Prop 98 Continues To Lose In The Polls

ATTN: Prop 98 Is Losing Even Further In The Latest
Polls

According to the Public Policy Institute (PPIC); When
they are read the ballot measure (Prop 98), 30 percent
of likely voters say they would vote yes, 48 percent
would vote no, and 22 percent are not sure.

Despite the landlords sleazy commercials, the public
is not buying the B.S.!

Thanks to all who have been active in getting the word
out to defeat Prop 98. Our efforts are paying off, and
if we continue with our efforts we just may end up
defeating Prop 98 and the greedy landlords supporting
it!

Thanks again to all, keep up the good work and we WILL
defeat Prop 98 if we try hard enough!

Lynda Carson

See details below...

>>>>>>>>>>

Released just hours ago from the Public Policy
Institute:


• June eminent domain measures trailing — Page 20

http://www.ppic.org/main/pressrelease.asp?p=837

Propositions 98 and 99 are aimed at changing the
government’s power to take private property. While
seven in 10 likely voters say the government’s power
of eminent domain needs major changes (39%) or minor
ones (32%), support for these two propositions is
falling short of approval. Proposition 98, which would
bar state and local governments from seizing private
property to give it to another private party, would
also ban rent control. When they are read the ballot
measure, 30 percent of likely voters say they would
vote yes, 48 percent would vote no, and 22 percent are
not sure. This is a drop in support for the measure
since March (37% yes, 41% no, 22% unsure). When asked
their views about rent control, 54 percent of likely
voters say it is a good thing and 38 percent say it is
a bad thing. Attitudes toward rent control are
favorable among both homeowners (51%) and renters
(63%). A majority of Democrats (66%) and half of
independents (51%) favor rent control, while a
majority of Republicans (53%) say it is a bad thing.
Proposition 99, which would block the government from
taking a single family home or condominium to transfer
to another private party, would allow eminent domain
for public uses and would not ban rent control. Among
likely voters, 44 percent say they would vote yes, 36
percent say no, and 20 percent are unsure.

***********
California Prop 98 Heading for Rejection by
Voters—Rival Prop 99 Has Narrow 8 Point Lead

By Frank D. Russo

http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/05/california_prop_3.html

Consistent with all that has been the scuttlebutt
amongst the private polls, the Public Policy Institute
of California (PPIC) has just released a poll that
shows that Prop 89—the eminent domain constitutional
amendment being bankrolled by landlords—is already
behind with only 30% of likely voters supporting it
and 48% opposed.

As is true with just about all ballot measures, once
they fall behind, the skids are greased and the final
results do not reverse when the votes are counted.
This is especially true with the substantial numbers
of Californians casting vote by mail ballots—and a
large number of these votes may already be in the
bank. A full 22% are undecided, and if history is any
guide, most of these votes will gravitate to the “no”
side as it is easier to cast doubts on a ballot
measure than to pass one with an electorate who is not
fully onboard early on.

Prop 98 goes down hard with Democrats who are likely
to vote by 58% to 20%. It also is rejected by
Independents 48% to 32%. It has a narrow plurality
with Republicans 41% to 36% with 20% of Republicans
likely to vote undecided. I trails in all regions of
the state and loses by a wide margin in the votes of
those who are homeowners and renters alike.

There are many questions about Prop 98, but clearly
one of the reasons for its unpopularity is its
prohibition of rent control and similar measures. The
PPIC results to this question speak volumes on this
part of Prop 98: “Do you think rent control—that is,
the ability of local governments to set limits on how
much rents can be increased each year—is a good thing
or a bad thing?” By 54% to 38% likely California
voters think rent control is a good thing. This
includes an overwhelming majority of Democrats (66% to
26%) and Independents (51% to 42%). Republicans do not
think rent control is a good idea by 53% to 39%.

Even a majority of homeowners (51% to 41%) think rent
control is a good idea. Renters by a 63% to 29% think
so as well.

