Posted by Jon Coupal at 2:24 am on Mar 20, 2017 Comments Off on Proposition 13 is the original victim of fake news
As Proposition 13 approaches its 39th birthday, it is still
subject to the same dishonest attacks in the media that were used
against it when it was on the ballot in 1978. Proposition 13 was
one of the first victims of “fake news.”
“The bigwigs in labor and business went all out to defeat 13,”
said its principle author, Howard Jarvis. “They tried to outdo one
another in issuing doomsday prophecies about what passage of 13
would mean.” The media slavishly supported the exaggerated and
dishonest claims, often endorsing them through editorials and by
giving prominent placement to negative stories on the tax
revolt.
The politicians, including Gov. Jerry Brown, and government
agencies from top to bottom weighed in. Here is a typical example:
Before the election, Alameda County Transit told the public that
passage of Prop. 13 would result in the termination of 80 percent
of its 2,000 employees. Two months later, the Fremont-Newark Argus
reported on the aftermath of the passage of Proposition 13, “To
date, no one in the district has been laid off and officials now
believe there will be no massive layoffs.” The paper added that
three local fire districts… Read More