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California’s secretary of state announced Tuesday that a tax-chopping proposition — one backers have spent years trying to put before voters — is now officially eligible for the November ballot. Come fall, anti-tax advocates and real estate developers might have reason to rejoice; city governments, public sector unions and the city of Los Angeles could have reason to worry. 

The qualification announcement for a real estate-oriented constitutional amendment also gives California’s Democratic lawmakers reason to start frantically negotiating toward a deal to keep the measure off the ballot entirely, even though the measure’s backers publicly say they aren’t interested. 

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Branded the “Local Taxpayer Protection Act” by its sponsor, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the newly eligible measure would both sharply cap municipal transfer taxes — fees slapped on real estate sales — and make it harder for voter-sponsored campaigns to raise taxes in local elections. 

The measure would hit cities like Berkeley, San Mateo and Alameda — which rely on transfer taxes for a significant share of their funding — especially hard. According to an analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, it would cost local governments “a couple of billion dollars” per year, with taxpayers collectively saving just as much. 

Why this is also a fight about Los Angeles

But the focus of the debate, and arguably the primary target of the proposition, is Los Angeles and its controversial “mansion tax,” known as Measure ULA. 

Since becoming law in 2023, the voter-backed policy has levied a 4% tax on real estate sales over $5 million and 5.5% on those above $10 million — thresholds that have since inched up to match inflation. The tax has raised more than $1 billion in three years. Last week, the city announced a $360 million award for future affordable housing projects. 

But real estate interests, some elected officials in Los Angeles and a growing number of academics say the tax has triggered a sharp slowdown in new construction, including of affordable housing, across the city, compared to neighboring cities. The levy falls not just on mansions, but apartments, condos, multi-use and commercial developments, too. 

The resulting ire among developers, investors and business groups over the Los Angeles tax fueled the statewide proposition campaign, said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, a conservative group best known for its landmark property tax limiting measure Proposition 13. “I think ULA was not just the straw that broke the camel’s back, but the redwood tree that broke the camel’s back,” he said.

The statewide proposition would trim transfer taxes to just one-twentieth of 1% of a real estate sale’s value. Measure ULA’s top rate is 100 times higher. It would also require some voter-initiated tax measures to clear a two-thirds threshold rather than a simple majority. In Los Angeles, measure ULA passed with 58%. 

If the tax-chopping proposition passes, Measure ULA is first on the block. 

But that’s a big “if.” More than 57% of likely voters, including a majority of Republicans, opposed the initiative when shown its title as it would appear on the ballot, according to a recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.

On your mark, get set … haggle!

There’s also a chance the measure won’t even make it onto the ballot.

Under California election law, sponsors can still yank a measure back after gathering enough valid signatures before the official qualification deadline of June 25. In prior election cycles, that window has become a bonanza of backroom dealing in Sacramento as Democratic lawmakers scramble to muscle unwanted measures off the upcoming ballot and deal-hungry interest groups line up to extract concessions. 

A notable example: In 2018, the soda industry funded a ballot measure that would have made it harder for local governments across the state to raise taxes. Backers pulled it at the last minute, but only after lawmakers begrudgingly agreed to pass a 13-year ban on new soda taxes.

At the end of last year’s legislative session, a group of Southern California Democrats, working alongside Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and former state Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, launched a last-minute effort to exempt new apartment developments from the L.A. tax, while adding some new flexibility on how the money could be spent. The bill had a broader purpose too: It would have only taken effect if the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association removed its measure. 

In the face of pushback from both business groups on one side and arch defenders of Measure ULA on the other, the effort fizzled. But now that the Howard Jarvis measure is officially headed for the ballot, Sacramento legislators may feel newly inspired to deal. Even if the electoral odds are ultimately stacked against the proposition, Democratic lawmakers and left-leaning campaign funders would be happy to avoid a costly defensive campaign.

Let’s make a deal?

In the meantime, changes may be coming out of Los Angeles itself. 

Earlier this year, Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is hoping to unseat Bass as mayor, introduced a measure that would have put a series of Measure ULA changes on the June ballot. By exempting new development, it reflected many of the changes proposed in last year’s unsuccessful state bill. But a majority of the council punted.

The council instead delegated the question to a select committee chaired by Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, tasking it with recommending changes to the tax. Some of those changes would require voter approval and could go before voters in November, on the same ballot as the Howard Jarvis proposition.

