining with these organizations in support of Proposition 210,
Sierra Club has recognized the obvious connection between a decent
income and the ability to explore, enjoy and protect California's
environment.

The environmental goals of the Sierra Club cannot be achieved if large
numbers of the state's residents are living in poverty. Sierra Club is
concerned not only about wilderness and wildlife, but also about the
most basic and fundamental needs of our fellow human residents.

[Flag] Yes on Proposition 217

Sierra Club supports Proposition 217 because it protects an income
stream of $800 million per year that city and county governments rely
upon to maintain programs and services that preserve and protect the
environment.

Local governments are responsible for maintaining parks, providing
public transportation, curbside recycling programs, testing children
for lead poisoning and many more environmental programs. Their ability
to maintain these services has been severely impaired by the effects
of Proposition 13 and budget cuts by the federal government.

Proposition 217 would retain the top two income tax brackets for
California taxpayers. It does not increase taxes, but retains a
progressive system where wealthy persons (joint taxpayers with taxable
income over $230,000 and single taxpayers with taxable income over
$115,000) pay a higher tax rate than less wealthy taxpayers.

A vote for Proposition 217 is a vote to protect environmental programs
and services in your community.

[Flag] No on Proposition 218

Sierra Club opposes Proposition 218 because it would inhibit efforts
to make communities more livable, environmentally-compatible and
economically viable. By constraining local governments' ability to
raise revenues, this measure would likely result in hundreds of
millions of dollars in long term losses to local governments, create
more red tape and disenfranchise some voters in local decision-making.

Under its provisions, only property owners, regardless of whether they
are citizens or residents, would vote on special assessments. Their
votes would be counted ad valorem (in proportion to the value of their
property).

Proposition 218 could deliver a crippling blow to urban areas and
their ability to respond to a host of sprawl-related environmental and
economic ills -- air and water pollution; gridlock & loss of
productivity; public health & traffic safety; loss of habitat, parks,
and open space; and decreasing quality of life.


__________________________________________________________________________
 
                                      
Sierra Club, 85 Second St., Second Floor, San Francisco, CA
94105-3441, USA. Telephone (415) 977-5500 (voice), (415) 977-5799
(FAX). Last updated 10 October 1996.

 http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/ca/propositions.html

References
   1. http://www.sierraclub.org/
   2. http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/ca/propositions.html#204
   3. http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/ca/propositions.html#209
   4. http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/ca/propositions.html#210
   5. http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/ca/propositions.html#217
   6. http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/ca/propositions.html#204
   7. http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/ca/vote.html
   8. http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/ca/
   9. http://www.sierraclub.org/