The Weekly Wrap: Progressive Ballot Measures That Passed This Week

Welcome back to The Weekly Wrap, after what feels like an exhausting week for many of us. As Next City’s editorial director, I feel grateful to work at an organization that uses journalism as a tool to highlight solutions and name the oppression that is very present in this nation. We’ll continue to do that for the next four years and beyond.

And as 2024 begins to close, we invite you to support Next City’s end-of-year fundraising campaign! Last year, nearly 800 supporters raised over $35,000 to help sustain our nonprofit newsroom. Your contributions are vital to our mission of creating cities free from systemic oppression. Whether you can donate $10, $1,000 or set up a monthly contribution, every dollar makes a difference. — Deonna Anderson, Editorial Director

Now, onto the briefs, curated by Roshan Abraham…

LA County Votes for Sales Tax for Homeless Services

In Los Angeles County, a sales tax meant to fund homeless services looked likely to pass as of Wednesday morning, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. The permanent 0.5% sales tax increase would generate $1.1 billion in its first year and would fund “more shelters, affordable housing and addiction treatment for the unhoused,” according to the outlet. There are over 75,000 Los Angeles County residents without a home, according to LAist. But Californians also rejected a statewide ballot measure to repeal the Costa Hawkins law, which restricts states and counties from enacting rent control on single family homes and apartments built since 1995.

New York City Passes Ballot Measure that Could Criminalize Street Vendors

In New York State, residents passed a ballot measure to enshrine abortion protections in state law (as did several other states). But other confusingly worded ballot proposals also passed in New York, including a ballot proposal that will empower the Department of Sanitation to criminalize street vendors, many of whom are immigrants, Hell Gate reports. Proposition 2 ostensibly empowers NYC’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to “clean streets and other city property,” but the city’s campaign finance board clarified that the measure would “hold street vendors accountable for following rules at those locations.” This means the measure gives DSNY police the authority to ticket and arrest street vendors, a power the NYPD and Parks Department police currently hold. The Adams administration has undertaken a massive crackdown on street vendors and massage workers on Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights and Corona, Queens. Immigrant arrest records are accessible by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, meaning vendors are in more danger of being deported. Street Vendor Project’s Mohammed Attiah shared with Hell Gate steps that the city council could take to prevent this.

Ann Arbor Approves State-Run Energy Utility

Ann Arbor, Michigan, voters approved a city-run sustainable energy utility, MLive reports. The measure will create an opt-in utility that will allow residents and businesses to get 100% of their energy from local solar and geothermal projects. This will eliminate the need for miles of poles and wires to deliver energy. Proponents of the measure, which won with nearly 80% support, hope that the utility will eventually provide below-market-rate energy to consumers.

Missouri Votes to Increase Minimum Wage and Mandate Sick Leave

Missouri residents voted to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, the Missouri Independent reports. The measure also provides mandatory sick leave. The proposition was endorsed by the state’s major labor unions and over 500 businesses and opposed by the state’s Chamber of Commerce. The state’s current minimum wage is $12.30 an hour and the ballot measure would raise that to $13.75 next year and $15 in January 2026. Businesses will be required to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, with smaller businesses required to provide at least five days a year of sick leave and large businesses to provide at least seven days a year of sick leave. Paid sick leave measures also passed in Alaska and Nebraska.

Ohio Passes Sales Tax to Fund Rapid Bus Transit

A sales tax passed in Ohio. It will fund LinkUS, a regional plan to increase rail lines, bus lines, sidewalks and bike paths. The 0.5% increase in the sales tax brings the Central Ohio Transit Authority’s share of the sales tax to 1%. The transit authority plans to use the funds to increase service by 45% and build rapid bus lines and over 500 miles of sidewalks. The rapid bus line plan involves 60-foot-long buses in dedicated bus lanes with traffic signal priority and bus station platforms level with bus doors to speed up boarding.

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Curated by Deonna Anderson

MORE NEWS

• Nashville, Tennessee voters green light transit tax, which will bus system, traffic signals, and sidewalks. Tennessee Lookout

• Massachusetts voters allow Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize. Reuters

• Can ranked choice voting ensure that all voices in a diverse democracy are heard? Salon

• Here’s what we know about how Trump will tackle these major issues. The 19th

• Trump says he’ll fight for working-class americans. His first presidency suggests he won’t. Propublica

• What education could look like under Trump and Vance. The Hechinger Report

• Another Trump presidency is literally toxic — his opponents are gearing up for battle. The Verge

• Here are 10 ways to be prepared and grounded now that Trump has won. Waging Nonviolence

RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

• City Thread is accepting applications for its Accelerated Mobility Playbook Technical Assistance Grant program, which assists U.S. cities in making their communities safer, more sustainable places and giving their residents more options to get around their neighborhoods. Apps are due on Nov. 20. Learn more and apply here.

• Urban Habitat is accepting applications for its Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute, which trains and supports leaders from low-income communities of color to influence housing, transportation, and land use policies as decision makers. The application deadline is Nov. 17 at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply here.

• The Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments put out a Call for Projects for Bay Area public agencies to implement its interrelated housing, transportation, and climate goals. Applications for its transit-oriented communities policy work are due Nov. 22 and those for its climate program are due Dec. 20. Learn more about both programs here.

EVENTS

• This week’s events section is being taken over by Next City’s Solutions Fest, a virtual event series to recognize the most promising solutions we’ve reported on this year and those that we hope to see expand in the years to come. Register here to sign up for the full series bundle — or sign up via the links below for the individual webinars you’re most interested in here

  • Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. Eastern: Civic Engagement Beyond the Ballot - Explore civic engagement and democratic participation beyond the voting booth, focusing on grassroots movements, local governance, and advocacy.

  • Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern: Screening of the documentary Emergent City, which captures the unfolding drama of Sunset Park, a Brooklyn community facing rising rents, environmental injustices, and the decline of industrial jobs. Plus, we’ll chat with the film’s directors Jay Arthur Sterrenberg and Kelly Anderson afterward.

  • Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. Eastern: Crushing Medical Debt: The Movement to Revolutionize Healthcare Access - Join us for a discussion with St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Undue CEO Allison Sesso on their collaboration to erase $100 million in medical debt.

  • Thursday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. Eastern: Unlocking Access: How Municipal ID Programs are Opening Doors for All - Explore how municipal ID programs support inclusivity for marginalized communities.

  • Friday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. Eastern: Championing Truth: How Philanthropy Fuels Justice-Centered Journalism - A conversation on how philanthropy and storytelling intersect with racial justice, as funders leverage journalism to reshape narratives and advance equity in areas like inclusive economies and health.

  • EVENT ADDED: Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. Eastern: Fixing the Housing Crisis, Beyond Supply - Engage with housing practitioners, advocates, community activists and researchers as we explore effective solutions to the housing crisis by increasing affordability and making units and homes permanently affordable, such as establishing community land trusts, expanding housing assistance, and more!