Sometimes a prop gets funded that seems so outrageous it makes you stare at the ballot and say how can they do that? Case in point is Proposition 90, which rattles the scarecrow of eminent domain and goes “Boooooooooo!” while secretly dismantling local and state government’s ability to do practically anything useful to the community at all. Its theory is that people are so scared the government is going to snatch up their house to allow a luxury hotel to build on their land, they’ll approve a prop that would sell their first born into slavery.
Prop 90 allows virtually anyone to sue under any circumstances, claiming that any new law or provision negatively affects their property value. Taxpayers would pay billions in newly defined “damages” to property owners, and local governments would find it nearly impossible to acquire property for new schools, transit facilities, public works, utilities and fire protection measures. It would effectively kill efforts for historic preservation, preserving hunting areas, and of course, any kind of wildlife reserve whatsoever – coastal areas, open lands, farmland, forest preserves, endangered species habitats.
From California Progress Report:
The law will also hurt consumers. It would require the state to pay businesses if it wanted to take new actions to protect medical or financial privacy. New laws to make sure that women actually get equal pay could not be enacted unless the taxpayers paid for the increased wage levels themselves.
Opponents have dubbed it the “Taxpayer Trap.” Because apparently “Bat-shit Crazy Prop That Will Make This A Miserable Place” wasn’t catchy enough. Vote No, and tell your family to vote No, and run down your block screaming for your neighbors to vote No.
Schwarzenegger comes out against Proposition 90 (SF Gate)
Vote No On Prop 90 (LA Conservancy)
Prop. 90: Measure Would Threaten Land Conservation and Land Trusts in California (Sierra Club)