Measure on the ballot in the 2020 California General Election in Berkeley.
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Get StartedA “YES” vote on Measure JJ is a vote in favor to authorize the City of Berkeley to create a formula to increase the annual compensation of the Mayor and Councilmembers.
A “NO” vote on Measure JJ is a vote in opposition to authorize the City of Berkeley to create a formula to increase the annual compensation of the Mayor and Councilmembers.
"By voting yes on Measure JJ, you would be giving the Mayor and each Councilmember a 75% raise amid a great budget crisis... Raises should reflect performance. Are your streets better paved, cleaner and safer? Are your parks, marina and waterfront more vibrant? Are local businesses thriving? No, they are not.", in opposition to Measure JJ (Learn more)
"Serving our community in public office is indeed a great honor but should not be a financial burden... In order to ensure that our City government reflects the diversity of our community, we need to address the issue of Council compensation.", in support of Measure JJ (Learn more)
"Measure JJ would promote diverse representation of our community on the City Council and help remove money from politics. Berkeley’s new public financing of elections makes it possible for candidates with important perspectives to run but the very low compensation makes it impossible for many to serve. Single parents, young people without generational wealth, people of color and working-class residents are hindered by the compensation, which was set over 20 years ago and has not kept pace with area cost-of-living.", in support of Measure JJ (Learn more)
"Councilmembers presently receive $38,695/year and the Mayor $61,304, which places them at the extremely low-income and low-income level in Alameda County. Meanwhile, the average rent in the city has risen to $3,183 per month. Councilmembers without wealth have to rely on a secondary source of income — a second job, a partner’s income or accumulated assets — to be able to live in the districts they represent. The Mayor and Council oversee a $450 million budget, develop policy with colleagues through policy committees, represent the community at regular and special City Council meetings and serve constituents. The current structure assumes that the Mayor and Councilmembers are compensated only for attending regular Council meetings, vastly understating the time spent in other critical duties.", in support of Measure JJ (Learn more)
Shall the measure amending the City Charter to provide that compensation for the office of Mayor be set at Alameda County's median three-person household income from the California Department of Housing and Community Development and that of Councilmembers maintained at 63% of the Mayor's compensation, with annual increases based on changes in Area Median Income, but which may be lowered for unexcused Council meeting absences or negotiated salary reductions for City employees, be adopted?
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