No, no, no on Prop. 54

THE BACKERS OF Proposition 54 – most prominent among them UC regent and affirmative action foe Ward Connerly – promote the measure as a way to fight racism. In fact, Prop. 54 would establish hundreds of persistent, and possibly insurmountable, roadblocks to creating a more racially equitable society.

The proposition would ban the collection of ethnic or racial data by any state or local agency, or by any entity that receives state money. That would tie the hands of anyone working to reverse decades of discrimination in housing, employment, or countless other areas.

Prop. 54 would also transform education in California, making it illegal to gather statistics that illustrate the achievement gap. Without them, it will be harder to push for the kinds of programs – like preschool – that can level the playing field.

As the nation's most diverse state, it's particularly important that California track and examine racial and ethnic data. Yes, paying attention to race and ethnicity can be touchy. But deciding not to isn't going to eradicate racism – it's just ignoring reality.

The full repercussions of such ignorance are hard to fathom. For starters, Prop. 54 would make it illegal for the government to keep track of the ethnic makeup of its own employees. And it would have terrifying public health implications, making it virtually impossible to do the kind of research that uncovers which ethnic groups are particularly susceptible to certain diseases or illnesses – research that is instrumental to public health campaigns and invaluable to physicians. Prop. 54 would also put California at a serious disadvantage when competing for research grants, many of which require the consideration of racial and ethnic data.

The measure's backers say there are plenty of exceptions to the law. But the truth is, Prop. 54 includes substantive exemptions for only two realms: prisons and law enforcement agencies.

Prop. 54 is a veiled effort to undercut government programs that target racial inequity. Vote no.