NO ON PROP 1 in California! Don’t Believe the Lies from the Politicians! (Newsom)
Who benefits from Prop 1?
Rich, politically-connected developers who will receive billions of your tax dollars for their expensive government-subsidized mega housing projects.
Prop 1 also eliminates your existing constitutional right to vote to reject government welfare housing projects from being placed in your neighborhood. If Prop 1 passes, bad housing projects can be forced into your neighborhood and you will be forced to live with the negative impacts from a bad development project. The title of Prop 1, which is written by state politicians, deceptively suggests that the measure will improve mental health treatment and provide shelter to the homeless. Prop 1 is being sold by its backers as merely $6.4 billion bond to build treatment facilities and housing units for the homeless. The same politicians responsible for creating California’s epic homelessness crisis are asking voters to double-down on their failed Housing First policies by approving the fatally-flawed Prop 1 in the coming primary election.
This is why I strongly urge you to vote NO on Proposition 1.
California has spent a stunning $17.5 billion trying to combat homelessness from 2028 to 2022. During that time, the state’s homeless population actually grew. What happened with all this money we have used to stop the homeless problems? Our government has a spending problem, not a income issue when it comes to this homeless money.
Proposition 1 may promise a solution to the pressing issues of mental health care and homelessness. Yet, its hefty $6.38 billion price tag, total $12.5 billion with interest, is a significant cost to taxpayers. As the state intends to finance this proposal with bonds, the government will borrow money taxpayers must repay with interest over an extended period.
Despite its grand claims, Proposition 1 fails to address the magnitude of our challenges. With a mere 6,800 beds allocated for treatment facilities and less than 4,500 units of housing for people without homes—far below the staggering count of over 170,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in California—this proposal does not offer the transformative impact it purports.
Moreover, the repercussions of Proposition 1 extend beyond its inadequate provisions. This proposition jeopardizes essential programs already in place by diverting funds from existing mental health services, including those supported by the 1% “millionaire’s tax” approved by voters years ago. Counties will find themselves in a precarious position, forced to scramble for resources to sustain vital services, potentially leading to increased pressure for tax hikes across California.
Additionally, Proposition 1 violates fundamental principles of responsible bond financing, including the constitutional requirement that the government raises funds dedicated to a singular project or endeavor.
Due to these shortcomings and potential long-term ramifications for taxpayers and existing programs, I urge you to oppose Proposition 1. Let us prioritize responsible, practical solutions that truly address the root causes of mental health challenges and homelessness without burdening taxpayers or compromising existing services.