From Sacramento to San Diego, More Than 50 Mayors Unite Against Prop 43

SACRAMENTO, CA – With less than one week until Election Day, elected officials from more than 100 local governments, including over 50 mayors, are urging voters to reject Proposition 43.

Leading the list, released today by the No on Prop 43 campaign, are San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. Their cities alone are home to more than 3.8 million Californians.

The mayors’ message is simple: decisions about local services belong to the people who live there. Prop 43 would require a two-thirds vote for measures residents put on the ballot to fund specific local services. Under that rule, a measure to hire firefighters or build affordable housing could win 65 percent of the vote and still fail.

What Leaders Are Saying: 

“San Diegans should have the ability to decide for themselves how to invest in their neighborhoods, whether that’s building more homes, helping move people off the street, or paving our roads,” said Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego. “Prop 43 would impede our progress by letting a small minority of voters block what the majority wants. If you believe in local control I ask you to join me in opposing Prop 43.” 

“Prop 43 undermines democracy by upending majority rule, making it harder for communities across California to support first responders, parks, libraries and affordable housing,” said San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. “Voters know what our communities need to keep our neighborhoods safe, keep Muni moving, and build more housing. I’ll fight against any special interest that tries to silence the voice of everyday San Franciscans.”

“Prop 43 would let one-third of voters overrule the majority in our own communities. When residents come together and decide to invest in affordable homes, or in getting people off our streets and into shelter, that choice should be theirs,” said Mayor Mahan, Mayor of San Jose. “Prop 43 takes that power away from local voters and gives well-funded special interests a veto over the solutions our neighbors want. Cities are on the front lines of the housing and homelessness crisis, and we need every tool to solve it, not new barriers. I urge Californians to vote no on Prop 43 and protect local control.”

“Prop 43 would make it much harder for Sacramento voters to dedicate resources to public safety, housing, and other core services, even when a majority of voters support doing so,” said Kevin McCarty, Mayor of Sacramento. “Our city is stronger when residents have a real say in their future. Prop 43 will weaken your voice. I’m proud to stand with working families, firefighters, and our neighbors in opposing this measure.”

“Long Beach residents know we need to get people off the street and keep the dream of home-ownership a reality. Citizens have shown they’re willing to invest in solutions when they’re given the chance. Prop 43 would make that harder,” said Rex Richardson, Mayor of Long Beach. “Prop 43 doesn’t put one penny in your pocket, but it does take tools away from the people who live here and know what their neighborhoods need. I urge a no vote on Prop 43.”

“Oakland voters know what local measures can do. They have helped us build affordable homes, fund our firefighters, and move our unhoused neighbors into housing. But Prop 43 aims to stop this community-driven progress. That’s why my message is to vote no,” said Barbara Lee, Mayor of Oakland. “Oakland voters know what our city needs better than anyone. Voting no on Prop 43 means keeping the power to shape our city’s future within our community, where it belongs.”

What’s At Stake:

• Slower 911 response. Prop 43 makes it harder to fund local fire departments, meaning fewer firefighters and longer waits in an emergency.

• Worse wildfire protection. Communities could lose the ability to staff and equip fire stations before the next major fire hits.

• $3 billion each year:  If Prop 43 had been the law, California communities would have lost nearly $3 billion a year in funding for firefighters, 911 response, childcare, homelessness solutions, street repair, parks, and libraries. 

• A minority gets the final say. One-third of voters could block what two-thirds of their community wants.