The committee will also consider a set of tweaks to the law proposed by city staff that would clarify that nonprofit affordable developers are exempt from the tax, while making it easier for developers to pair ULA funds with other sources of funding. City staff say those changes could happen without going back to voters.

Tenant rights groups, some affordable housing developers and trade unions support those changes, but are urging the committee to otherwise leave the tax alone. A coalition of developers, “Yes in My Backyard” advocates and unionized carpenters has popped up to urge the city to consider a broad “fix” — before state lawmakers or anti-tax advocates do that work for them. 

“We think it’s really important to show that we can drive reform locally,” said Sarah Dusseault, a former city homelessness official who is now co-leading the “Mend It, Don’t End It” campaign. Making those changes locally “will go a long way to prevent more drastic measures.”

Measure ULA’s defenders counter that nothing the city or the state does will be enough to convince the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to pull its measure. 

“We’ve tried to negotiate with the funders of the measure and, both publicly and privately, they’ve been consistent that they have no intention to pull the measure,” said Joe Donlin, director of the United to House L.A. coalition. “They don’t want to change taxes, they want to eliminate them.”

Coupal, from Howard Jarvis, agreed that the proposition is not a bargaining chip. “The folks on our side cannot envision any kind of deal that would give us the kind of solace that we would need,” he said.

But campaigns are expensive. Though the proposition campaign has been led by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, much of the funding has come from the California Business Roundtable, a coalition of major businesses in California, along with a smattering of commercial real estate companies, developers and landlord groups in Los Angeles. For now, the business roundtable says this dispute should be settled by voters. In the coming months, would any of them be willing to cut a deal with desperate Democrats in exchange for dropping their support?

Some legislators in both Sacramento and Los Angeles are eager to find out.

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The post A plan to cut a California tax is going to voters. Why L.A.’s ‘mansion tax’ is at the center of it appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

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All ten of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85‘s episodes have landed on Netflix. This newest animated entry into the world of Stranger Things takes us back to the time between seasons two and three of the main series. But this time, a brand new adventure unfolds. Most of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is devoted to short vignette-like stories. And the show has much less lore than Stranger Things proper. But during the series’ final episode, things do heat up—taking us back to a very familiar place. So join us for our breakdown of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85‘s ending as we explain what exactly ended up going down and what it means for Stranger Things‘ overall lore.Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Ending, ExplainedThe Queen Vine Monster Wants to Go Home to the Upside Down

Throughout the entire first season of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, Eleven, Mike, Dustin, and the rest of the Party have been fighting different forms of Upside Down plant monsters that seem to have evolved to survive in our world. Eventually, though, Dustin figures out that all these monsters are connected to an Upside Down vine creature called The Queen.

Netflix

In Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, we learn that Dan Fischer, the seemingly nice-guy dating new character Nikki’s mother, was actually responsible for the creation of these creatures. He experimented on stolen Upside Down creature specimens and accidentally allowed them to escape back into our world. Of course, he thinks he still has control of the Queen, but at the end of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, we learn that’s not so. The Queen has secretly been growing, and after stealing some of the green growth goop she seems to crave, she escapes Dan’s clutches, hell-bent on getting home.

The Queen Opens a New Upside Down Gate

And home, naturally, or unnaturally, is the Upside Down. During the ending of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, the vine-monster Queen begins to open a new gate to the Upside Down. We know Upside Down creatures DO have that power. Anna Baxter explains to us, “Many creatures, I guess even from other dimensions, return to the place of their birth once they’ve matured and believe they can flourish.” And, as El, observes, if she can open one gate, she can open many gates.

Netflix

As the Queen persists in tearing a gate between our world and the Upside Down, the Party springs into action.

Nikki, El, and The Party Manage to Stop the Queen and Close the Gate with Science!Netflix

It’s a hard battle for The Party, especially as the Queen devours even more of the green goop that Dan created. But thanks to El’s powers, the Party’s ability to work together, they are able to defeat the Queen and close the gate. Nikki’s mother, Anna, is a scientist, and Nikki is a tinkering genius. Firstly, Nikki makes weapons for all of her new friends. And secondly, she realizes that even though plants need light, too much light can be very harmful to them. Honing the powers of a car battery, Nikki makes a light gun that damages the vine-monster Queen enough for El to destroy her and close the gate.

Nikki Is Still in HawkinsNetflix

After the battle, we learn that at the end of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, Nikki Baxter is still in Hawkins. She and her mom move into a new home, and Nikki joins the group for a game of Dungeons & Dragons. We’ll talk more about this ending twist below.

