thecollegian
Issue 4 • Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 • deltacollegian.net
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THE FIGHT FOR STOCKTON PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MIDORI MORITA
By Mikael Honzell Opinion Editor
Delta College’s Multimedia, History and Political Science departments were co-sponsors in a series of campus candidate forums Oct. 13-14. The event, also sponsored by the League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – Stockton Branch, featured San Joaquin County Supervisor candidates Moses Zapien and Tom Patti and Congressional candidates Jerry McNerney and Tony Amador the first night. On Oct. 14 both Mayor Anthony Silva and Councilmember Michael Tubbs were asked questions by the panelist in the last of all the forums. This round brought in a bigger audience, filling all 200 seats in the South Forum, leaving some people to
sit and watch the forum by the entrance. Audience member Bettina Engelman felt the forum between the two was civil. “They focused on issues and had similarities in ideas,” Engleman said. Rachel Lopez, a Bear Creek High School student, expected a “clash” between Silva and Tubbs, given the comments Silva and Tubbs exchanged on a Facebook post made by Silva on Oct. 5. “They are just two very different people,” Lopez said, “But I think the debates went well. Didn’t learn anything new.” The candidates said they weren’t given enough time to say what they wanted in the forum, due to their limited time to answer questions. Silva spoke to the Collegian after the Forum. “It was too fast and too rushed,” he said before sharing what he wanted to say during the Forum.
The forum was capped at 30 minutes. “What I wanted to say is that I proposed a hundred unit homeless complex with $400,000. It would have gotten a hundred people off the streets. I had the city manager take a look at my plan and he denied it, saying it was a waste of time. It’s bullsh*t,” said Silva. “Now, those people won’t have anywhere to go once Caltrans gates off underneath the freeways where all those tents are.” Tubb’s was also given a chance by the Collegian to expand on points he wanted to make. “I wanted to touch more on violent crime,” he said. “We can’t stop these crimes by sending cops after gangs in troubled areas. We need to go be smart and go to these red spots with resources for these people, rather than just cops. A better relationship needs to be built between our cops and citizens.” Politics can be a dirty game, where allegations are
See MAYOR, page 8
New decisions for the future of California
Propositions including firearms, education funding and death penalty up for vote By Katherine Gagne Staff Writer
In the Nov. 8 election, California voters will be asked to weigh in on a number of important issues. We asked students what they knew of the propositions and initiatives that
were on the ballot this year. Students surveyed at Delta College were mostly familiar with Prop 64, the legalization of hemp and marijuana. “It’s a plant that has so many uses, both for medicine and so many other things. It’s crazy that it has been illegal for so long. Hopefully, we’ll legal-
PROPOSITION FUNDING FOR K-12 SCHOOLS AND
51 54 57
COMMUNITY COLLEGES
A yes vote on this initiative would create $9 billion in school bonds. The money would be used for both construction and modernization projects at K-12 schools and community colleges.
ize it like Colorado and Oregon have done,” said John Shields. When asked about the death penalty proposals, the reactions were mixed. “I am in favor of the death penalty. Why should taxpayers take care of a murderer for the rest of their life?”
said student Dianna Sullivan. Student Yibin Gu said, “I don’t think people should be put to death, I’m voting to repeal the death penalty.” Here is a guide to 6 of the 16 Initiatives and Propositions being decided on Election Day.
PROPOSITION ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION.
58 62 63
A yes vote would allow schools to teach students for whom English is not their first language through programs including bilingual education where students learn from teachers who speak both their native language and English.
PROPOSITION TRANSPARENCY IN LEGISLATION AND PROCEEDINGS
PROPOSITION REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY
PROPOSITION CRIMINAL SENTENCES. PAROLE.
PROPOSITION FIREARMS. AMMUNITION SALES.
A yes vote would prohibit Legislature from passing any bill unless it is published on the Internet for 72 hours before a vote. It also would require the Legislature to record its proceedings and post them on the Internet.
JUVENILE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND SENTENCING.
A yes vote would allow prisoners sentenced for a nonviolent crime to become eligible for early release based on efforts to earn credits for education and good behavior. It would allow judges to sentence offenders of non-violent crimes to parole rather than jail time. The initiative would eliminate the existing law that sends a juvenile offender immediately to an adult court hearing.
If passed, death row sentences would be changed to life without parole. The measure also would send more money earned by working prisoners to victim restitution efforts.
A yes vote would ban the sale and possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines in California. It also would impose background checks for purchasing ammunition, new felony charges for gun thefts and rules for keeping guns out of the hands of felons and others disqualified from possessing firearms.
Find the full list of propositions on deltacollegian.net
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