On Your November Ballot:  Prop 5 Would Make It Easier for Local Gov’ts to Fund Housing, Infrastructure – With Risks

Edward Henderson | California Black Media(CBM) – Proposition 5 would amend the California constitution by lowering the required voter approval threshold to 55% for local governments to borrow money to fund affordable housing construction, down payment assistance programs, supportive housing and public infrastructure projects. “Infrastructure,” according to the proposition’s language can include a broad range of development projects, including water management, local hospitals, police stations, broadband networks, parks and other development projects.Under current law, it takes a supermajority of 66% of voters to approve those housing and infrastructure bonds.If Prop 5 passes, the new approval threshold will apply not just to future bonds, but any that are on the ballot this November. That includes a proposed& $20 billion affordable housing bond& in the San Francisco Bay area.Supporters of the proposition believe that lowering the voter approval threshold to 55% would make it easier for cities and towns to borrow money in support of critical projects like creating more affordable housing to address the state’s ongoing housing shortage and homelessness crisis, for example.California Black Media (CBM) reached out to the Western States Regional Joint Board Workers United, a labor union that supports a yes vote for Prop 6. They represent Industrial...