League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Cruz County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Measure J Vote Required for Naming Public Places City of Watsonville Majority Approval Required Pass: 2,740 / 61.81% Yes votes ...... 1,693 / 38.19% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure J

Arguments Against Measure J

Let The People Vote -- YES -- on Measure J VOTE YES for JUSTICE Restore the People's right to FAIR representation. Retain each resident's hope for EQUAL opportunity. Rebuild trust in the PROCESS of naming public places. Thousands of Watsonville signatures were collected to allow each & every city voter the right to have their voices heard! Measure J is the direct result of that amazing grassroots effort. You now have the ability to take back your rights for fair & equal treatment for ALL the PEOPLE of Watsonville: Vote YES on Measure J --- for HONESTY Vote YES on Measure J ---- for INTEGRITY Vote YES on Measure J ---- for JUSTICE Justice will be served by creating a fair method for all City voters to participate in voting for the naming of public places. Plazas, parks, buildings, bridges, courtyards & airports within, or owned by, the City of Watsonville are included. This equal and inclusive voting process brings opportunity for residents to come together and express pride in their community. Measure J provides for good government and empowers residents to embrace traditions, cultures and personages important to our rich history and diversity. This process energizes residents to participate proactively and keeps the final decision for the naming of public places where it belongs with...."The People." Measure J is an important step in taking back our basic right to vote. Watsonville voters need to stay alert, engaged and vigilant over our local government. PLEASE SUPPORT the "Let The People Vote" effort by voting YES on MEASURE J RESTORE JUSTICE. Be an integral part of changing the City of Watsonville for the better. Let's work together for Honesty, Integrity and Justice! VOTE YES for MEASURE J s/ Carlos F. Rico Sr Former Business Owner, Former School Board Member s/ Aurora E. Parker Retired Teacher s/ Gerry Martin Retired Teacher s/ Daniel Joe Hernandez Retired Navy s/ Carmen Garcia Caput New American Citizen Rebuttal to Arguments For City of Watsonville Naming of Public Places Measure J was paid for by a secret, Capitola group that is currently being investigated for alleged violations of our state fair political practices laws. This was not a "grassroots" effort, but rather one based on discrimination. Our public parks and building are some of our most cherished community treasures. But Measure J aims to make it more difficult to name them after any Latino. That is divisive and disrespectful to all of us. Our current process to name any park or building is fair. It requires multiple public hearings and a vote by your elected representatives in an open meeting where all citizens have a right to express their valued opinion. NO on Measure J --- For Fairness & Against Discrimination NO on Measure J --- Against Secret, Outside Groups Telling Us What to Do NO on Measure J --- Respect for All Local Residents NO on Measure J --- For Saving Our Taxpayer Dollars We have the power to take a stand against discrimination. Please vote NO on Measure J. s/ Isaac Rodriguez Community Volunteer s/ Leah Sugarman Educator/Mother s/ Pedro Castillo Retired University Professor s/ Francisco Rodriguez Educator s/ Rev. Joseph R. Barndt Pastor

