MYTH - The "Boss Mayor" Initiative is needed to modernize Sacramento City government.

FACT - Sacramento's current city government structure is the most modern and popular form of government in the United States.   It was created to prevent a corrupt "Boss Mayor" system that is subject to abuse, cronyism, and pay-for-play politics.   This initiative would actually take Sacramento back to the old days under the "Boss Mayor" system, where who you know is more important than what you know.

MYTH - The "Boss Mayor" Initiative will make Sacrament's form of government the same as other large cities in California (Fresno, San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco).

FACT - This initiative will make Sacramento's form of government nothing like other large cities in California.  This initiative was crafted with only the strongest and least democratic elements from other systems.  In fact, no other city in California, or the nation for that matter, has the unlimited and unchecked powers proposed in this initiative or grants this much authority to its mayor.

MYTH - The "Boss Mayor" initiative will make city government more accountable.

FACT - City government would be LESS accountable under the "Boss Mayor" initiative.  Right now, residents resolve problems in their neighborhood by working with their elected representatives.  Under the "Boss Mayor" initiative, the power of these area representatives would evaporate.  The Mayor could overlook the needs of any neighborhood in the City with no accountability.

MYTH - The "Boss Mayor" initiative has checks and balances.

FACT - The "Boss Mayor" initiative consolidates power in one person with no checks or balances.  The Mayor would have authority to hire and fire almost any city employee, including the City Attorney.  The Mayor would also be granted the power to serve as both legislator and executive.   No terms limits.  No Ethics Commission.  No other city in the United States allows its mayor to have this much unchecked power.

MYTH - The current system does not work because the Mayor does not have the authority to accomplish even the simplest task such as fixing a pothole on your street.

FACT - This is simply untrue.  Currently, the Mayor AND/OR any member of the City Council can direct city staff to fix any problem in the City (such as a pothole).  There is also a hotline (3-1-1) that city residents can call to have problems fixed in their neighborhood. The only thing the "Boss Mayor" initiative would do is take that authority to fix problems away from everyone else.  

MYTH - The Mayor's initiative was written by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.

FACT - The "Boss Mayor" initiative was written by a team of ultra-conservative lawyers hired by a political action committee (SAG).  The lawyers were bought and paid for by developers who work and live outside of Sacramento.