La Opinión, the Largest Spanish-Language Newspaper in U.S., Endorses Schools & Communities First
Influential endorsement from the most-read Spanish-language newspaper in California shows that Schools & Communities First will be a priority for Latinx voters
The highly influential La Opinión endorsed Schools & Communities First, reinforcing the fact that this initiative will be a priority for Latinx voters in November and representing the growing momentum for this initiative in communities throughout California. La Opinión is the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the entire country and the most-read Spanish-language newspaper in California, reaching up to 6 million readers every month.
This editorial endorsement touches on exactly why Schools & Communities First is beneficial for the Latinx community, specifically that it’ll generate $12 billion every year for those school districts and communities which have been most affected by decades of disinvestment and have particularly felt the effects of the crisis we’re going through right now – all by closing corporate tax loopholes which have overwhelmingly benefited top corporations.
Below are the Spanish- and English-language versions of this key endorsement:
La Opinión: En apoyo de Escuelas y Comunidades Primero
La medida Schools and Community First merece todo el apoyo de La Opinión, y es importante que lo demos en esta etapa temprana de la campaña electoral, para que no queden dudas
Por: Editorial | 21 de Mayo 2020
El 3 de noviembre, la nación no solamente elegirá presidente.
En California, los votantes tendrán la oportunidad de apoyar una iniciativa de gran importancia para el sistema escolar de nuestro estado: Escuelas y Comunidades Primero (Schools & Communities First) (SCF).
Se trata de un plebiscito que somete a los votantes la posibilidad de agregar 12,000 millones de dólares destinados a nuestras escuelas y comunidades. Un objetivo digno de nuestro apoyo. La medida apoya a maestros, médicos, enfermeras, personal de supermercado, que han estado en las primeras filas de los héroes de la pandemia del coronavirus.
La propuesta hace más que ello. Trata de corregir una de las mayores injusticias cometidas en la historia de California: la Proposición 13 que limita el impuesto de propiedad al 1% del valor de la misma sin límite en el valor de esa propiedad.
La moción pide una reevaluación de propiedades comerciales e industriales valoradas en más de tres millones de dólares.
Si bien la Proposición 13 ha beneficiado a dueños de casas y renteros que pagan bajos impuestos de propiedad, su principal consecuencia ha sido eximir del pago de miles de millones de dólares a las mayores corporaciones e inversores del país. Se creó de esa manera un desbalance presupuestario permanente en California que ha hecho más difícil el desarrollo de la infraestructura, contribuyendo al mismo tiempo al lucro de esas corporaciones.
Intentos anteriores de derogar la Proposición 13 en su totalidad o parcialmente por vía del plebiscito fracasaron. Pero esperamos que esta vez la iniciativa tenga éxito, ya que la necesidad de invertir en escuelas, muchas de las cuales carecen de infraestructura digital, y comunidades de color es más urgente que nunca a causa de la crisis del COVID-19.
La SCF da prioridad en la repartición de fondos a las escuelas más necesitadas y la juventud más afligida.
Respecto a las críticas contra la propuesta, son iguales que en el pasado, y es acusada de querer subir impuestos y de hostilidad hacia las empresas privadas. No es así: un análisis de USC arroja que más de tres cuartos de los ingresos provendrán de solo el 6% de las propiedades.
Las residencias particulares no serán afectadas. Los pequeños negocios no experimentarán enormes aumentos de impuestos.
La moción fue presentada a la autorización de la secretaría de Estado con un apoyo sin precedentes de organizaciones comunitarias, de ciudades y vecindarios, sindicatos, y con más de 1.7 millones de firmas pidiendo colocarla en la boleta electoral de noviembre – un número sin precedentes- aunque necesitaba menos de un millón.
La medida Schools and Community First merece todo nuestro apoyo, y es importante que lo demos en esta etapa temprana de la campaña electoral, para que no queden dudas.
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La Opinión: In support of Schools and Communities First
The Schools and Community First measure deserves the full support of La Opinión, and it's important that we grant it in this early stage of the electoral campaign, to remove all doubt By: Editorial | 21 de Mayo 2020
On November 3rd, the nation won't only elect a president.
In California, voters will have the opportunity to support an initiative of great importance to our state's school system: Schools and Communities First (SCF). It's about a referendum that offers voters the possibility of adding $12 billion dollars destined to our schools and communities. A goal worthy of our support. The measure supports the teachers, doctors, nurses, supermarket personnel that have been on the front lines as the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic.
The proposal does more than that. It attempts to correct one of the greatest injustices committed in California history: Proposition 13, which limits property tax to 1% of the value of the sale, regardless of the property's value.
The motion asks for a reevaluation of commercial and industrial properties valued at more than three million dollars.
Although Proposition 13 has benefitted homeowners and renters who pay low property taxes, its main consequence has been to exempt major corporations and investors billions of dollars in payments. It has thus created a permanent budget imbalance in California, which has made structure development much harder, at the same time contributing to those corporations' profits.
Previous attempts to repeal Prop 13 wholly or partially through referendum have failed. But we hope the initiative will be successful this time, given that the need to invest in schools, many of which lack digital infrastructure, and communities of color is more urgent than ever given the COVID-19 crisis.
SCF gives priority in its share of funds to the neediest schools and the most distressed youth.
The criticism against the proposal is the same as in the past; it's accused of wanting to raise taxes and of being hostile toward private business. This is not the case: an analysis by USC found that more than three quarters of its income will come from only 6% of properties.
Private residences won't be affected. Small businesses won't experience big tax increases.
The motion was presented to the Secretary of State authorities with unprecedented support from community organizations, municipalities and neighborhoods, unions, and with more than 1,7 million signatures requesting that it be placed on the electoral ballot in November – an unprecedented number – although it needed less than a million.
The Schools and Community First measure deserves our full support, and it's important that we grant it in this early stage of the electoral campaign, to remove all doubt.
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