A Yes Vote on Prop 4 is Our Only Endorsement on this Ballot
We try our best to stay out of politics. Active NorCal is here for news and information on the outdoors in Northern California, so sharing any opinion on politics outside that arena is, in my opinion, crossing a line that should never be crossed.
But there is one proposition that actively fits in this arena, and that’s why I only have one endorsement in this election: A yes vote on Prop 4.
As Northern California faces increasing water shortages and wildfire threats, Proposition 4 on the November 5 ballot offers timely solutions. This $10 billion state bond, a combination of water resilience and climate preparedness, promises impactful investments in areas our communities desperately need: water storage and wildfire mitigation.
Water storage is one of the bond’s primary focuses, with $3.8 billion allocated to projects that will secure water for Northern California’s future, including storage, aquifer cleanup, and drought resilience. These resources are crucial as erratic climate patterns and prolonged droughts threaten our water security.
Similarly, fire mitigation is a top concern. Prop 4 includes $1.5 billion to bolster wildfire prevention and forest resilience—a measure that could protect lives, property, and valuable wildlands from devastating fires.
While the state has other critical priorities, such as addressing homelessness, water and fire preparedness must also be prioritized to support a safe and sustainable future.
In a perfect world, these projects would be funded without state borrowing. However, California’s budget is notoriously volatile, and Prop 4’s investments provide essential stability for long-term water and fire management. While some items in the bond package, such as farm market equipment and transportation vans, may seem peripheral, they represent only a fraction of the spending, which primarily targets valuable climate initiatives.
Northern California needs proactive solutions to our climate challenges. A yes on Proposition 4 is a vote for sustainable water and fire management that will serve current and future generations.
