Vallejo sales tax measure campaign fundraising dwarfs opponents

VALLEJO – The campaign to support a proposed seven-eighths-cent sales tax increase has raised substantially more campaign funds than its opponents, as the Yes on Measure P Vallejo 2022 committee reported receiving $6,125 in cash contributions from a whos-who of elected, city employees, and well-known community members.

That includes the five Vallejo city council members who voted to put the tax hike on the November ballot.

Special coverage: November 2022 Solano County election

A general election will be held on Nov. 8, 2022, with local elections for three Vallejo City Council seats, two Benicia city council seats, Vallejo school board and more.

The Vallejo SunJohn Glidden

Vice Mayor Rozzana Verder-Aliga, councilmembers Hakeem Brown, Pippin Dew, Katy Miessner, and Mina Loera-Diaz have each donated $500 to the committee since it was formed in September to support Measure P.

The tax increase is expected to generate $18 million annually for the city’s general fund. City officials have previously said the money would be used to address blight, illegal dumping, homelessness, roads, provide fire and police protection, and keep public spaces clean.

If approved, Measure P would make Vallejo's sales tax the highest in the county at 9.25%.

Last Thursday was the deadline for the second pre-election statement before the Nov. 8 election in which campaigns reported all contributions and expenditures from Sept. 25 to Oct. 22.

The Napa-Solano Counties Central Labor Council donated $1,000 to the yes on P campaign, while the Napa-Solano Building Trades Council gave $1,500, records show.

Other recent notable donations include $300 from Shelee Loughmiller, the city’s community and volunteer coordinator, $200 from Vallejo Chief Building Official Steven Arnold, $300 from Jeffrey Kingman, who is married to Councilmember Katy Miessner and serves as the committee’s treasurer, $500 from Olympic Health gym owner Dennis Brinson, $500 from Cathleen Anthony of Six Flags Car Wash, $400 from Den Kittleson of Legal Mind Attorney Services, and $100 from former city councilmember Tom Bartee, who is now district director for State Sen. Bill Dodd.

Meanwhile, the no on Measure P campaign is on its second iteration after the first committee, Vote No on Measure P Vallejo 2022 closed in late September after just a month of operating.

The previous committee received $700 in cash during the first reporting period from July 1 to Sept. 24. Most of that, $500, came from local businessman JD Miller, with $100 coming from former Vallejo school board Trustee Marianne Kearney-Brown.

The new committee, named Vallejo Please Vote No on P 2022, didn’t submit any financial documents for the second reporting period. Myrna Hayes, who helped found the new committee, told the Vallejo Sun that the committee had yet to reach the $2,000 threshold for reporting. Once a committee raises $2,000 it is required to begin reporting its contributions and expenditures.

Hayes said that despite not needing to, the committee will submit its financial disclosures this week.

Measure P has become a major issue in this year’s council elections as some of the candidates and supporters of the tax increase argue the hike is the only way to raise the needed funding to address issues in the city.

Opponents argue the tax is regressive and will harm residents especially during a period of increasing inflation. They also point to a survey the city commissioned earlier this year which found that about 60% of residents had an unfavorable opinion of the city council and 67% had an unfavorable opinion of the city government overall.

The election is next Tuesday.