I don’t think there is anything else in the world that has captured our attention today and yesterday more than the Presidential race. Not the Senate races. Not the House of Representatives races. Not even Covid. Everything else has to take a backseat, but there are measures or propositions on the ballots that I personally support and think should be called out more. I hope you will find them helpful.
Florida voters approved a significant raise in the minimum wage.
I am not a huge fan of Florida, but this move is awesome! Florida voters approved the raise of the minimum wage from $8.56 per hour to $15 per hour from now till at least 2026. For every working individual, that’s double what they are getting paid now. Imagine the relief that these hard-working people and their family will have from this measure. Critics of this measure would tell you that it’s hurting their business and keeping the wages low would stimulate business and the trickle down economics. Have you ever known the trickle down economics work before? Me neither! If business owners can retain more profits at the expense of employees, there is no way that they will let it go. That’s not in the human nature. The only way to improve the livelihood of workers is to make the minimum wage high enough. Is $15 per hour sufficient? I don’t know. But it sure is a hell lot better than $8.56/hour.
The City of Portland in Maine banned the use of facial recognition, imposed a rent control and raised the minimum wage
The City of Portland in Maine also lifted the minimum wage to $15/hour, but it also did two other things: ban the use of facial surveillance technology and impose more rental protections for renters. In addition to limiting an annual increase in rent to the rate of inflation, the measure also mandates the creation of an oversight body that handles rental disputes and shortens the length of unofficial leases. All of these are legislations truly by and for citizens. It’s not uncommon to hear about renter abuses by landlords. If you read any rental agreements, the clauses embedded in those agreements aren’t particularly in the best interest of renters. Although it likely won’t solve all potential issues, the new approved measure is a step in the right direction and tips the scale a bit more in favor of renters.
Paid and Medical Leave in Colorado
It’s still mind-blowing to me that paid and medical leave isn’t universal in America. But the state of Colorado took a step in the right direction by approving the measure that requires companies to pay workers 12 paid weeks for childbirth and family emergencies which include medical occasions. There is not much else to elaborate on this. I’ll just let State Senator Faith Winter take it from here:
I am happy for the workers of Colorado. The new law will ensure that mothers don’t have to return to work mere days after giving birth, she said, and that cancer patients can take time to heal.
Source: CPR
Data privacy expansion and voting rights restoration for folks on parole in California
California’s voters approved a proposition called Prop 24 built on the California Consumer Privacy Act. The proposition will allow consumers an ability to limit how businesses can use their data such as race, location and health information. There will also be a new body that oversees the adoption of the law and the new proposition. In my opinion, our privacy is our right. Companies such as Internet Service Providers shouldn’t be able to exploit our own data and sell it to advertisers without our consent. Sadly, that’s what is happening across the country. Along with other egregious violations of our privacy. Hence, I do think this is a good proposition to have in effect.
Another approved proposition is the restoration of voting rights for folks on parole. Called Proposition 17, it gives people back the rights to vote after they serve their sentences. I mean, everyone makes mistakes. Just because there is a stain in a person’s record should rid you of one of his or her basic human rights, especially in a democracy. It baffles me so much that there are many states in the country where folks are deprived of their voting rights simply because they made a mistake in the past. Well, the way to integrate them back into a society is firstly to let them be a human, with human rights. It’s reported that the proposition will help 50,000 Californians have their voting rights back. 50,000!
Find other ballot measures here
Minh Quang Duong 