Cuts in public services have devastated the South Central community. As a teacher at Santee High School I have personally seen these devastating effects in my classroom. Our class sizes are larger than ever, many of our newest promising educators have been let go, school supplies are low, and the uncertainty of the future has our entire school community on edge.
South Central is like many other urban areas of California, forgotten by the politicians and their big business donors and left to fend for itself.
The abandonment by city leadership has lead to post-industrial decay in South Central. Lack of affordable housing has many families renting out rooms and multiple families living in single family homes. I often hear stories of residents forgoing trips to the doctor for lack of health insurance. The poorest in our communities have been hardest hit by this recession and cuts to public services have been devastating.
This is why we need Proposition 24.
Proposition 24 will stop special tax loopholes for big business that are set to take effect next year. That equals $1.3 billion in lost revenue to the state and a huge corporate giveaway to big business. And that $1.3 billion is a much-needed pile of cash that could be allocated to affordable housing, health care, and education. Instead of giving yet another bailout to these corporations, we should invest in what our community needs: education, housing and health care programs. We should use that money to invest in our children.
Proposition 24 will not solve all our problems, but for places like South Central Los Angeles, it’s a step in the right direction.
For more on Proposition 24, visit the California Voter Guide.
WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS:
| YES vote on this measure means: Three business tax provisions will return to what they were before 2008 and 2009 law changes. As a result: (1) a business will be less able to deduct losses in one year against income in other years, (2) a multistate business will have its California income determined by a calculation using three factors, and (3) a business will not be able to share tax credits with related businesses | NO vote on this measure means: Three business tax provisions that were recently changed will not be affected. As a result of maintaining current law: (1) a business will be able to deduct losses in one year against income in more situations, (2) most multistate businesses could choose to have their California income determined based only on a single sales factor, and (3) a business will be able to share its tax credits with related businesses. |
ARGUMENTS:
| PRO: Prop. 24 stops $1.7 billion in new special tax breaks for wealthy, multi-state corporations. They get unfair tax loopholes without creating one new job while small businesses get virtually no benefit. Public schools, healthcare and public safety should come before tax loopholes. Vote YES on 24—the Tax Fairness Act. | CON: CALIFORNIA NEEDS JOBS, NOT A JOBS TAX! Prop. 24 doesn’t guarantee $1 for our classrooms and REDUCES long-term revenues for schools and vital services. It would hurt small businesses, tax job creation, send jobs OUT of California—costing us 144,000 jobs. Families can’t afford 24’s new taxes. No on 24! |
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