SACRAMENTO, CA — The No on 40 coalition today announced growing opposition to Proposition 40 from Black community, faith, civil rights, and business leaders across California, who warned that the measure could lead to cuts to public services communities depend on, reduce economic opportunity, and destabilize the state’s long-term finances.
Leaders representing Black-owned businesses, neighborhood organizations, faith communities and civic institutions note that Proposition 40 creates further economic uncertainty at a time when California families are already facing rising costs and growing financial pressures. Their opposition underscores concerns about the measure’s potential consequences for schools, hospitals and clinics, public safety, and other critical services.
The growing coalition of Black leaders and organizations opposing Proposition 40 includes the National Action Network Sacramento, Community Build, Inc., Westside Action Group, California African American Chamber of Commerce, California Black Chamber of Commerce, Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce, and Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce. They join the NAACP California/Hawaii State Conference and Citizens for Accountable Leadership, which announced their opposition to Proposition 40 in recent weeks. Together, these organizations represent a broad cross-section of California’s Black communities, including civil rights advocates, faith leaders, community organizations, and business leaders.
“Our neighborhoods have fought for generations to secure investments in our schools, public safety, and community services. The concern with Proposition 40 is the possibility of losing ongoing state revenue that helps support those priorities. Any discussion about taxing billionaires must also address what happens to the public services our neighborhoods have worked so hard to secure,” said Alton Garrett, President of the Westside Action Group, a community advocacy organization working to advance civic engagement and represent the interests of residents in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
“Black-owned businesses need more than promises of economic opportunity. They need a stable environment where they can grow, hire workers, and invest in their communities. Proposition 40 raises serious questions about long-term revenue stability and the economic consequences of changes in how wealthy taxpayers respond. Those questions deserve clear answers,” said Ahmad Holmes, President and CEO of the California African American Chamber of Commerce, a statewide organization championing Black-owned businesses through advocacy, education and strategic partnerships to expand economic opportunity.
“California needs a serious conversation about how we fund essential services while keeping our economy strong. We cannot ignore the possibility that higher taxes could encourage wealthy residents to leave the state, taking investment and future tax revenue with them. That could have consequences for small businesses, jobs, and the communities that depend on public services. We need to go back to the drawing board and find a balanced approach that protects California’s economy while addressing its budget challenges,” said Jay King, President and CEO of the California Black Chamber of Commerce, a statewide organization representing hundreds of small and emerging businesses, affiliates and local chambers of commerce throughout California.
“When the NAACP, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and gubernatorial candidates agree on opposing Proposition 40, we need to pay attention. I trust that our leaders who understand California’s budget challenges have our state’s best interests at heart. They recognize the potential risks to the schools, seniors, and other community services our families depend on. We cannot afford a knee-jerk reaction to federal policies. We must be more thoughtful and methodical. I’m not a gambling man, and I’m certainly not willing to gamble with California’s future. We need to bring everyone back to the drawing board and work together on a responsible approach to California’s budget challenges. Unfortunately, Proposition 40 isn’t it,” said Hardy Brown, Sr., Publisher Emeritus of Black Voice News, a longstanding Black-owned news publication serving the Inland Empire and covering issues affecting Black communities across Southern California.
“As a faith leader and civil rights advocate, I believe we have a moral responsibility to protect the well-being of our families, stand with our most vulnerable communities, and ensure that every voice is heard. I support the goal of preserving access to healthcare, but I believe Proposition 40’s approach is flawed and unsustainable. California families are already facing difficult choices, and they deserve solutions that deliver real, lasting results. Good intentions must be matched by sound policy, accountability, and meaningful community engagement. This is a matter of fairness, justice, and human dignity. Our priority must be protecting access to care while ensuring that underserved communities have a voice in shaping a sustainable path forward,” said Rev. Dr. Tecoy Porter, Sr., President of the Sacramento Chapter of the National Action Network, a civil rights organization founded by Rev. Al Sharpton that advocates for racial justice, equal opportunity, voting rights and criminal justice reform.
The growing opposition from African American leaders reflects broader concerns about the risks Proposition 40 poses to California’s economy and the state’s ability to sustain funding for essential services. Community leaders are calling for greater transparency, accountability, and careful consideration of the measure’s long-term consequences, particularly for communities that have historically faced barriers to economic opportunity and access to public resources.
These leaders join a broad coalition of doctors, teachers, health care providers, labor unions, firefighters, civil rights leaders, affordable housing advocates, small businesses, veterans, agricultural leaders and elected officials opposing Proposition 40.
Among the organizations opposing Proposition 40 are the California Teachers Association, California Medical Association, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California Primary Care Association Advocates, California Hospital Association, California Professional Firefighters, State Building & Construction Trades Council of California, Housing California, California School Boards Association, and many others.