***CITY LETTERHEAD***
February 28, 2023
Bismarck Obando
Director of Public Affairs, League of California Cities 1400 K Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Letter Opposing Initiative 21-0042A1
On February 28, 2023, the City of Cotati voted to oppose Initiative 21-0042A1, a deceptive, developer-sponsored proposition aimed for the November 2024 statewide ballot that would significantly jeopardize cities’ ability to provide essential services and infrastructure for our residents.
The measure includes undemocratic provisions that would make it more difficult for local voters to pass measures needed to fund local services and projects and would limit voter input by prohibiting local advisory measures where voters can express a preference on how they want their local tax dollars spent.
This measure creates new constitutional loopholes that allow corporations to pay far less than their fair share for the impacts they have on our communities, including impacts on local infrastructure and our environment.
This measure also may make it much more difficult for state and local regulators to issue fines and levies on corporations that violate laws intended to protect our environment, public health and safety, and our neighborhoods.
Unless defeated, the measure puts billions of dollars currently dedicated to local services at risk, and could force cuts to fire and emergency response, law enforcement, public health, parks, libraries, affordable housing, services to support homeless residents, mental health services, and more.
If passed by the voters, this measure would immediately jeopardize most of our fees and fines that we rely on to provide basic governmental services and ensure our neighborhoods remain safe and clean. Additionally, it would likely prevent our residents from making future changes to existing taxes to fund desired services and/or infrastructure. The measure benefits wealthy corporations and real estate developers while decimating our local communities and neighborhoods.
You may list the City of Cotati in formal opposition to Initiative #21-0042A1 and include our city as part of the growing coalition of public safety, labor, local government, infrastructure advocates, and other organizations throughout the state opposed to this deceptive proposition.
Sincerely,
Susan Harvey
Mayor
CITY OF COTATI