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At the county and state level, there is a vibrant system of referendums in California. Busy individuals constantly introduce proposals for changes in the law, known as "propositions." For example, a recent proposal in the city of San Francisco debated whether to give homeless people food stamps instead of money. In such cases, interest groups hire young people to approach local eligible pedestrians on the streets and persuade them to add their address and signature to a list. If a certain number of valid signatures are collected, the proposal can be publicly voted on in the next election.
To avoid having to explain the sometimes complex proposals in every detail, those responsible assign them letters at the county level and numbers at the state level. For example, the proposal against same-sex marriage was labeled as "Proposition 22," and the homelessness debacle was referred to as "N." On mini election posters, often hung on street lamps, you might see slogans like "Yes on N, Safer Taxis, Safer Streets!" and the informed citizen needs to know what that means.
The meetings of the city's "Supervisors" are, by the way, broadcast live on local television channels. This might seem completely crazy to you, but it is highly interesting to watch these extremely smart and dedicated people during these transparent sessions. Recently, a proposal was up for debate in San Francisco that would require restaurants, like in Los Angeles, to prominently display the results of the latest health department inspection at the entrance: It would show an "A," "B," or "C," allowing customers to assess the health risk they might be exposed to when entering the establishment.
What fascinates me about it is how friendly and collegial these people interact with each other: There is indeed competition and political games, but time and again, the representatives of the restaurant industry were addressed kindly with "You Guys," sometimes there was even laughter, and discussions are generally conducted in a very factual manner. Hats off to these people, who really commit themselves to their city in meetings that often last late into the evening.
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