Genesis Voter Guide 2018

On September 11, the Genesis Leadership Council voted to endorse and oppose the following. This post is intended to inform our supporters, our members and anyone else who is looking for our opinion. Vote-by-Mail has begun. The Mid-Term Election is on November 6, 2018. Click here for more information on voter registration.

YES on California State Propositions 1, 2, 10 and Oakland City Measure Y. Summary: Each measure is an effort to provide relief to renters, who are facing increasingly higher rents.

Proposition 1 will build and provide bonds to fund affordable housing for veterans, working families, people with disabilities and seniors. Proposition 2 will provide bonds to fund existing housing programs for individuals who live with mental illness. Genesis has worked for more than a year on our Disability Justice campaign. We are struck with the need for affordable housing people with disabilities. Many families have talked to us about the fear they have for their loved ones who live with disabilities and need supportive housing.

Proposition 10 will expand local governments' authority to enact residential rent control and repeal the Costa Hawkins act. Nearly one in three households struggle to pay their rent, and when they live under this stress, their health, their spirituality and their family-life suffers.

Oakland Measure Y will expand eviction protections via the "Just Cause" ordinances. Many Genesis members are struck by the emergence of "tent cities" on our sidewalks and empty lots. We must do what we can to protect renters so that they remain housed and are not vulnerable to profit-hungry speculators.

Mary Lim-Lampe is the Executive Director of Genesis.