Some interesting local results

The Sacramento Bee put together an Interactive Map on the local results for Proposition 8 and Proposition 4. I came away with three conclusions - two on the results and one on their availability.

The vote on Proposition 8 was fairly predictable. The outlying suburbs voted for the proposition but as you moved into the neighborhoods of Sacramento city, the measure was voted down. Not surprisingly Davis and Downtown Sacramento voted almost 3:1 against the measure. What struck me most about the margins was that in the blue areas (the Bee chose a light blue for the no position)the margins were higher than in most of the red areas save Davis and Downtown. Overall the area which includes Placer and Eldorado counties voted 55:45 for the measure but some of the outlying areas supported the measure by margins approaching and exceeding 60%.

On Proposition 4, the numbers changed a bit. The overall vote in the area was closer 46.2:53.8. But a number of areas changed from Yes to No. For example, the Granite Bay area which voted for Prop 8 by almost 2:1 voted slightly against Prop 4 a shift of almost 10 points. Fair Oaks switched from 55:45 for Prop 8 to 55:45 against Prop 4. One would assume that choice voters were the ones who switched.

Finally,the Bee's service here is substantial. It offers something that is not available in print. The trick for the Bee is to figure out how to monetize the value of that service. Newspapers, at least the print editions, are going through some gut wrenching changes. The old economic model of selling papers at a discount by providing advertisers a place to show their stuff is not working the way it once did. But making this kind of information easy to access and available is something that all of us should value and be willing to help support.