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SACRAMENTO LOST ITS WAY

ON MEASURE U.

BUT YOU CAN HELP!

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Measure U - #GiveItBack

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REMIND ME, WHAT IS MEASURE U?

Measure U - #GiveItBack

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Measure U Sales and Use Tax

Measure U - #GiveItBack

  • The original Measure U was a temporary ½-cent sales tax passed by voters in 2012. It expired in 2019.
  • Its intent was to restore police and fire services, park maintenance and other essential city services cut during the recession (2008 - 2013).
  • Mayor Steinberg and City Council put a permanent new Measure U 1-cent sales and use tax on the ballot in November 2018.
  • The additional half-cent was intended to address the issues of homelessness, affordable housing and inclusive economic development.

The new Measure U was passed with 57% voter approval.

57%

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COOL! SO ALL THAT MONEY WENT TO THOSE IMPORTANT CAUSES, RIGHT?

Measure U - #GiveItBack

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Measure U - #GiveItBack

WRONG!

Here is how Measure U was actually spent

We were promised that HALF of Measure U money would go to Inclusive Economic Development

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Instead, Economic Development got:

  • 7% last year
  • 5% this year

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Measure U - #GiveItBack

WRONG!

Here is how Measure U was actually spent

A bond was promised to provide money for homelessness and affordable housing.

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COVID-19 canceled bond plans

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Total spent on housing and homelessness:

  • 0% last year
  • 0% this year

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Measure U - #GiveItBack

WRONG!

Here is how Measure U was actually spent

But, Police now get 51%*

*51% includes $4 million given to Police from Miscellaneous

Everyone who got money from the original Measure U ½ cent got MORE each year.

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THAT’S AN OUTRAGE!

SURELY THERE’S AN EXPLANATION?

Measure U - #GiveItBack

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Sacramento City Council Broke Promises

Measure U - #GiveItBack

“People would not have voted for Measure U if they thought it was only going to pay for pensions and salaries. This is now a matter of trust with the voters. None of what I described was unknown or contradicted before the election. We knew the pension obligations, and we made it clear that Measure U was not intended to be a solution to that problem.”

  • Mayor Darrell Steinberg

April 30, 2019

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BUT, AT LEAST WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY ON WHAT WE NEED, RIGHT?

Measure U - #GiveItBack

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No! The police do not NEED it!

Police already get the most from the city budget.

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AND: Even if we removed all of their Measure U money, they still get the most.

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AND: They cost taxpayers at least $8.2 million in 2019 in misconduct settlements paid by the general fund

  • $5.2 million to the family of John Hernandez
  • $2.4 million to the children of Stephon Clark
  • $550,000 for hurting protesters in East Sacramento

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AND: Their overtime costs were 348% above the budget

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AND: Their contract gives officers an annual 3.5% raise.

Measure U - #GiveItBack

45%

of the ENTIRE City Budget

goes to Police

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Also, we are in a pandemic that has dramatically changed our lives

Measure U - #GiveItBack

This means communities need the economic investment NOW more than ever before! 

  • There will be a decrease in expected income this year due to business closures during COVID-19

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  • Total City income is predicted to drop by $90 million

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  • Measure U tax income will go down by $19 million

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So to recap:

Measure U - #GiveItBack

  • Voters approved the second half cent for economic development 
  • COVID-19 destroyed local businesses
  • City leadership decided not to use the Measure U money to help communities that desperately need it
  • Instead they spent the money on a Police Department that is wasting money and giving raises, while many other public employees have taken 9.23% pay cuts to help with these trying times

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OKAY, WE ARE NOW SUFFICIENTLY ANGRY. HOW DO WE HELP? WHAT’S THE ASK?

Measure U - #GiveItBack

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How you can help the Movement to #GIVEITBACK!

Measure U - #GiveItBack

  • CALL and EMAIL City leadership and tell them to #GIVEITBACK!�
  • Tell them: We are in a state of emergency and our communities deserve investment.�
  • Remind them: The police should not get raises -- or any budget increase -- when we can’t afford the money promised to communities.�
  • Ask them: To spend the Measure U Money how they promised:
    • Inclusive Economic Development
    • Housing
    • Homelessness�
  • SHARE this presentation on your social media and present it in meetings for your job, union, community organizations, faith communities, friends, neighbors, family and anyone who will listen!�

Do this before the July 1 special City Council meeting on Public Safety!

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Sacramento City Leadership Contact Information

Measure U - #GiveItBack

City Manager: Howard Chan <HChan@cityofsacramento.org>; 916-808-7488

Mayor: Darrell Steinberg <DSteinberg@cityofsacramento.org>;  916-808-5300

D1: Angelique Ashby <AAshby@cityofsacramento.org>;  916-808-7001

D2: Allen Warren <awarren@cityofsacramento.org>;  916-808-7002

D3: Jeff Harris <jsharris@cityofsacramento.org>; 916-808-7003

D4: Steve Hansen <shansen@cityofsacramento.org>;  916-808-7004

D5: Jay Schenirer <JSchenirer@cityofsacramento.org>;   916-808-7005

D6: Eric Guerra <eguerra@cityofsacramento.org>; 916-808-7006

D7: Rick Jennings <rjennings@cityofsacramento.org>;  916-808-7007

D8: Larry Carr <lcarr@cityofsacramento.org>; 916-808-7008

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You can contact everyone no matter where you live, but if you’d like to contact your representative, find out which  of the 8 Council Districts  you live in:

https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Mayor-Council/Find-Your-District

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References

Measure U - #GiveItBack

  • Mayor Steinberg Blog

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  • Measure U Budgets 
    • FY 18/19 & 19/20 - page 432
    • FY 20/21 - page 28�
  • Total Measure U/General Fund Budget - 
    • Budget Overview - April 30, 2019 - Page 17�
  • Police Department Misconduct Settlements
  • Police Department Scheduled Raises
    • Contract - Page 10�
  • Police and Fire Exceeding Overtime Budgets