A New Creature is Born in the Upside Down in the Ending Scene of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85Netflix

Indeed, El successfully closes the gate to the Upside Down in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85‘s final episode. But during its very last scene, we see something ominous. In the TRUE ending of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, we see that the Queen has dragged herself “home” to the Upside Down version of Nikki’s old house. Though the Queen appears to be a corpse, a deadly-looking, blue Upside Down flower sprouts from her, bearing its teeth. It also appears to light up with preternatural light not otherwise found in the Upside Down. That can’t be good news.

What Does Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Ending Mean for Stranger Things?

Ultimately, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85‘s ending means that a gate to the Upside Down was opened between Stranger Things 2 and Stranger Things 3. Something we did not know previously. Whether this new gate opening has any impact on the way the Mind Flayer is able to Flay Billy and the rest in Stranger Things 3, we don’t yet know.

Netflix

Additionally, we know now a new kind of species has taken root in the Upside Down. For now, we don’t know what kind of deadly power this new flower holds, or what impact it will have on the world of Stranger Things. But we bet we will find out.

What Happens to Nikki at the End of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85?

Another point of interest, as mentioned, is that after the ending of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, Nikki remains in Hawkins. Of course, we know Nikki is not part of the friend group in Stranger Things 3. And we kind of expected her to move away at the end of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. But here she is, still around.

Creator Eric Robles previously noted, “One thing that’s probably hard for a lot of people to understand is that in the ’80s, it wasn’t like it is now – you would have a friend that you would meet for summertime, if you went to camp, and they’d be amazing friends, and you’d have amazing adventures for that one summer. It wasn’t like you stayed in touch via Instagram or anything. If you got a phone number, maybe you stay in touch. But for the most part, people came in and out of your life, and they were your best friend ever for the two weeks or three months that you were with them, and then they’re out of your life. It’s the same concept with Nikki, but we’ll see what happens to her at the end of this thing.”

Netflix

Well, although Nikki is supposedly someone who will come in and then go out of the lives of our Stranger Things‘ heroes, for now, she’s still around. And that tells us the story isn’t over yet.

Will There Be Another Season of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85?

Given the current ending of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, we have to assume there will be another season of the animated series. Otherwise, we’ll just have to imagine how Nikki left the group for ourselves, and that doesn’t seem very satisfying. Additionally, the song that plays during the ending scene of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is “We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn. So yep. That feels like season two of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 to us. Surely, Netflix will give us some updates soon.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 season one is streaming on Netflix.

The post STRANGER THINGS: TALES FROM ’85 Ending, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

All winter, we had one big bad on our mind— and that was Vecna. During the final seasons of Stranger Things, Vecna personally haunted the narrative. And we learned that this tentacled evil was actually responsible for ALL the Upside Down issues that Hawkins ever faced. And so, it’s natural to wonder whether Vecna appears in the new Stranger Things spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. The new animated series is set between seasons two and three of Stranger Things, a time before Vecna officially made his first appearance on the series. But given everything we now know, it would be totally possible for the show to slip him in somewhere. So does Vecna appear in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85? How about the Upside Down? We break it down below. Spoilers, ahoy.Does Vecna Appear in Stranger Things: Tales of From ’85?Netflix

No, Vecna does not appear in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. The big bad of Stranger Things himself is currently still hiding somewhere in the depths of the Upside Down, waiting for his moment in the sun during Stranger Things 4. This isn’t too surprising, given that in Stranger Things 2, El was able to close the gate to the Upside Down in Hawkins Lab, leaving only enough stray Mind Flayer particles flying around in Stranger Things 3 to cause some trouble. However, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 does add a slight Upside Down wrinkle to this plan, which we’ll discuss below. But as of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 season one, there have been no Vecna sightings.

Does the Upside Down Appear in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85?

While Vecna doesn’t make his way into Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, the Upside Down does make one appearance during the last episode of the show’s first season. In Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, new Party member Nikki’s mother ended up dating the wrong man. Although Dan Fischer seemed like a jovial, harmless man who ran Dustin’s favorite Food Mart, he was actually an obsessive scientist who once worked in Hawkins Lab. After the lab shut down, Dan stole Upside Down specimens and experimented on them, accidentally setting them loose on Hawkins and allowing them to evolve.

