Mayors and frontline workers rally to oppose Prop. 43

By Kristine Guerrero, senior director of public affairs, and Brian Hendershot, Cal Cities Advocate managing editor

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee today spoke at a rally in opposition to Proposition 43. The November statewide ballot measure requires all local special taxes to receive two-thirds voter approval - not just those proposed by local governments. This could limit voters' ability to raise revenues for local government services.

"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 Lurie.

Cal Cities opposes Prop. 43, along with the California State Association of Counties, California Special Districts Association, Association of California Water Agencies, and the California Park and Recreation Society.

"Oakland voters know what local measures can do," Lee said. "They have helped us build affordable homes, fund our firefighters, and move our unhoused neighbors into housing."

Lurie and Lee were joined by over 100 other elected officials, as well as local firefighters, nurses, labor, and affordable housing leaders. "Firefighters are sounding the alarm about the dangers of Prop 43 because voters' ability to fund life-saving local emergency services is on the line," said Darrell Roberts, president of California Professional Firefighters.

The group said the proposed constitutional amendment could make it harder for communities to fund local priorities. "Bay Area communities want to see more affordable housing for working people, seniors, and veterans," said Amie Fishman, executive director of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California.

A recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that just 43% of likely voters would vote yes on the measure. The ballot measure's author also opposes it.

Business groups and anti-tax advocates have tried to place some version of Prop. 43 on the ballot for nearly a decade. They finally succeeded this year, after striking a last-minute deal that removed a different version of the measure and a separate constitutional amendment dealing with voter thresholds from the ballot.