Mad Props
— Hank Sims
Prop. 12: Houses for Servicemen
Back in 1922, California voters authorized the first Veterans’ Bond Act, providing military vets with state-funded, low-interest loans to buy homes and farms. Since then, voters have deemed it a practice worth repeating — 26 times, to the tune of about $8.4 billion in general obligation bonds. According to proponents, roughly 420,000 vets have been helped by the program since World War I. As of July, the Cal-Vet piggy bank had dwindled to just $102 million.
Prop 12 would authorize the state to sell another $900 mil in bonds, providing enough coin for at least 3,600 noble servicemen and -women to buy the conventional, manufactured or mobile home of their dreams. With the housing market in a shambles, that number could conceivably be much higher.
The only opposition voiced in the official state voting guide comes courtesy of Gary Wesley, an attorney down Mountain View way who frequently writes dissenting ballot measure arguments. He complains that these bonds rob the taxpayers, in a roundabout way, because the loans are tax-exempt and foreclosures fall in our collective lap. In a seemingly unrelated argument, Wesley also complains that only veterans who served in combat should qualify for these bonds; the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs says that soldiers shouldn’t be punished if the military decided that their talents were best utilized outside the combat arena.
— Ryan Burns
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on the cover
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Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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