Under traditional banking practices, private, for-profit entities owned by investors loan money for projects at high interest rates. In contrast, public banks are owned by government institutions and can use taxpayer dollars to finance local projects such as affordable housing, clean energy, and other investments. Measure Z in Berkeley would charge a temporary parcel tax of 6 cents per square foot of residential improvements, or 9 cents per square foot of commercial improvements, for six years, generating $9.2 million per year. Public banks loan to local institutions like community banks and credit unions, and stipulate how the funds are used. Several cities are pursuing public banks following state legislation passed in 2020 that outlines the process for localities to create them. If passed, Berkeley would be the first public bank in California. Vote Yes on Measure Z in Berkeley.

Elections should be won, not bought. Wealthy donors and special interests continue to dominate election campaign spending. Prop 4 would lift the ban on public funding for state and local election campaigns (except in charter cities and counties), allowing governments to create public campaign financing programs. Prop 4 would allow local governments the option to create systems that help candidates rely less on wealthy donors and public interests. Money in politics sways our elections. This measure would make it possible for more localities to pass innovative public financing programs such as Democracy Dollars in Oakland, which sought to equip eligible voters with vouchers to contribute to campaigns of their choosing—encouraging candidates to engage ordinary voters for their support, including working class communities who may not have been able to support campaigns in the past. Vote Yes on Prop 4.

Federal cuts will strip $100 billion from healthcare in California over the next five years—resulting in higher premiums and loss of coverage for millions of Californians. Services at local hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes will face draconian cuts or close. To stop the healthcare collapse in the state, Prop 40 would impose a one-time tax of up to 5% on taxpayers with covered assets over $1 billion, generating $100 billion in revenue over 5 years. Ninety percent (90%) of the funds would go to healthcare, and 10% to food assistance or education. Vote Yes on Prop 40.

In response to the Prop 40 Billionaire Tax, Big Tech billionaires are funding efforts to block Prop 40 and ban future wealth taxes. Prop 41 requires audits on new spending, but goes beyond oversight by creating structural barriers to future voter-approved revenue measures. Prop 42 blocks new state taxes on personal property, including business interests, intellectual property, and financial assets—restricting California’s ability to ask the wealthiest individuals to contribute more toward public investments. The combination of Prop 41 and Prop 42 would make it significantly more difficult to design and implement progressive revenue solutions to fund schools, healthcare, housing, and other public priorities. Vote No on Prop 41 & 42.

In response to the Prop 40 Billionaire Tax, Big Tech billionaires are funding efforts to block Prop 40 and ban future wealth taxes. Prop 41 requires audits on new spending, but goes beyond oversight by creating structural barriers to future voter-approved revenue measures. Prop 42 blocks new state taxes on personal property, including business interests, intellectual property, and financial assets—restricting California’s ability to ask the wealthiest individuals to contribute more toward public investments. The combination of Prop 41 and Prop 42 would make it significantly more difficult to design and implement progressive revenue solutions to fund schools, healthcare, housing, and other public priorities. Vote No on Prop 41 & 42.

Currently, local funding measures for fire stations, libraries, and health centers pass with a majority vote- 50% plus 1. Under Prop 43, two-thirds of voters would need to approve local funding measures and taxes, allowing one-third of voters to overrule the majority and block funding for essential services. Prop 43 protects corporate special interests by giving them greater power to avoid paying their fair share: they would only need one-third of the vote to block efforts to raise new revenue. In practice, Prop 43 would make it nearly impossible to raise local revenue. With upcoming federal budget cuts, state structural deficits, and local jurisdictions facing budget shortfalls, we need all the tools in our toolbox to solve the crisis that everyday Californians are facing. Vote No on Prop 43.