Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of California posts ballot recommendations as a service to its supporting congregations and members. These are free to use by any UU or congregation, however, and please feel free to download the November 2018 ballot recommendations here.
Please note there was quite a bit of time, energy and discussion around measures 3 and 12. Here is the rationale we used for each:
Proposition 3 would do a lot for those needing access to safe, clean, affordable water sufficient for daily human needs. This is something we all pushed for during the multi-year effort to pass the Human Right to Water Act. Unfortunately, this bond project would also perpetuate the persecution of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe and fund the raising of the Shasta Dam — already in the research phase. As such, we cannot support this bond measure.
Proposition 12 is complicated as it relates to Proposition 2 from 2008. Most notably, the measure cites the 2017 Animal Husbandry Guidelines put out by the United Egg Producers as the standard after 2021. This standard sets the amount of cage-free space at 1 foot per egg-laying hen for multi-tiered systems and 1.5 feet per hen for single-level systems. While this is far less than what many of us would consider enough space for a bird to “stand up, spread their wings, and turn around” provided in Prop 2, the state Department of Food and Agriculture interpreted that clause from Prop 2 in 2008 to mean less than one foot. As such, this is an improvement over the current standard. This additionally provides for enforcement and gives regular citizens standing to seek enforcement. Because of these circumstances, we support this measure.