Netflix

Dan’s original “Queen” Upside Down vine plant creation grew out of Dan’s control, and, as Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 explains it, “Many creatures, I guess even from other dimensions, return to the place of their birth once they’ve matured and believe they can flourish.” And it turns out, this creature, the Queen, can open a gate back to her place of birth, the Upside Down.

Netflix

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Using teamwork and some science, The Party is able to prevent the gate to the Upside Down from fully opening in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. But the Queen is able to make her way into the Upside Down, collapsing in front of her “place of birth,” Nikki Baxter’s house in the dark dimension. Although the Queen has died, a new Upside Down flower grows from her corpse. Uh-oh, it looks like the Upside Down story in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 isn’t over yet.

NetflixCould Vecna Appear in Future Seasons of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85?

Given this evocative ending in the Upside Down, we’re betting we’ll see another season of this animated Stranger Things spinoff series. And so, we’d also put some money on EVENTUALLY seeing Vecna appear in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85… even if only for a split second.

Netflix

We guess we’ll have to wait and see on that. For now, the Vecna-less Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 season one is streaming on Netflix.

The post Does Vecna Appear in STRANGER THINGS: TALES FROM ’85? appeared first on Nerdist.

One of Stranger Things’ best-known pop-cultural references is to The NeverEnding Story. Who can forget Dustin and Suzie’s duet to save the world in Stranger Things 3? But there seems to be something even more deeply resonant to that choice. Because indeed, Stranger Things seems to be a never-ending story of its own. Only a few months after the main series concluded, we already have a new entry into Stranger Things‘ world: Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. And, hey, we’re not saying that’s a bad thing. In fact, we really enjoyed Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.

Although the series misses a bit when it comes to recapturing the deep lore and nuanced storytelling of the original series, it does return to us some of our favorite characters, relationships, and vibes—letting us step back into a world we’ve loved for a really long time, and now can stay steeped in, just a little longer. Join us as we dive into our full (and spoiler-free) review of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is an animated adventure that takes place between Stranger Things seasons two and three. Since there aren’t truly any gaps that need to be filled during that time, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 tells a sort of stand-alone story, although one that will likely need more than one season of its own to finish. We know that whatever happens during this show will not in any way impact or change the overall plot of the main Stranger Things series. And, for now, Tales From ‘85 doesn’t really touch any of Stranger Things’ core lore in a meaningful way, sticking largely to what it builds for itself. In a way, that’s probably for the best, because the last thing Stranger Things needs is MORE complex lore. But in a different way, it does limit how textured this story can get.

Netflix

While there is a larger overarching story thread to Stranger Things: Tales From ’85‘s first season, most of the episodes end up taking on a sort of Monster of the Week format, with offshoots of the main monster occupying different configurations of The Party. This allows this show to deal largely in short vignettes of story, having our characters focused on lower-stakes tasks. And that feeling pervades into the show at large. While danger exists in Tales From ’85, I would say these are some of the most light-hearted episodes of Stranger Things to ever grace our screens, including those in the earliest seasons—which, incidentally, were super dark.

Stranger Things‘ main series has a distinctive Amblin-esque feel, and it also draws heavily on horror and slasher films. The Amblin inspiration does evoke a certain younger, coming-of-age perspective. But being from the ’80s, Amblin movies are also, by nature, totally dark. Layer horror and slasher elements onto that, and we can all agree that Stranger Things has never really been “for kids.”

The darkness and tension always lurk and feel very real. The suspense is always taut. Fans never know what might happen to their favorite characters. Whether that’s because of its animated medium or because Stranger Things simply wanted to go in a different direction, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 absolutely feels like it’s truly for a younger demographic—designed with a more modern perspective on childhood in mind. Tales From ’85 is happier, more colorful, and less adult than the series has ever been.

Netflix

Again, this is not necessarily a flaw. Stranger Things is a show whose core premise is supposed to be about the adventures of a group of young friends. But somewhere along the way, the main show grew into much more than that, following many different characters and storylines and not always focusing on what was originally its heart. For the sake of the varied audiences who ended up enthralled by Stranger Things, this was a good move. But, in a sense, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85‘s distillation of the story gives the true subject matter of the series, younger kids and teens, an entry point into the franchise that suits them.

While I am not part of those demographics, I appreciate that it makes sense to have Stranger Things content tailored to that crowd. In a way, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 reminds me of my days playing pretend as a child. Although the monsters are real in this story, there’s that fantastical sheen of childhood whimsy to its episodes that doesn’t exist in the much bleaker main world of Stranger Things. Although, I will say that, coming directly off Stranger Things 5, this might be a harsh tonal shift for some older fans. But despite this truth, I still had a fun time on Tales From ’85‘s adventures.

