Albany Groups Advocate for Proposition 15

By Sereene Chaman, Cat Collins, Emma Loenicker, and Lucille Marten

Albany’s Young Democratic Socialists of America and Albany Teachers Association are among many groups advocating for Proposition 15, an initiative that would change the tax system that Proposition 13 implemented, to be decided on November 3rd. If Prop 15 passes, public schools like Albany High would benefit from the substantial increase in funding.

Prop 15 would increase taxes on properties worth over three million dollars and use that money to increase funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and local governments. It would also exempt small businesses from the personal property tax. Opponents of Prop 15 include the California Chamber of Commerce, California Retailers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and the California NAACP.

Student advocates believe the proposition will have positive consequences.

“Prop 15 has a very widespread impact; everyone from teachers to social workers to nurses will benefit,” said Ben Gripman, a YDSA member. “Prop 15 would reclaim billions [of dollars] in tax revenue which would be reinvested into schools, public works projects and community service.”

Local organizations such as Albany Teachers Association and YDSA are busy campaigning for Prop 15. The YDSA chapter at AHS, @ydsa.albany on Instagram, has been vocal in their support via social media, where they created a hashtag: #Albfor15. Participants were asked to take a photo wearing red and post it with a second photo of more information on the proposition.

Social science teacher Chris Knight, in his role as co-president of the teacher’s union, also endorsed the tenets of Prop 15 out of “concern as a citizen for badly needed public services.”

Mr. Knight said that social science teacher Miriam Walden, ATA’s political action chair whose pedigree includes 20 years as a community organizer, was the one to introduce him to the merits of this issue.

Ms. Walden has always been an outspoken advocate against the tax system created by Proposition 13.

“Big corporations and trusts that own commercial properties can use Prop 13 to avoid property tax increases,” Ms. Walden said.

Senior Dahlia Wilson, a YDSA member, described Prop 15 as an opportunity to fix financial problems in California schools.

“California has been robbed of billions of dollars a year for schools and social services by a tax system that favors the ultra-wealthy. Prop 15 is our chance to change that,” Wilson said. “I fight for Prop 15 because I don’t want to see schools a decade from now still struggling with oversized classes, high teacher turnover, and even more budget cuts.”