"When Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and a coalition of prosecutors, public defenders and law enforcement officers endorsed a county sales tax hike, it was a political turning point for last fall's Measure A campaign. But it turns out that the ballot language that misled voters to think some of the new tax money would be used for public safety also fooled key political leaders who lent their name and financial backing to the measure."
"Some members of the group had threatened to campaign against the measure. They say they reversed course only after seeing new ballot language that included public safety support and after securing agreements that left them feeling County Executive James Williams understood their funding concerns. With the backing of the DA, mayor and public safety workers, the measure passed with 57% support in the Nov. 4 election."
Key political leaders and public safety advocates endorsed Measure A after ballot language and campaign agreements suggested a portion of the new sales tax would protect public safety. County leaders reversed earlier opposition and secured endorsements from prosecutors, the district attorney and the mayor, helping the measure pass with 57% support. County Executive James Williams now says Measure A revenue will be spent on health care, prompting prosecutors to feel misled and to face substantial budget reduction targets. The dispute reflects a longer political conflict over rising county health-care spending versus public safety funding and continued use of ambiguous ballot language.
Read at The Mercury News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]