Across California, voters decided on 138 local ballot measures, in addition to the statewide measure, Proposition 1, on March 5. While we are awaiting finalized results for the ballot measures, below is a selection of local ballot measure outcomes, which addressed policing, voter ID, school curriculums, and more:
Fresno County Measure B: Voters rejected Measure B, which followed the renaming of Squaw Valley to Yokuts Valley. Measure B would have amended the Fresno County Charter to state that the Board of Supervisors is responsible for establishing or changing “geographic feature or place names within the unincorporated portions” of Fresno County that are not subject to federal, state, or other local government jurisdiction. In 2022, the California State Legislature passed AB 2022, which required the word “squaw” to be removed from geographic feature and place names in the state. The legislative analysis said, “… the term primarily has been used as an offensive ethnic, racial, and sexist slur for Indigenous women.” AB 2022 received unanimous consent in the Assembly and Senate. The U.S. Board of Geographic Names renamed Squaw Valley to Yokuts Valley in 2023. County Supervisor Nathan Magsig said Measure B is about local control. “(People) who live in that area should able to decide for themselves what that name their community is going to be.” He said locals preferred the alternative Bear Valley. State Sen. Anna Caballero (D-14) said locals should have the power to rename jurisdictions. She added, “Unfortunately, the county of Fresno persisted in insisting that they had the right to name the places and to continue using the derogatory terms.”
Long Beach Measure RW: As of March 7, Measure RW was too close to call. ‘Yes’ was leading by 600 votes. The ballot initiative was designed to increase the minimum wage for qualifying hotel workers. Currently, the minimum wage for hotel workers is $17.55, based on an initiative, Measure N, passed in 2012. The minimum wage is set to increase to $23.00 per hour on July 1, 2024, and then increase each year until reaching $29.50 on July 1, 2028. Thereafter, the minimum wage would be adjusted based on inflation. Unite Here! Local 11 supports the ballot initiative. Ada Briceño, co-president of the union, said, “During the pandemic, our members lost their livelihoods overnight and since then the tourism industry has bounced back with the help of billions in PPP loans. Hotels are now near maximum capacity, and making record profits.” Sarah Wiltfong, Director of Advocacy for the Los Angeles County Business Federation, said, “Measure RW’s unsustainable wage mandates will devastate our local economy – putting the hospitality sector’s $1.8 billion economic impact and 18,000 jobs at risk.”
