The mayors of San Diego and Oakland joined Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) president/CEO Mark Baldassare last week to discuss the challenges local governments face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
San Diego’s Kevin Faulconer and Oakland’s Libby Schaaf come from very different political backgrounds. Faulconer is a Republican and Schaaf a Democrat. But they both agree on some basic precepts, including the need for more federal assistance. Both of them have seen their economies ravaged by COVID-19 and are taking creative steps to mitigate fallout while hoping for more federal relief.
In their video with PPIC, Faulconer and Schaaf also discuss their divergent views on Proposition 15, which would roll back Prop 13 protections for commercial businesses worth $3 million or more. The Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates Proposition 15 would generate $8 billion to $12.5 billion in revenue from increased taxes on commercial properties. Opponents say the cost would be passed on to tenants, including many small businesses, putting even more strain on the economy.
Watch the video here.