Voters Agree with Business Groups on Ballot Issues

Local business associations cheered voters’ decisions Tuesday on a range of ballot measures impacting the Valley area’s public infrastructure and housing shortage. The Valley Industry and Commerce Association and the Los Angeles County Business Federation both supported the passage of Propositions 1 and 2, which will raise funding for housing programs for low income families, veterans and the mentally ill. They also praised voters’ rejection of Prop. 10, which would have allowed local governments to impose rent control regulations. “Voters overwhelmingly rejected bad policy that economists have known would have exacerbated the housing crisis,” said VICA President Stuart Waldman in a statement. “Voters showed that they understand the need for more housing for our families and veterans by rejecting Prop 10 and supporting Prop 1.” VICA had actively campaigned against Prop 10. In the months running up to the election, Waldman authored op-eds condemning the ballot measure for various publications including the Business Journal. In July, he joined business leaders in Sacramento to oppose the proposition as part of the No on Prop 10 Coalition. Both VICA and BizFed also stood behind voters’ decision to reject Prop 6, which would have cut money for transportation projects by repealing a gas tax passed by Sacramento last year. “BizFed is proud that voters agreed on protecting more than $6.3 billion in transportation funding for our roads and bridges,” said BizFed Chief Executive Tracy Hernandez in a statement. “We stood with labor, state leaders and local government to ensure voters knew the truth about this measure. At the local level, the two business associations were glad to see voters reject a measure to allow the Los Angeles City Council to consider creating a municipal bank. But a measure to create a special parcel tax on non-permeable surfaces for water infrastructure projects in L.A. County, which both groups opposed, appears likely to receive the necessary two-thirds vote for approval. “[The measure] would unfairly penalize businesses and homeowners in the San Fernando Valley who have larger parking lots and driveways,” said Waldman in a statement.