City of Watsonville Naming of Public Places We respectfully ask you to vote "NO" on Measure J. Measure J results from a failed 2010 effort to name only "one" of Watsonville's 26 publically-owned parks after a Latino leader. Today, there are still no publically-owned parks in Watsonville named after a Latino leader in a city that is over 80 percent Latino. Now, Measure J would make it more difficult to name a public park or building after any Latinos. This is wrong and discriminatory. The diversity of the people of our community is one of our city's greatest assets and we should support policies that are respectful and inclusive of all residents of our beautiful city. Measure J is not it. Measure J also does not give the people of Watsonville the power to decide what names to choose for public parks or buildings. Rather, it would only give each councilmember the ability to put a name on a voting ballot, not the people. City-wide elections would also cost taxpayers thousands of dollars rather than simply allowing your elected councilmembers to vote for you as they already do in other city matters. Measure J is not a "volunteer" effort as claimed. Most signatures were collected by paid signature gatherers hired by a group based in Capitola. This secretly-funded, Capitola group is now trying to impose on Watsonville residents what it wants. The Fair Political Practices Commission is currently investigating this group regarding possible violations of campaign reporting and transparency laws. Vote "NO" on Measure J. It will only make it more difficult to name a public park or building after a Latino, and is not respectful of all people of our community. s/ Isaac Rodriguez Community Volunteer s/ Leah Sugarman Educator/Mother s/ Pedro Castillo Retired University Professor s/ Francisco Rodriguez Educator s/ Rev. Joseph R. Barndt Pastor Rebuttal to Arguments Against Let The People Vote -- YES -- on Measure J VOTE YES for JUSTICE Restore the People's right to be INCLUDED. Retain the unique DIVERSITY of our community. Rebuild trust in the PROCESS of naming public places. PLEASE READ THE MEASURE FOR YOURSELF Measure J provides for good government and empowers residents to embrace traditions, cultures and personages important to our rich history and racial diversity. This open process energizes residents to participate proactively and keeps the final decision for the naming of public places where it belongs with...."The People." Opponents ignore what this measure really says. Opponents embrace exclusion rather than inclusion. Opponents take your vote away & leave it to politicians. TRUST THE VOTERS OF WATSONVILLE Thousands of voters of all ages, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds welcomed the democratic process and signed petitions. Measure J is inclusive, efficient and fiscally responsible. Watsonville residents understand the importance of this grassroots effort. The final decision is placed firmly in the hands of the People. OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE Signatures were collected by volunteers walking door-to-door, in our neighborhoods, at our supermarkets, and in front of our places of worship. Community members signed these petitions at service clubs, sporting events, special family celebrations at our public parks & at the Watsonville Plaza. The People's dedication speaks for itself. Watsonville residents clearly believe in Measure J. Let's work together for Honesty, Integrity and Justice! PLEASE VOTE YES on MEASURE J s/ Carlos F. Rica SR Community Volunteer/53 yrs, Former Watsonville "Man of the Year" s/ Patricia L. Solano Founding Pres. Croatian Slavic Organization, Mother/Community volunteer 50 yrs. s/ Marcia Hashimoto Retired Kindergarten Teacher, Active Watsonville-Santa Cruz Japanese American Citizen's League s/ Nancy A. Bilicich Watsonville City Council Member s/ Geraldine Martin Teacher/Watsonville Native

Full Text of Measure J

ORDINANCE NO.____(CM) FORM OF ORDINANCE BY THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF WATSONVILLE AMENDING TITLE 1 (GENERAL PROVISIONS) OF THE WATSONVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 7 (NAMING OF PUBLIC PLACES) REQUIRING THE NAMING OF PUBLIC PLACES TO BE DONE SOLELY WITH VOTER APPROVAL ELECTION ON JUNE 3, 2014 EFFECTIVE DATE: THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA, DO HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. ENACTMENT. Title 1 (General Provisions) of the Watsonville Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding a new Chapter 7 (Naming of Public Places). CHAPTER 7 NAMING OF PUBLIC PLACES Sec. 1-7.01 Naming of Public Places. The naming of all public places within the City of Watsonville or owned by the City utside of the City limits shall be approved by the voters of the City of Watsonville, voting at either a General Municipal Election or Special Municipal Election. It is the intent of the voters that this initiative shall be retroactive to the date of the ubmission of the Notice of Intent to the City Clerk. Sec. 1-7.02 Definitions. The definition of public places, as used in this measure shall mean Parks, Buildings, Bridges, Plazas, Courtyards, or Airports. Sec. 1-7.03 Procedures for Naming Public Places. If the City seeks to name a public place as defined in this measure, each of the seven (7) City Council Members will have the right to nominate a proposed name for the respective public place to be named and each nominated name will be placed on the ballot for the voters of the City to vote on. Any City Council Member will have the right to nominate the exact same name as selected by any other Council Member, but any name nominated by more than one Council Member will appear only once on a ballot for the voters to select from. (a) At no time shall there be more than seven (7) different names on a ballot for the voters to select from for the naming of an individual public place. (b) The name receiving the highest number of votes at the city-wide election will be used as the official name of the public place that is sought to be named by the City. PART 2: General Provisions. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the proposed changes to the Municipal Code, the voters intend to make this initiative retroactive and apply to any proposed names considered for naming by the City Council on or after the date of submission of the Notice of Intent to the City Clerk. SECTION 2. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of these Sections or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provision or applications of the Article which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provision of these Sections are severable. SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be in force and take effect ten (10) days after the City Council declares the vote of the June 3, 2014, California Primary Election pursuant to California Election Code Section 9217.