Editorials

We’re going to start the Planet’s discussion of ballot choices for the November election with the easiest one to understand. Proposition 66 is a balanced, moderate reform of California’s badly drafted “Three Strikes and You’re In Jail for Life” law.  

There has been a fair amount of publicity for those outrageous cases where people have ended up with life imprisonment for petty second and third crimes like stealing pizza. The organization FACTS, Families to Amend California’s Three Strikes, has a long list of case histories on its website of miscarriages of justice which the current law has caused. California’s three strikes law, hastily passed in the wake of the Polly Klaas kidnapping, was intended to keep dangerous, violent offenders off the street. Polly’s grandfather, Joe Klaas, has agreed to be the official spokesperson for Yes on 66 because he recognizes that change is needed to fulfill the original purpose of the law correctly.  

A Field Poll released on Aug. 13 showed that the “Fix Three Strikes” initiative on the November ballot led by a 69 percent to 19 percent margin at that point. But the powerful prison guards union won’t let a profitable cash cow like the current three strikes law get away so easily. Between now and the election they and their supporters will be spending a lot of money campaigning to continue the wasteful practice of filling up prisons with people who don’t need to be there. Close to 65 percent of those serving second and third strike sentences were convicted of nonviolent, petty offenses such as simple drug possession or shoplifting. It costs on the order of three-quarters of a million dollars to keep each three strikes prisoner inside, so passing Proposition 66 can be expected to save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, much of the money diverted from the pockets of the guards’ union. 

Many voters have trouble making it through the long list of state ballot measures while they’re standing up in the polling booth, worried about keeping people behind them in line waiting. Nevertheless, you do want to make sure you cast your vote on the really important questions like Proposition 66. The best way to make sure that you have time to do the job well is to use a paper ballot and vote absentee, now relatively easy to do. This strategy is also reassuring for the many voters who distrust the new electronic voting machines.  

We will be discussing the rest of the state propositions and making our recommendations for Must Votes like Proposition 66 between now and Tuesday, Oct. 26, which is the cut-off date for the Alameda County Registrar of Voters to receive absentee ballot applications, which must be in writing. We want to do everything we can to help you make sure that your vote counts.  

Supporters of various proposals and candidates are already contributing to our opinion pages. Candidates for Berkeley City Council have been invited to submit long statements, 600-800 words, by this Friday, Oct. 1, which we will print in rotation through Oct. 22. Readers may also send in short questions for candidates, and starting on Friday we’ll print as many of them as space allows, to which candidates may submit short replies. Our “Berkeley This Week” calendar will continue to list the remaining candidates’ nights.  

We haven’t decided yet whether the Planet will endorse any local measures or candidates, but if we do so it will be by Oct. 26. That’s also a prudent cut-off date for mailing absentee ballots to be sure that they arrive by election day a week later, Nov. 2. Of course, if you don’t mail your absentee ballot in time, you can always take it to your polling place yourself on election day. You’ll still be able to fill it out in peace and quiet at home. And if you’re confused by anything in the election process or on the ballot, let us know, and we’ll try to get the information you need in time for it to help with your decision. 

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