Maggie Goodman with petitions for Prop 13 measure.

Climate Protection enthusiasts filled the 4th floor auditorium of the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland Monday, May 14, to hear a panel of Climate leaders organized with the help of renowned climate pioneer Bill McKibben of 350.org. Greeting attendees beforehand with handouts and other “asks” were local chapters of the Sierra Club, Fossil Free California and other groups – including members of the LWVBAE Prop. 13 Reform Team (see photo of Maggie Goodman)!
Guests from as far away as Solano, San Mateo and Marin Counties were enthusiastic about signing the petitions to put “Schools and Communities First!” on the statewide ballot to fix part of Prop. 13 by reassessing large business properties every 3 years. Homeowners, renters, small business owners and agricultural property owners would not be affected by this historic change which would yield up to $10 billion in new revenue for schools and local communities.
The latest count of signatures provided by coalition partner California Calls have the total at 600,000, 41,000 of which were contributed through the work of volunteers! 595,000 signatures are needed to qualify but signature gathering efforts must continue until June 30 to offset losses expected to occur through inevitable mistakes. So the Prop. 13 Reform Team would appreciate everyone mailing completed petitions to the office (2530 San Pablo Ave., Suite F, Berkeley 94702) or handing them in at the Annual Meeting!