Proposition 99

Prop 99--a rival eminent domain measure that does not
have these rent control prohibitions-- is ahead in
this poll by 44% to 36% with likely voters and 20%
with no opinion.

It leads with Democrats and Independents by wide
margins and even amongst Republican likely voters 42%
to 37%. It leads comfortably in all regions of the
state except the Central Valley where it is ahead 41%
to 39%--just within the margin of error of the poll.
It is winning with homeowners and renters.

Without a clear majority of voters in favor of Prop
99, its fate is uncertain. It may be decided by those
who vote on Election Day and could lose if those
ballots break negatively.

Voters Want Changes in Eminent Domain Laws in
California

71% of likely voters want changes in California’s
eminent domain laws while 17% say the laws are fine
the way they are written. Another 12% doesn’t know.
The leader here is 39% who want “major” changes.
Another 32% want “minor changes.” The results are
pretty consistent with Democrats, Republicans, and
Independents as well as homeowners and renters.

About This Poll

The Public Policy Institute of California is a
non-partisan, non profit organization that surveyed
2003 California adults in which they identified 1086
likely voters. This is a large sample and the margin
of error for likely voters is 3%. It was conducted May
12 to May 18.
Posted on May 22, 2008

***********
PPIC poll shows big property rights concern but
indecision on Props 98, 99
By Steve Geissinger
Sacramento bureau

Article Launched: 05/21/2008 10:00:32 PM PDT

http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics/ci_9340883


SACRAMENTO — Most Californians are concerned about
government's power to take away private property, but
many likely voters remain wary of a clash over two
property-rights initiatives on the June 3 ballot,
according to a poll released today.

The Public Policy Institute of California survey shows
that 7 in 10 voters think the government's power of
eminent domain needs some kind of reform after a U.S.
Supreme Court ruling narrowed property rights in 2005.

But PPIC poll director Mark Baldassare said the survey
indicates that support for the two California ballot
proposals is falling short of approval.

Melissa Michelson, a political science professor at
Cal State East Bay, said that "when faced with
confusing propositions, or when in doubt about what
the effect of a proposition will be, the public votes
no."

Voters are particularly uncertain of Proposition 98, a
broad property-rights measure that also would end rent
controls across the state. At the same time,
Baldassare said, the institute found that a majority
of voters — 54 percent — back caps on rents.

Prop. 98 is opposed by 48 percent of voters and
supported by 30 percent, with more than a fifth of
voters undecided.

While support for the proposition has eroded since
March, the number of undecided voters has remained the
same.

The measure has pitted landlords against tenants in a
multimillion-dollar campaign because it also would
also phase out rent controls on apartments and mobile
home park spaces in the costly Bay Area and Los
Angeles regions.

In the Bay Area, Prop. 98 would affect apartments in
the cities of San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, Hayward and
San Francisco, as well as mobile home park spaces in
Concord.

The survey found that many voters remain wary of the
other eminent domain initiative on the ballot as well.

Prop. 99, sponsored by the League of California
Homeowners, is a more narrow property-rights
initiative that would bar state and local agencies
from taking single-family homes. It is supported by 44
percent of voters and opposed by 36 percent, with 20
percent undecided.

"That so many likely voters are still undecided with
only two weeks to go before Election Day is a
reflection of the confusion which these ballot
measures have generated," Michelson said. "That's
often a recipe for success for opponents of
propositions."

In other findings, the poll indicated:

n

Most Californians dislike Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger's latest budget proposal to borrow from
the state lottery, but they are willing to accept a
temporary increase in the sales tax if the pitch to
lawmakers and voters fails.

The governor's overall approval rating (41 percent)
has suffered a double-digit decline, sliding 16 points
since December and 12 points from a year ago.

If the general election was held now, California
voters would favor Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. John
McCain by 17 points.

The telephone poll of 1,086 likely voters was
conducted May 12-18. The margin of error is plus or
minus 3 percentage points.

Reach Steve Geissinger at 916-447-9302 or
sgeissinger [at] bayareanewsgroup.com.