Major Sacramento labor union group endorses Steinberg’s ‘strong mayor’ ballot measure
The “strong mayor” ballot measure campaign has secured a key endorsement – the Sacramento Central Labor Council.
“The vast majority of our unions agree that Measure A will move Sacramento in the right direction, that is why we are supporting this measure,” Fabrizio Sasso, executive director of the Sacramento Central Labor Council, said in a Wednesday news release from the “Yes on Measure A” campaign.
The Labor Council has not yet decided if it will contribute to the campaign, Sasso said. The council includes more than 100 local unions representing over 180,000 members.
The “strong mayor” ballot measure in November would overhaul the city government structure to make the mayor the most powerful position in the city. It also includes a slew of other measures aimed to improve equity and transparency.
The last time a “strong mayor” measure was on the ballot, in 2014, the Labor Council did not take a position.
Another influential union, the Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522, is endorsing the opposition campaign. That group supported the 2014 measure, but this time raised concerns about the measure’s requirement that the city set aside $40 million each year for inclusive economic development.
The Sacramento Police Officers Association, which supported the measure in 2014, has yet to take a position.
Steinberg, and Council members Angelique Ashby, Rick Jennings and Jay Schenirer are supporting the measure. Council members Allen Warren, Larry Carr and Jeff Harris are opposing it.
The campaign opposing the measure has so far raised $12,000, including $9,000 from Organize Sacramento and $3,000 from Jeff Harris for City Council 2018, city records show. The campaign supporting the measure has so far raised $75,000, including $25,000 from Attorney Tina Thomas, $25,000 from the California Association of Realtors Issues Mobilization PAC, and $25,000 from Los Angeles film producer Marc Turtletaub, city records show.
Other groups and individuals that have endorsed “Yes on Measure A,” according to its website, include:
▪ Sacramento Sierra Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Director Kevin Ferreira
▪ SEIU 1000 President Yvonne Walker
▪ Greater Sacramento Urban League President & CEO Cassandra Jennings
▪ Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment Commissioner Devin Lavelle Latino
▪ Latino Economic Council of Sacramento Chair Jim Gonzalez
▪ Build.Black Co-Founder Chet Hewitt
▪ Improve Your Tomorrow Co-founder & CEO Michael Lynch
▪ Senior Pastor of Genesis Church Tecoy Porter
▪ Measure U Advisory Committee Member Debra Oto Kent
▪ Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Amanda Blackwood
▪ Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Pat Fong Kushida
▪ Mohanna Development Company Principal Nikky Mohanna
Groups and individuals that have endorsed “No on Measure A,” according to its website, include:
▪ The Sacramento City Teachers Association
▪ SEIU Local 1021
▪ League of Women Voters of Sacramento County
▪ Democratic Party of Sacramento County
▪ Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE)
▪ Sacramento Tenants Union
▪ Preservation Sacramento
▪ Sacramento Women and Girls Advancement Coalition
▪ Councilwoman-Elect Katie Valenzuela
▪ Former Mayor Heather Fargo
▪ Measure U Committee Chairwoman Flojaune Cofer
▪ Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy
This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 2:44 PM.
