Rubicon Voter Guide 2016

By Rubicon Admin October 12, 2016

Vote for justice & equity in our communities!


At Rubicon, we are committed to helping our participants move out of poverty through success in building assets, increasing their income, being well, and building their network of professional and personal connections. We have studied the statewide ballot measures and adopted positions that support our participants' movement toward economic mobility and work to dismantle systemic forces that disproportionately impact communities of color. Our guide is grounded in Rubicon's values of hope, justice, and humility. 

We hope that you will consider our recommendations on the upcoming ballot measures. Let's move toward our vision of an East Bay without poverty.
 
Please consider our recommendations on the upcoming ballot measures. Register to vote before October 24 in Alameda & Contra Costa Counties. ​ Let’s move towards our vision of an East Bay without poverty.

Prop 57 - Vote Yes

Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act: Would increase sentencing credits for adult inmates, allow earlier parole for non-violent felons and let judges decide which juvenile offenders are tried as adults.

At Rubicon, we believe prison is not an effective or equitable way to increase public safety, especially as a response to non-violent offenses. We support getting more people out of the prison system and back to their families, where they can build the skills and connections needed to better their lives and be positive change agents in their communities. 

Prop 61- Vote Yes

State Prescription Drug Purchases. Pricing Standards. Initiative Statute: Would impose controls on state purchases of prescription drugs, establishing that prices can be no higher than what the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pays.

Wellness plays an integral part in being able to secure and retain employment, remain proactive in your life, engage in positive relationships and activities, and ultimately break the cycle of poverty. We support keeping prescription drug costs under control to ensure that people experiencing poverty can continue to improve and maintain their health and wellness.

Prop 62 - Vote Yes

Justice That Works: Death Penalty Abolition: Would do away with the nation's largest death row and substitute life sentences with no chance of parole for nearly 750 condemned inmates. A competing measure to speed up executions is also on the ballot. 

Rubicon is against the costly, dysfunctional, and racially biased death penalty system that disproportionately affect our communities. Mounting evidence indicates the death penalty convictions are often biased, and is applied unevenly to poor people and people of color. We unequivocally support abolishing the death penalty. 

Prop 63 - Vote Yes

Safety for All Act: Would tighten California’s already tough gun control laws by requiring background checks to buy ammunition, outlaw possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines and streamline a program that allows authorities to seize firearms from owners who are no longer allowed to own them. NOTE: Increases the penalty for theft of a firearm to a Felony, regardless of whether $950 or under.

Many of the communities that we serve are disproportionately impacted by gun violence. We believe that tightening gun control laws will lead to less violence. There is growing evidence that demonstrates that states with strong gun control laws see fewer overall gun deaths.

Prop 64 - Vote Yes

Marijuana Legalization: Would allow adults 21 and over to buy an ounce of marijuana and marijuana-infused products at licensed retail outlets and also to grow up to six pot plants for personal recreational use. 

Rubicon supports the decriminalization of drug use. Historically, drug laws have disproportionately impacted people of color living in poverty. This proposition also reduces the sale of marijuana to a misdemeanor, and allows for destruction of records within two years for certain marijuana offenses. Individuals with prior marijuana sales or growing convictions would be eligible for re-sentencing, and those with completed sentences could apply to have their records expunged.

Prop 66 - Vote No

Shortening Death Penalty Appeals: Would accelerate appeals by inmates on death row to speed up executions. A competing measure to repeal the death penalty is also on the ballot. NOTE: If both 62 and 66 pass the one with the higher percentage of the vote will become law.

Rubicon does not support the death penalty. The potential of taking the life of an innocent person is unacceptable. Mounting evidence indicates that false convictions are frequent and disproportionately impact people of color.