How Progressive is California?

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Originally shared July 15, 2021

CA’s history reveals that time and again certain politicians and special interest groups continue to use cynicism and fear to divide and distract us. But just as they have launched attacks on our communities, we have successfully come together to push back against racism, homophobia, and to push forward their anti-immigrant agenda.

Our communities have reckoned with this by building multiracial coalitions that value interdependence and collective power. We rewrite the rules for justice and equity. We elect leaders who deliver on our priorities so we can take care of our loved ones.

When we represent ourselves, we have strength, when we do it together, we have power. The future is ours.

Looking Back at California’s Harmful Propositions

1964, Prop 14: Right to Decline Selling or Renting Residential Properties to Persons Initiative

  • A racist initiative to repeal the Fair Housing Act of 1963.
  • Allowed property owners and landlords to discriminate on ethnic grounds when selling or renting property.
  • Continued to ghettoize communities of color and preserve segregation.

“one of the most shameful developments in our nation’s history.” — Dr. MLK Jr.

65% voted yes on Prop 14. In 1967, a federal judge ruled Prop 14 unconstitutional.

1978, Prop 13: Tax Limitations Initiative

  • Froze property taxes at 1% of assessed 1976 property value.
  • Slashed local revenue by ~60%.
  • Effectively gutted revenue for local school districts that depended heavily on property taxes.

65% voted yes on Prop 13, which is still in effect. Corporations and wealthy investors are the biggest beneficiaries of this property tax loophole — at the expense of under resourced communities of color.

1994, Prop 187: Prohibit Persons in Violation of Immigration Law from Using Public Healthcare, Schools, and Social Services Initiative

  • An anti-immigrant ballot initiative.
  • Sought to deny public services for undocumented immigrants, such as healthcare and education.
  • Would require police, healthcare workers and teachers to verify and report the immigration status of any “suspected illegal alien”.
  • Disproportionately targeted and scapegoated Latine communities.

Pete Wilson used Prop 187 to boost his re-election campaign for CA governor. 59% voted yes on Prop 187. In 1997, a federal judge ruled Prop 187 unconstitutional.

1996, Prop 209: Affirmative Action Initiative

  • Banned affirmative action from CA government.
  • Prohibits state institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity — specifically in public employment, public contracting, and public education.

55% voted yes on Prop 209, which is still in effect.

While most Asian Americans support affirmative action today, a small but vocal group of Asian Americans claim it favors Black and Latine communities, perpetuating the model minority myth. This narrative erases socioeconomic disparities between ethnic groups in the AAPI umbrella — especially Southeast Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

1998, Prop 227: Require English Instruction in Public Schools Initiative

  • An assimilationist English-only movement bill.
  • Eliminated K-12 bilingual education and replaced it with 180 days of English immersion.
  • Severely diminished opportunities for limited English proficient students (1.4 million CA students in 1998) to access resources.
  • Further degraded perceptions of immigrant families.

“This proposition treats children who are not fluent in English as if they have a disease.” Ted Wang, Chinese for Affirmative Action

61% voted yes on Prop 227. In 2016, Prop 227 was repealed by Prop 58: Non-English Languages Allowed in Public Education with 73% voter approval.

2000, Prop 21: Treatment of Juvenile Offenders Initiative

  • Targeted youths of color for CA’s prison industrial complex.
  • Made it easier to send 14–17 yr olds to adult courts, jails, and prisons.
  • Maximized prison time for youth defendants.

This initiative was set up by former governor Pete Wilson, who sponsored the Three-Strikes sentencing law. Major corporate donors funded this ballot campaign as a political favor to Wilson.

62% voted yes on Prop 21, which is still in effect. The CA Youth Authority became the largest youth offender agency in the nation. Today, it is embroiled in abuse scandals.

2008, Prop 8: Same-Sex Marriage Ban Initiative

  • Banned same-sex marriage six months after the CA Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality (4–3).

52% voted yes on Prop 8. In 2010, a Prop 8 was ruled unconstitutional. However, constant appeals prevented effectiveness until 2013.

2020, Prop 22: App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative

  • Allows ridesharing and delivery app corporations to exploit their workforce by classifying their laborers as independent contractors.
  • Denies worker benefits and protections (i.e. minimum wage, overtime, health insurance, expense reimbursements)

Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Postmates spent $200+ million campaigning, making Prop 22 the initiative with the most corporate spending in CA’s history. 59% voted yes on Prop 22, which is still in effect.

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AAPIs for Civic Empowerment Education Fund
AAPIs for Civic Empowerment Education Fund

Written by AAPIs for Civic Empowerment Education Fund

A statewide network that builds progressive AAPI governing power in CA through campaign organizing, policy advocacy, IVE, and narrative change.

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