California Elected Officials Opposing Prop 43:

Mayors

• Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Alameda

• Peggy McQuaid, Albany

• Charles Bourbeau, Atascadero

• Ana Maria Quintana, Bell

• Sonny R. Santa Ines, Bellflower

• Miguel De La Rosa, Bell Gardens 

• Steve Young, Benicia

• Adena Ishii, Berkeley

• David Silva, Buellton

• Lynda Johnson, Cerritos 

• Jennifer Stark, Claremont

• Emma Sharif, Compton

• Newell Arnerich, Danville

• Liz Morris, Delano

• Sherry Hu, Dublin

• Gabe Quinto, El Cerrito

• Sukhdeep Kaur, Emeryville

• Albert Mendez, Fillmore

• Justin Raithel, Folsom

• Raj Salwan, Fremont

• Ardy Kassakhian, Glendale

• Kasi Dee, Grover Beach

• Mark Salinas, Hayward

• Paul Akinjo, Lathrop

• Patricia Matthews, Lemoore

• John Marchand, Livermore

• Rex Richardson, Long Beach

• Rob Moore, Los Gatos

• Bruce Delgado, Marina

• Max Perrey, Mill Valley

• Emily Ann Ramos, Mountain View

• Michael Hannon, Newark

• Barbara Lee, Oakland

• Brenda Olmos, Paramount

• Alma Beltran, Parlier

• Michael Vargas, Perris

• Kevin McDonnell, Petaluma

• Betsy Smegal Andersen, Piedmont

• Jack Balch, Pleasanton

• Kevin McCarty, Sacramento

• Todd Gloria, San Diego

• Daniel Lurie, San Francisco

• Matt Mahan, San Jose

• Juan González, San Leandro

• Erica Stewart, San Luis Obispo

• Adam Loraine, San Mateo

• Mary Ann Carbone, Sand City

• Ian Oglesby, Seaside

• David Brown, Solvang

• Christina Fugazi, Stockton

• Gary Singh, Union City

• Martha Guerrero, West Sacramento

• Rudy Mendoza, Woodlake

• Tom Stallard, Woodland
  
  

