A $4.1 billion state bond measure dedicated to improving parks and environmental initiatives was endorsed Monday by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Monday, who urged voters to support Proposition 68 on the June 5 primary ballot.
“Prop 68 is a smart investment in this generation and those to come. Prop 68 will help to build on the progress we have made across California to increase access to parks and green spaces and ensure all California families have clean, safe drinking water,” Garcetti said during a news conference at the Los Angeles State Historic Park in Chinatown. “I am proud to stand with environmental and community advocates throughout our state who are strengthening California by voting for Prop. 68.”
The mayor was flanked by leaders from The Trust for Public Land, the Nature Conservancy, Southern California Water Coalition, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Los Angeles River State Park Partners and other environmental groups.
“All Californians suffer from the effects of pollution and climate change, whether it’s dirty air, unsafe drinking water, extreme heat, drought or wildfires. Prop 68 enables us to prepare for the future, protect our communities and natural resources, and preserve California for the next generation,” said Laura Shell, California board chair of The Trust for Public Land.
Opponents of the measure have raised concerns over the level of debt it would create for taxpayers and how the money would be spent.
“Like any other kind of credit-card spending, it’s all great until the bill comes,” Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association wrote in a March op-ed in the San Diego Union-Tribune. “And like any other kind of government spending, the money will pay for some projects that are essential, some that are important and some that are on the list only because powerful lobbyists want them, or because a few crucial votes were bought with money for pet projects.”