Netflix

Because ultimately, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 DOES give us what some fans felt that Stranger Things 5 did not. And that’s time with The Party. The older kids and adults that we’ve grown to love (and sometimes even care more about than the kids) wander in and out of the story, but they are almost never the focus of it. While Steve and Nancy do occupy a greater role than anyone outside The Party, they aren’t in the narrative for long.

This animated Stranger Things spinoff is all about the gang. And for some, that energy has been sorely lacking. In this way, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 lets us focus on Mike and Eleven’s relationship, Will and Mike’s friendship, Lucas and Max’s early days, Lucas and Dustin’s friendly competitiveness, and other important aspects of The Party’s relationships in more depth than the main show had time to do. Especially as the team more often than not ended up separated, and the lore of the Upside Down took up more and more real estate in the Stranger Things story.

Will, especially, receives more time to shine as an individual with a personality in this spinoff series, letting him have a personality beyond just existing as Vecna’s agency in the world. (We have to say, Mileven, Byler, and LuMax shippers will all be pretty pleased with this series… Stancy fans might also enjoy the goings on, regardless of how Stranger Things 5 ended.)

Netflix

Even though I just noted that it was nice to see The Party’s story focus on one another, I will say there are two Steve-and-Dustin-focused episodes in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. And they are WONDERFUL. Steve and Dustin, you will always be famous.

New character Nikki is also a fun addition to the group, even though we know she won’t be around forever. She definitely ends up as Will’s good pal, and that is an incredible, endearing dynamic to see. Again, it’s nice to see Will with relationships and feelings that belong to him, not to Vecna or Mike. Nikki additionally brings a loud, punk-rock presence to The Party and some much-needed muscle. (Although we know Lucas has good muscle, also.) She kind of reminds me of Eddie Munson, which immediately puts the character in my good graces. Her knack for tinkering is also fun, and allows The Party to arm up without adult help in a way that doesn’t feel too contrived.

Of course, I would be remiss not to mention the incredible beauty of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. The series’ brilliant aesthetic and gorgeous artwork are alone worthy of enjoying. At times, one almost forgets that the show is animated and not just a surreal masterpiece. This series perfectly captures the essence of every single character it brings from live-action to animation. In this way, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 really makes the case that we can have as much new Stranger Things content as we want, from any era. The new voice actors also do a great job of evoking their characters’ original sounds, helping to make this new version of Stranger Things immersive and even.

Netflix

Some might ask, is Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 really necessary? Does it add anything missing to the world of Stranger Things? In a way, it does! And in a way, it doesn’t. But ultimately, that question isn’t really that important. More than anything else, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 gives us an excuse to revisit a world we love in a light-hearted, entertaining way that looks good. So, instead of asking “Why?” We ask, “Why not?”

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is now streaming on Netflix.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 ⭐ (3.5 of 5)

The post We Say ‘Why Not?’ to STRANGER THINGS: TALES FROM ’85 (Review) appeared first on Nerdist.

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Every decade deserves its cute ‘lil alien movie mascot. We’ve had E.T., Groot, Grogu. Now, we have a new adorable alien we all wanted to take home with us, Rocky from Project Hail Mary. This little granite-like alien who walks around like a crab helped Ryan Gosling save the world. He won all of our hearts in the process. Now, he may actually get a Best Supporting Actor nomination as well. Well, James Ortiz, the puppeteer who brought Rocky to life, would get the nomination. According to a report from Variety, Amazon MGM Studios will officially submit James Ortiz for an Academy Award nomination for next year’s Oscars.Amazon MGM Studios

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We fully endorse James Ortiz receiving a nomination for Project Hail Mary. Dare we say, even more than Ryan Gosling. No shade toward Gosling, who delivers a wonderful and believable performance as Ryland Grace. But we think most moviegoers walk out of the film thinking the film’s M.V.P. is the alien from Erid in the 40 Eridani star system. The Academy never nominated Andy Serkis for playing Gollum, nor was Frank Oz nominated for playing Yoda, which seems like a crime against cinema. Maybe James Ortiz will finally wake the Academy up and make them realize that puppeteering, motion capture, and voice work truly do count as acting. It’s long overdue.

The post PROJECT HAIL MARY’s Rocky Puppeteer Eligible for Oscar appeared first on Nerdist.

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