WCVI - Press Archive

California Latinos Divided on Prop. 38 School Vouchers
Educational Issues are Important Among California Latinos.
War on Drugs Also a Major Issue

SAN ANTONIO, TX - The William C. Velásquez Institute (WCVI) announced the results of its latest Latino issues survey, conducted September 27-October 4 among 560 registered Latino voters, in the state of California. The poll shows California Latinos are evenly divided on Prop. 38, the voucher initiative that would allow parents to choose a $4,000 voucher to remove their children from any public school and use it to send them to a private or religious school. Those that favor the proposition are, 42.8% to 38.8% that oppose, with 18.4% undecided. WCVI president Antonio González assesses, "It is clear that Latinos are split on this issue, especially when considering the 4.1% margin of error. In addition, with a large "undecided" group, it will mean both sides of the issue still have to make their case to Latinos before November," adds González.

In addition, 58.9% Latino registered voters in California favor Prop. 39, which would allow for the repair, construction, or replacement of schools with a local vote of 55% as compared to the current 2/3 or 67% local vote. This support could dramatically impact those areas where schools are in need of major reparations.

California Latinos favor by 51.7% to 38% Prop. 36, that would provide for mandatory drug treatment for certain non-violent users instead of sending them to prison. " The majority of Latinos favor treatment versus criminalization, which could relieve the prison system, currently under strain", González comments

On the related issue, the U.S. "War on Drugs", California Latinos are increasing critical, as reflected in the following question as polled by WCVI in both 1999 and 2000:

*Do you believe the the U.S. "War on Drugs" has been effective in curbing the drug flow into the US?*	1999	2000
Yes	35.5%	31.0%
No	54.2%	61.1%
Don't Know	10.1%	7.5%

In addition, when asked, 66.8% to 14.9% California Latinos felt the issue of drugs is a larger issue today than 10 years ago. In another drug policy related question, lifting the ban on federally funded needle exchange programs, over 43% California Latinos believe the government should lift the ban, with 36.4% opposed and 20.2% having no opinion. In terms of a recent authorization that would allow $1.32 billion for counter-drug activities in Colombia, in which three-quarters of the money will be used for Columbia's military and police, 46.5% disapprove to 39.6% with 13.8% having no opinion.

"When it comes to drug issues, Latinos increasingly favor treatment versus strict policing, providing clean needles especially when considering public health issues, and disapprove moneys going to Colombia." González concluded.

The WCVI survey was conducted by a team of trained bilingual pollsters operating from the WCVI call center in San Antonio, Texas. WCVI staff designed the instrument and managed the interviewers. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1%. The entire survey will be posted on www.wcvi.org.