On June 8, 2010, Sacramento will vote to reject or support Sacramentans for Accountable Government’s "Boss Mayor" Initiative, which SAG has cleverly disguised as a strong mayor proposal. Don’t let SAG fool you.
The Boss Mayor Initiative is an irresponsible and risky attempt to concentrate virtually all of our city’s power into the hands of a single man. Do not be fooled, this is not the same “Strong Mayor” system in numerous other California cities. The Boss Mayor Initiative gives the Mayor unprecedented power over our city – with no accountability.
The Boss Mayor Initiative gives the mayor the power to hire and fire the city manger, attorney, treasurer and clerk – the very people the mayor and council need to rely on for independent, objective advice. No California mayor has that much unchecked power.
We, the undersigned, believe that any proposed change to Sacramento's Constitution should be drafted through an open, inclusive process that includes ample opportunity for community input.
Further, we believe that any change to Sacramento's Constitution should include provisions for strong checks and balances to combat corruption and prevent cronyism.
SAG's initiative was written in secret by a few lawyers and placed on the ballot after SAG paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for signatures to be gathered. SAG’s initiative eliminates accountability and limits community accessibility and involvement in Sacramento city government.
Because SAG's "Strong Mayor" Initiative does not meet either basic standard for a charter change, we urge all Sacramentans to join us in opposing this initiative and seeking better and more democratic ways to improve our city and its government.
The Boss Mayor Initiative gives the mayor the power to hire and fire virtually all city employees, allowing for cronyism and unfair contracts. No California mayor has that much unchecked power.
The Boss Mayor Initiative would allow the mayor to keep a seat on the city council. This would allow him to propose a budget and then vote for it, to appoint a the city manager and then vote to approve him, to veto a measure and then vote not to override his veto. No California mayor has that much unchecked power.
The Boss Mayor Initiative gives the mayor extensive new powers but does not include necessary checks and balances. EVERY California city with an executive mayor system has term limits and all but one have an ethics commission. No California mayor has that little accountability.
The Boss Mayor Initiative was drafted behind closed doors by an ultra-conservative Republican lawyer, with no input from our community. It does not represent the values of Sacramento. This dangerous proposal would not propel Sacramento into the future, instead it could damage many of the things that make our city great.
Help us defeat this misguided measure and sign the petition to the left!
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