Here’s how Sacramento’s ‘strong mayor’ ballot measure would change our city
Sacramento’s “strong mayor” debate is in full swing, with campaigns in support and in opposition raising money and working to grow their lists of endorsements.
But what would Measure A – also called the Sacramento Mayoral and Community Equity Act of 2020 – actually change if voters approve it Nov. 3?
Here are some highlights:
▪ What would change: Mayor would no longer be a voting City Council member. A ninth council seat would be added in 2022.
How it works now: The mayor is a voting member of the council, providing the ninth vote.
▪ What would change: The mayor would be able to veto council measures and budget line items, and the council could overturn the vetoes with six votes.
How it works now: Council actions and budget line items cannot be vetoed.
▪ What would change: Mayor would propose the city budget each year at least 90 days before the new fiscal year.
How it works now: The city manager proposes the budget each year, at least 60 days before the new fiscal year, and the council approves it.
▪ The mayor would be able to fire a city manager, but in instances without cause, the council would be able to overturn the decision with six votes.
How it works now: The council has the ability to fire the city manager, but it requires six votes. Mayor Darrell Steinberg has said he has no intention of firing City Manager Howard Chan. The city manager makes most of the day-to-day decisions at City Hall.
▪ What would change: The council would elect a president, to run the meetings, and a vice president.
How it works now: There is no council president and the mayor runs the meetings. The council elects a vice mayor each year, who runs the meetings in the mayor’s absence, and a mayor pro tem.
▪ What would change: A two-term limit for mayors, which for Steinberg would mean his term would end in 2024.
How it works now: Mayors do not have term limits, but none have served more than two terms, at least since 1971, according to a city document.
▪ The city would be required to set aside $40 million each year for inclusive economic development and youth services, including at least 25% for youth services.
How it works now: Steinberg said the revenue from the Measure U sales tax increase voters approved in 2018 would be used mostly to fund these types of projects, but there is nothing requiring the city to do that. When the pandemic hit this year, the city diverted the money toward core city services instead.
The measure would also include other measures aimed at improving equity, transparency, and public input, according to the city attorney’s impartial analysis. If the measure passes, voters would reconsider the measure again on the ballot in 2030.
Endorsements
Steinberg, along with Council members Angelique Ashby, Jay Schenirer and Rick Jennings, support the measure, while Councilmen Larry Carr, Allen Warren and Jeff Harris oppose it.
Groups and individuals that have endorsed “Yes on Measure A,” according to its website, include:
▪ The Sacramento Central Labor Council
▪ 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
▪ Congresswoman Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento
▪ State Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento
▪ Downtown Sacramento Partnership
▪ Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness
Groups and individuals that have endorsed “No on Measure A,” according to its website, include:
▪ Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522
▪ 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
▪ Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party Daraka Larimore-Hall
▪ Former Sacramento city manager John Shirey
▪ Latino Democratic Club
Money raised
Donations to the campaign supporting the measure as of Oct. 16 of $5,000 or more, according to city records, include:
▪ $60,000 from SEIU Local 1000
▪ $49,000 from Ron Burkle, co-owner of Pittsburgh Penguins and co-owner of Sacramento Republic FC, soon to be a Major League Soccer team.
▪ $25,000 from Attorney Tina Thomas
▪ $25,000 from the California Association of Realtors
▪ $25,000 from Los Angeles film producer Marc Turtletaub
▪ $25,000 from District Council of Iron Workers
▪ $25,000 from United Food and Commercial Workers 8 Golden State PAC
▪ $25,000 from Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local No. 104
▪ 25,000 from Markstein Beverage Company of Sacramento
▪ 25,000 from Sacramento Electrical Construction Industry Labor Management
▪ $25,000 from AKT Investments, a development company owned by the Tsakopoulos family
▪ $25,000 from SEIU Local 2015
▪ $25,000 from Members’ Voice of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
▪ $25,000 from California Hotel and Lodging Association
▪ $25,000 from IGS, Inc.
▪ $10,000 from Park West Casinos, Inc.
▪ $10,000 from California-Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers
▪ $10,000 from Laborers Pacific Southwest Regional Organizing Coalition
▪ $10,000 from Phoenix Enterprises
▪ 10,000 from Professional Engineers in California
▪ $10,000 from 29th Street Management LLC
▪ $7,500 from LA attorney Stuart Liner
▪ $5,000 from International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 16
▪ $5,000 from Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber
▪ $5,000 from Michael Wagener, owner of Marquee Media Solutions
▪ $5,000 from Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local No. 3
▪ $5,000 from M.H. Mohanna, owner of M.H. Mohanna Development Company
▪ $5,000 from Nikky Mohanna of M.H. Mohanna Development Company
▪ $5,000 from Pacific Coast Companies
▪ $5,000 from Signature Homes
▪ $5,000 from Stephen Silberstein, retireeJohn D. Stanek, including aggregated contributions and independent expenditures (The Greenbriar Project Owner, LLC)
▪ $5,000 from Committee for Home Ownership, Sponsored by North State Building Industry Association
▪ $10,000 from John D. Stanek (The Greenbriar Project Owner, LLC)
▪ $5,000 from Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3
Donations to the campaigns opposing the measure as of Oct. 16 of $5,000 or more, according to city records:
▪ $49,500 from Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522
▪ $25,000 from SEIU Local 1021
▪ $9,000 from Organize Sacramento
▪ $7,000 from Jeff Harris for City Council 2018
▪ $9,900 from Sacramento Voter Project, a campaign created to oppose “strong mayor” (Measure A) and support a ballot measure that would create a stricter rent control ordinance (Measure C)
This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 12:44 PM.
