Ballot Endorsements

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After coming off a very depressing national election, where America has just elected its first fascist head of state, a local election would not seem very interesting. But the March 7 ballot has important issues that requires voter attention.

As usual, I consulted with friends who are expert in the relevant areas, read as much as possible and tried to weigh all sides of the issues.

Here are Random Length News’ endorsements:

City Attorney Mike Feuer: Yes

Controller Ron Galperin: Yes

Council District 15 Councilman Joe Buscaino: No

Noel Gould and Caney Arnold are better choices. Vote for either of them.

The Los Angeles Times stated that Buscaino’s performance was “adequate.” I would call him below average and unacceptable. Council District 15 has EVERY oil refinery in the City of Los Angeles. Wilmington has the highest rate of childhood asthma in the state. Energy production is going to be the No. 1 issue in this district for the foreseeable future.

Yet, despite the persistent attempts of environmental groups to educate Buscaino and his staff, his “State of the District” luncheon was still FUNDED by TESORO, an energy company seeking to expand its already gigantic capacity to pollute — some would say poison — our council district. Our district must have a council representative who understands and advocates for environmental justice and doesn’t approach homelessness as a problem best addressed through law enforcement.

Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees:

Seat 2 – Steven Veres

Seat 4 – Ernest Moreno

Seat 6 – Nancy Pearlman- The only progressive candidate on the College Board.

County Measure H: Yes

Maybe the most important issue on the ballot is the one-fourth cent sales tax for the 10 years that follow. The tax would fund a variety of significant services to “prevent and combat homelessness.” This measure provides citizen oversight and an annual audit.

Los Angeles Measure M: Yes

It’s time to end the drug war and to regulate cannabis.

Los Angeles Measure N: No

Of the two cannabis measures, this is the one least favored. Recreational use of marijuana has already been approved by the voters of the state. The question now is reasonable regulation.

Los Angeles Measure P: No

Provides for longer terms for Harbor Department leases. This basically impacts the Los Angeles Waterfront Alliance Ports O’ Call waterfront development. In the County of Los Angeles developers often get only 39-year leases for a $100 million investment.

Los Angeles Measure S: Yes

We have been flooded with information about this measure. The Los Angeles Times states that “much of the YES on S literature is so much misinformation.” And yet, every argument against this measure ends with the same conclusion as the Yes side — that the Los Angeles General Plan is outdated and that the 35 community plans should be passed. Measure S forces the city to do just that within a two-year moratorium on spot zoning and would only stop 5 percent of the existing projects within Los Angeles. This is a battle between the 35 communities of the city and City Hall. Vote Yes on S

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James Preston Allen
James Preston Allen, founding publisher of the Los Angeles Harbor Areas Leading Independent Newspaper 1979- to present, is a journalist, visionary, artist and activist. Over the years Allen has championed many causes through his newspaper using his wit, common sense writing and community organizing to challenge some of the most entrenched political adversaries, powerful government agencies and corporations. Some of these include the preservation of White Point as a nature preserve, defending Angels Gate Cultural Center from being closed by the City of LA, exposing the toxic levels in fish caught inside the port, promoting and defending the Open Meetings Public Records act laws and much more. Of these editorial battles the most significant perhaps was with the Port of Los Angeles over environmental issues that started from edition number one and lasted for more than two and a half decades. The now infamous China Shipping Terminal lawsuit that derived from the conflict of saving a small promontory overlooking the harbor, known as Knoll Hill, became the turning point when the community litigants along with the NRDC won a landmark appeal for $63 million.