Measure W – Fund Mental Health, Housing, & Job Training

Establishes a half-cent sales tax to raise $150 million per year for 10 years for general public services.

Although this is a regressive sales tax for general fund purposes and puts the onus on low-income people, not on corporations where it should be, we need to protect essential services like health care, housing and good public jobs at the local level that serve the most vulnerable people in our county — especially in a time of downturn.

St. Mary’s Center, a leading community center and service provider for elders, young children and unhoused people, is championing this measure.

We hope you will vote yes on Measure W and follow up to help ensure that funds will go where they are intended.

It is possible to fully and reliably fund our cities, our emergency and safety-net services and the world where all our communities can
thrive. However, instead these resources are lining the pockets of millionaires, billionaires, and big corporations. That’s why we support fair, equitable taxes — for budgets that ensure our children will inherit quality public education and public goods, no matter what they look like or where they come from. Ultimately, we urge you to support California’s Proposition 15, which will reclaim $12 billion per year for schools and local community services from the wealthiest corporations.