LOS ANGELES — The Republican and Libertarian Parties of L.A. County have both joined in announcing their opposition to Measure B, the controversial “Safer Sex” ballot initiative that will go before L.A. County voters on Nov. 6.
“With the Republican and Libertarian Parties both announcing their opposition to Measure B, the truth about this ridiculous proposal is finally getting out and voters are beginning to see what the consequences will be for taxpayers and public health should Measure B pass,” said James Lee, communications director for the No on Government Waste Committee which is leading the campaign to defeat Measure B. “As ballots are being mailed out this week to voters, they can read for themselves the arguments and come to the same conclusions both parties did in opposing this measure.”
Lee also noted that the Democratic Party of Los Angeles County declined to endorse the initiative as well, meaning that no major political party in the county has endorsed Measure B.
“The absence of support for the Measure B is deafening,” Lee said. “We also have the support of the largest business group in the San Fernando Valley and 22 chambers of commerce throughout the county in opposition to it. We are confident as more voters read the arguments, more of them will do likewise and reject it.”
According to the California Dept. of Public Health, from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2011, there were 6,447 new cases of HIV reported in Los Angeles County, but only two were adult performers, both of whom did not contract the disease on-set, the Committee noted. Since 2004, there have been no documented cases of HIV transmission on an adult entertainment set, according to the Committee.
Measure B, funded and placed on the ballot by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, would require the L.A. County Department of Public Health to license and permit adult movie productions in the county and require performers to wear condoms during shoots. The county estimates initial start-up costs for the program to be in excess of $300,000, but acknowledges that regardless of the level of compliance by the adult film industry, there would be significant cost to the Department of Public Health.