City Officials

• Daniel Ramos, Adelantó Mayor Pro Tem

• Jeff Maloney, Alhambra Councilmember

• Michael Cao, Arcadia Councilmember

• Jim Guthrie, Arroyo Grande Councilmember

• Aileen Loe, Arroyo Grande Councilmember

• Ali Saleh, Bell Councilmember

• Jorgel Chavez, Bell Gardens Councilmember

• Victor A. Sanchez, Bellflower Mayor Pro Tem

• Terry Scott, Benicia Councilmember

• Ben Bartlett, Berkeley Councilmember

• Brent Blackaby, Berkeley Councilmember

• Mark Humbert, Berkeley Councilmember

• Rashi Kesarwani, Berkeley Councilmember

• Cecilia Lunaparra, Berkeley Councilmember

• Shoshana O’Keefe, Berkeley Councilmember

• Terry Taplin, Berkeley Councilmember

• Igor Tregub, Berkeley Councilmember

• Alfred Twu, Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Commissioner

• Carla Mead, Buellton Councilmember

• James Bozajian, Calabasas Councilmember

• Sergio Lopez, Campbell Councilmember

• Melinda Orbach, Capitola Councilmember

• Teresa Acosta, Carlsbad Councilmember

• Cedric Hicks, Carson Mayor Pro Tem

• Martin U. Fuentes, Cudahy Councilmember

• Andrew Chou, Diamond Bar Councilmember

• Greg Gomez, Farmersville Councilmember

• Barbara Leary, Folsom Councilmember

• Daniel Parra, Fowler Councilmember

• Ariana Arestegui, Garden Grove Councilmember

• Elen Asatryan, Glendale Councilmember

• Alek Bartrosouf, Glendale Councilmember

• Dan Brotman, Glendale Councilmember

• Jules Tuggle, Grover Beach Councilmember

• Clint Weirick, Grover Beach Councilmember

• Dan Goldstein, Hayward Councilmember

• Alex Walker-Griffin, Hercules Vice Mayor

• Evan Branning, Livermore Councilmember

• Bill Uphoff, Lomita Councilmember

• Juan Muñoz-Guevara, Lynwood Councilmember

• Amy Howorth, Manhattan Beach Councilmember

• Larry J. Spicer, Monrovia Councilmember

• Thomas Wong, Monterey Park Councilmember

• Chris Clark, Mountain View Vice Mayor

• Beth Painter, Napa Councilmember

• Debi Dorst-Porada, Ontario Councilmember

• Michaela Perez, Oxnard Councilmember

• Sue Beckmeyer, Pacifica Councilmember

• Fred Strong, Paso Robles Councilmember

• Dr. Monica Sánchez, Pico Rivera Mayor Pro Tem

• Conna McCarthy, Piedmont Vice Mayor

• Amanda Szakats, Pleasant Hill Councilmember

• Jeffrey Nibert, Pleasanton Councilmember

• Laura Hernandez, Port Hueneme Councilmember

• Chris Sturken, Redwood City Councilmember

• Soheila Bana, Richmond Councilmember

• Susan Hollingsworth Adams, Rohnert Park Councilmember

• Britt Huff, Rolling Hills Estates Councilmember

• Roger Dickinson, Sacramento Councilmember

• Eric Guerra, Sacramento Councilmember

• Rick Jennings, Sacramento Councilmember

• Lisa Kaplan, Sacramento Councilmember

• Karina Talamantes, Sacramento Councilmember

• Mark Enmeier, San Clemente Councilmember

• Bilal Mahmood, San Francisco Supervisor

• Pamela Campos, San Jose Councilmember

• Domingo Candelas, San Jose Councilmember

• David Cohen, San Jose Councilmember

• Rosemary Kamei, San Jose Councilmember

• Peter Ortiz, San Jose Councilmember

• Anthony Tordillos, San Jose Councilmember

• Xouhoa Bowen, San Leandro Councilmember

• Marisol Rubio, San Ramon Vice Mayor

• Daniel Martinez, Sanger Mayor Pro Tem

• Eric Friedman, Santa Barbara Councilmember

• Natalya Zernitskaya, Santa Monica Councilmember

• Kay Ambriz, Santa Monica Rent Control Board Commissioner

• Donna Lind, Scotts Valley Councilmember

• Mark Infanti, Solvang Councilmember

• Claudia Orona, Solvang Councilmember

• Elizabeth Orona, Solvang Councilmember

• Louise Smith, Solvang Councilmember

• Sandra Lowe, Sonoma Councilmember

• Eddie Flores, South San Francisco Councilmember

• Bob Ingler, Thousand Oaks Councilmember

• David Newman, Thousand Oaks Councilmember

• April Ramirez, Twentynine Palms Councilmember

• Liz Campos, Ventura Councilmember

• Lupita Gutierrez, Waterford Councilmember

• Aida Macedo, Whittier Councilmember
  
  

County and District Officials

• Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Supervisor

• Ken Carlson, Contra Costa County Supervisor

• John Gioia, Contra Costa County Supervisor

• Wendy Root Askew, Monterey County Supervisor

• Bilal Mahmood, San Francisco County Supervisor

• Bruce Gibson, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor

• David J. Canepa, San Mateo County Supervisor

• Noelia Corzo, San Mateo County Supervisor

• Lisa Gauthier, San Mateo County Supervisor

• Otto Lee, Santa Clara County Supervisor and Board President

• Susan Ellenberg, Santa Clara County Supervisor

• Monica Martinez, Santa Clara County Supervisor

• Justin Cummings, Santa Cruz County Supervisor

• Manu Koenig, Santa Cruz County Supervisor

• Sion Roy, Santa Monica College Board Chair

• Anastasia Foster, Santa Monica College Trustee
  
  

City Councils and County Boards That Voted to Oppose Prop 43:

• Bell City Council

• Berkeley City Council

• Huron City Council

• Lomita City Council 

• Monrovia City Council

• Pacifica City Council

• Paramount City Council

• Pasadena City Council

• Port Hueneme City Council

• Sacramento City Council

• San Jose City Council

• Santa Barbara City Council

• Scotts Valley City Council

• Soledad City Council

• Solvang City Council

• Alameda County Board of Supervisors

• Marin County Board of Supervisors

• San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
  

Paid for by No on Prop 43: Stop the Local Taxpayer Deception Act, sponsored by Labor Organizations. Committee Top Funders: SEIU California State Council, California Professional Firefighters, California Teachers Association