Local leaders, firefighters, teachers, nurses, and community advocates say ballot measure could impact public safety and much more

By Brian Hendershot, Cal Cities Advocate managing editor

Over 100 local government leaders, firefighters, teachers, nurses, and community advocates rallied outside the Capitol on Wednesday to sound the alarm about the "Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act."

"I've seen a lot of initiatives come and go," said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. "But this one really takes the cake. I think this one comes under the category of … Are. You. Kidding. Me?"

Advocates were particularly worried about the measure's impact on past revenue measures. The initiative is retroactive to January 1, 2022, which could invalidate over 100 voter-approved ballot measures and laws.

Cindy Silva, Walnut Creek council member, said her community passed a critical public safety measure by 65% in 2022 - one point shy of the proposed threshold. "If this Taxpayer Deception Act passes, it will rescind our measure and we [could] lose our five police officers that are so instrumental to making a safe community," she noted.

Steinberg, Silva, and other opponents say it's more accurate to call the initiative the Taxpayer Deception Act. The November ballot measure would make it harder for state and local governments to raise revenues.

Susan Ellenberg, Santa Clara County board president and second vice president for the California State Association of Counties, called it "a blatant power grab" on the part of "privileged few, at the expense of many."

Dana Nichols, president of the San Andres Fire Protection District Board of Directors, described how officials in rural Calaveras County are struggling to pay firefighters a living wage. He says turnover is high, and some stations sometimes go unstaffed.

Nichols argued a local measure passed in 2024 by a 55% margin could change that. "Our voters in Calaveras County like being able to decide how we should solve our problems," he said. "We don't like the idea of big businesses taking away that right with a deceptive campaign."

Sara Bachez, director of education policy, and advocacy for Children Now, spoke about how the ballot measure would affect social safety net programs and hard-fought wins like paid family leave.

"We cannot afford to allow a handful of powerful business interests to abdicate their responsibility to support the same communities that they depend on to be the labor to generate their massive profits," Bachez noted.

Jeffery Freitas, president of the California Federation of Teachers, warned that schools could face cuts higher than those passed in the 2008 Great Recession.

Vanessa Seastrong, a nurse at Patton State Hospital, said the initiative would "cripple" her hospital's ability to respond to natural disasters and public health emergencies - just so "super-wealthy landlords can avoid paying their fair share of taxes with a nurse."

"We don't have billions of dollars like they do," she told the crowd. "But we do have the kind of people with power that will stand together and make them shake in their boots."

Mayor Steinberg ended the rally by reminding people that these service cuts would hurt the businesses that depend on public services to operate and public schools to fill their workforce. "The people sponsoring this do not speak for the business community of California," he said. "This is deceptive in more than one way."

The "Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act" is scheduled for the November 2024 ballot. The California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in case that could remove the initiative from the ballot on May 8.

Paid for by Protecting Local Democracy and Vital Services, a Committee Opposed to Initiative 1935 Sponsored by the League of California Cities. Committee's Top Funder: League of California Cities

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