May 28, 2019

Key dates to register & vote

Election day is Tuesday, June 4

►Vote by mail ballots drop on Monday, May 6. 

►Last day to register or pre-register to vote is Monday, May 20

 

Measure EE Resources

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Volunteer to Walk for EE

A blue clip art figure of a person walking.

Bilingual volunteers needed.
Food will be provided.

SIGN UP TO WALK

 

 

Monday, June 3

Area locations

1. South Area: 3:30 PM to 8 PM
► Community Coalition: 8101 Vermont Ave., L.A. 90044

2. East Area: 3:30 PM to 8 PM
► Inner City Struggle: 530 S. Boyle Ave., L.A. 90033 (Phone banking available)

3. Valley West: 3:30 PM to 8 PM
► Power California: 8363 E. Reseda Blvd., Suite 6, Northridge 91324

SIGN UP TO WALK

 

ELECTION DAY: Tuesday, June 4

Area locations

1. South Area: 3 PM to 8 PM
► Community Coalition: 8101 Vermont Ave., L.A. 90044

2. South Area: 9 AM to 8 PM
► SCOPE Agenda Action: 1715 W. Florence Ave., LA 90047

3. East Area: 3 PM to 8 PM
► Inner City Struggle/Power CA: 530 S. Boyle Ave., L.A. 90033 (Phone banking available)

SIGN UP TO WALK

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Member #YesOnEE

20 by 20 logo

Parcel tax would generate about $500 million for schools

On June 4, voters living in LAUSD boundaries will cast ballots on Measure EE, Quality Schools for All — a per-square-foot parcel tax on habitable structures.

Passing Measure EE is a critical step in our 20 by 20 campaign to reach $20,000 in per-pupil funding by the year 2020. Other steps include closing corporate tax loopholes through the Schools and Communities First measure in 2020 and taxing the wealthy to fund special education (IDEA) and Title I.

 

BUSINESSES WOULD PAY MORE THAN 70%
Measure EE comparison: High-rise vs. family home
 
Picutre of the US Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles.
  
Picture of a one story single-family home.

US Bank Tower
1,432,540 sq. ft.

Tax: $229,206
Per-year estimate

  

Private home
1,300 sq. ft.

Tax: $208
Per-year estimate

 

Facts about the measure

  1. We need financial resources to force the district to uphold our contract wins
    Our strike successfully pressured LAUSD to tap into its huge reserve to offer a fair pay raise, lower class size, and hire more nurses, teacher-librarians, and counselors, but that reserve is one-time money. If we want to uphold our victories and win more in the future, the district — faced with low state funding, the charter drain, and increased retirement contributions for employees — needs additional ongoing revenue.
     
  2. Measure EE is fundraising for our families and for public education
    Voter support for a parcel tax measure spiked after our strike because we sent the message that our schools are being starved of the resources students need. Measure EE will generate approximately $500 million for LA schools and build a base for future funding victories to keep lowering class size and hire more psychologists, social workers, and other school-based staff.
     
  3. Businesses and corporate landlords would pay more than 70% of the tax, and homeowners only 18%
    The tax would be a new annual assessment of 16 cents per square foot on property owners’ habitable indoor space (for example, floors on a multi-story building, a main residence plus an accessory dwelling unit, or the total square footage of a high-rise building). Over half of homeowners would pay less than $240 per year. Businesses and corporate landlords would pay more than 70% of this tax. Homeowners would pay only 18%. There would be no tax on renters, and senior citizens and people with disabilities would be exempt.
     
  4. Measure EE is not a regressive flat tax
    Under a flat tax, all landowners pay the same amount, regardless of the size of parcel, which results in lower-income property owners paying a much larger share of their incomes than higher-income property owners. If Measure EE had been a flat tax, homeowners would have had to pay an estimated 45% of the total tax revenue. But because the proposed tax is per square foot, only 18% of the total revenue would be paid by homeowners under Measure EE.
     
  5. Fully funded schools are the strongest blow against privatization
    An underfunded public school system creates the conditions of scarcity that privatizers use to justify shutting down schools and handing them over the private operators. A thriving, well-funded public school system — with a rich curriculum including arts, music, and ethnic studies — is how we create the schools our students deserve and defend against school takeovers and portfolio model restructuring plans.

 

Holding the District Accountable

UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl mugshot

Read more about EE from April 2019 President's Perspective by Alex Caputo-Pearl

Q: How do we make sure that the district is accountable in how it spends EE money?

A: There has never been a silver bullet for accountability — not with Prop. 30, 55, or other monies. That said, we have tremendous strength to hold the district accountable on EE.

  1. First, we have tight ballot language directly stating monies go to recruiting and retaining educators, class-size reduction, increases in HHS staffing, and so on.
     
  2. Second, there will be annual audits.
     
  3. Third, there will be an oversight committee.
     
  4. Last, and most important, we will organize publicly, with a broad coalition including the mayor, to keep the district accountable.