Proposition 26 is Bad For Los Angeles

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Marin Institute; No On Proposition 26

Oct 25, 2010, 10:26 ET

Economic Impact Report to be Released; Los Angeles Area Environmental and Public Health Leaders Explain Why Prop 26 is the most dangerous proposition you haven't heard of

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Proposition 26 is flawed and would negatively affect everyone in the Los Angeles area, from the loss of vital city services to the destruction of our environment. The Los Angeles County Supervisors will release a report on the economic impacts of Prop 26 Tuesday morning. The press conference will be an opportunity to hear from stakeholders about the consequences of the economic impact report and about why Prop 26 would be damaging to Los Angeles and California.

What:	No On Proposition 26 Press Conference
Where:	Coalition for Clean Air, 811 W 7th St, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90017
When:	Tuesday, October 26, 2010 3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Who:	Mark Ridley-Thomas, LA County Supervisor (Board of Supervisor meeting schedule permitting),
	Martha Dina Arguello - Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles,
	representative for Coalition for Clean Air, a representative of the American Lung Association in California,
	John O. Whitaker – Liaison, Counselor 3 CATC, AWARE Coalition Tarzana Treatment Center,
	Ruben Rodriguez – Executive Director of Pueblo y Salud, Inc., Los Angeles Coalition on Alcohol Policy.

The oil, tobacco and alcohol companies are spending millions to protect themselves and hide their true motives -- shifting the burden of the external damage they cause to taxpayers.

Proposition 26 will change California's Constitution, redefining regulatory fees as taxes. It would require that any new fee - such as an increased fee on oil producers to clean up oil spills – be approved by 2/3 of the Legislature or local voters through a costly local election.

The Legislative Analyst puts the price tag for Prop 26 at over $1 billion annually and $11 billion over 10 years, which will only exacerbate California's current budget deficit and put at risk funding for education, public safety, health care, and environmental protection.

Prop 26 will affect every Californian negatively, whether they are conservative or liberal, care about police protection or protecting our coasts. A broad, bipartisan group has lined up against Prop 26, including: the Sierra Club, the Planning and Conservation League, the League of Women Voters, California Council of Churches/California Church IMPACT, California League of Conservation Voters, Environmental Defense Fund, California Professional Firefighters, California State Sheriffs' Association, California Police Chiefs Association, Police Officers Research Association of California, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association in California, Health Access, the California Nurses Association, the California Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, the California State Association of Counties, the League of California Cities and many others.

Contact: Heidi Pickman @ 310-392-0211

Ana Mascarenas @ 323-743-3241

SOURCE Marin Institute; No On Proposition 26