San Jose mayor launches push to improve California’s government

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan launched an effort to get a group of city leaders across California to work together to ensure the state’s government runs more effectively, especially when it comes to housing, homelessness and crime. “We have not had the kind of partnership and focus that we need from Sacramento,” Mahan said at a Sacramento Press Club event moderated by KCRA 3’s Ashley Zavala Monday after announcing the effort. Mahan, a rising star in the Democratic Party and critic of Gov. Gavin Newsom, called the push the “Back to Basics Agenda.” Mahan is calling on mayors across California to work collaboratively and come up with a set of specific priorities and solutions that can be presented to the wide field of candidates running for governor, with the hope that the agenda can be delivered by the state’s next leader. He noted it comes at a time when gubernatorial candidates in California are seeking endorsements from local leaders like him. “I want to be able to be organized and show a united front and say to them, if you want the support of the people leading our cities, you need to listen to what we need to deliver results. That’s really what this is about. How do we deliver better outcomes for our residents?” Mahan said.Mahan said the effort is open to mayors ready to work together, regardless of political party. He said he has already had good conversations with Fresno’s Republican Mayor Jerry Dyer and is reaching out to other mayors in the state’s largest cities. The push comes nearly a year after a falling out between Mahan and Newsom. Mahan said it happened during the campaign for crime measure Proposition 36, which Mahan supported and Newsom fought. The ballot initiative enhanced penalties for repeat thieves and fentanyl dealers while establishing a felony that could allow criminals to have the felony wiped if they complete drug or mental health treatment. “I have texted him a couple of times. We haven’t had a great conversation since Prop 36,” Mahan said. When asked about Gov. Newsom’s major push to pass the redistricting measure Prop 50, Mahan responded by asking how much it cost to put it on the ballot. When Zavala replied with $282 million, Mahan noted that it was more than the state appropriated to implement Prop 36. “I’m going to hold my nose and vote for it,” Mahan said of Prop 50, which asks voters to approve changes to California’s U.S. House district maps that attempt to elect more Democrats to Congress in response to Republican states that are doing the same thing to help President Trump and the Republican Party. “I think you have two really bad options. I frankly don’t like either. I will say I believe the two of the most important things we did as a state in terms of political reform was top two open, open top two primaries and independent redistricting commissions. And I firmly believe that. And I will consistently say that and advocate for that,” Mahan said. Mahan said he’s not running for California Governor anytime soon, stating he’s focused on delivering results as mayor of San Jose. When Zavala asked, “not right now, maybe later?” Mahan replied, “I’ll keep my mind open to it.” See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan launched an effort to get a group of city leaders across California to work together to ensure the state’s government runs more effectively, especially when it comes to housing, homelessness and crime.

“We have not had the kind of partnership and focus that we need from Sacramento,” Mahan said at a Sacramento Press Club event moderated by KCRA 3’s Ashley Zavala Monday after announcing the effort.

Mahan, a rising star in the Democratic Party and critic of Gov. Gavin Newsom, called the push the “Back to Basics Agenda.”

Mahan is calling on mayors across California to work collaboratively and come up with a set of specific priorities and solutions that can be presented to the wide field of candidates running for governor, with the hope that the agenda can be delivered by the state’s next leader. He noted it comes at a time when gubernatorial candidates in California are seeking endorsements from local leaders like him.

“I want to be able to be organized and show a united front and say to them, if you want the support of the people leading our cities, you need to listen to what we need to deliver results. That’s really what this is about. How do we deliver better outcomes for our residents?” Mahan said.

Mahan said the effort is open to mayors ready to work together, regardless of political party. He said he has already had good conversations with Fresno’s Republican Mayor Jerry Dyer and is reaching out to other mayors in the state’s largest cities.

The push comes nearly a year after a falling out between Mahan and Newsom. Mahan said it happened during the campaign for crime measure Proposition 36, which Mahan supported and Newsom fought. The ballot initiative enhanced penalties for repeat thieves and fentanyl dealers while establishing a felony that could allow criminals to have the felony wiped if they complete drug or mental health treatment.

“I have texted him a couple of times. We haven’t had a great conversation since Prop 36,” Mahan said.

When asked about Gov. Newsom’s major push to pass the redistricting measure Prop 50, Mahan responded by asking how much it cost to put it on the ballot. When Zavala replied with $282 million, Mahan noted that it was more than the state appropriated to implement Prop 36.

“I’m going to hold my nose and vote for it,” Mahan said of Prop 50, which asks voters to approve changes to California’s U.S. House district maps that attempt to elect more Democrats to Congress in response to Republican states that are doing the same thing to help President Trump and the Republican Party.

“I think you have two really bad options. I frankly don’t like either. I will say I believe the two of the most important things we did as a state in terms of political reform was top two open, open top two primaries and independent redistricting commissions. And I firmly believe that. And I will consistently say that and advocate for that,” Mahan said.

Mahan said he’s not running for California Governor anytime soon, stating he’s focused on delivering results as mayor of San Jose. When Zavala asked, “not right now, maybe later?” Mahan replied, “I’ll keep my mind open to it.”

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel