On this week’s In Focus: SoCal, host Tanya McRae breaks down some of the state ballot propositions on the ballot this year, as well as some of the hot races to watch in Southern California.

John Myers, the Sacramento Bureau Chief for the L.A. Times, analyzes Propositions 15, 16, and 25.

Prop 15 increases funding sources for public schools, community colleges, and local government services by changing commercial and industrial property tax assessments. California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Jacqueline Martinez of the Latino Community Foundation, and Sasha Cuttler of the San Francisco Department of Public Health support the proposition. The California Taxpayers Association, the California State Conference of the NAACP, and the California Small Business Association oppose the proposition.

Prop 16 allows diversity as a factor in public employment, education, and contracting decisions. This proposition would overturn Prop 209 from 1996, which banned affirmative action. The California Democratic Party, the League of Women Voters, the California Asian Chamber of Commerce, the California Black Chamber of Commerce, and the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce support the proposition. The Republican Party of California, the American Civil Rights Institute, the American Freedom Alliance, and the Chinese American Civic Action Alliance oppose it.

Prop 22 has been in the spotlight for months leading up to the election. It exempts app-based transportation and delivery companies from providing employee benefits to certain drivers. Lyft, Uber, Postmates, DoorFash, Instacart, the California Small Business Association, the California Taxpayers Association, and the Republican Party of California support the proposition. The California Labor Federation, Gig Workers Rising, Transport Workers Union of America, and the Democracy for America oppose it.

McRae talks to two app-based drivers with opposing views of Prop 22. She also talks to a college student and a parent. One is for and the other against affirmative action in California. 

McRae sits down with political commentator Dan Schnur to look at some of the hot races around SoCal, including the Los Angeles District Attorney, L.A. County Board of Supervisors, 2nd District, and congressional seats in Orange County that were part of the 2018 blue wave.

Send us your thoughts at InFocusSocal@charter.com and watch Sundays at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.