Health crisis highlights need for stronger investments in local services and schools

SAN DIEGO, CA — The Schools & Communities First campaign announced the submission of more than 1.7 million signatures of support to qualify for the November 2020 ballot – the most signatures ever submitted in California for a ballot initiative. This historic benchmark was achieved weeks ahead of schedule and surpassed the original 1.6 million goal set by the campaign.

The signature submissions come as the health crisis gripping the nation highlights the need to  strengthen local government health services while giving schools greater resources to provide our children with the world class education they need, whether in person or remotely.

A recent report by the University of Southern California (USC) shows that every county in California stands to benefit from ensuring commercial and industrial properties are assessed at fair market value and pay their fair share, with San Diego among counties to gain the most. 

In a sign of the Schools & Communities First coalition’s robust statewide infrastructure and support, a massive grassroots volunteer operation collected more than 410,000 signatures of the total – an unprecedented number. 

Andrea Guerrero, executive director of Alliance San Diego, said the following:

“San Diegans are thrilled to have done their part in providing the most signatures ever submitted in California for a ballot initiative. These signatures send a strong message that we need to prioritize resources to cities and counties so they can respond to health threats and other community needs quickly and compassionately. Let their signatures be a reminder that we still need to support our teachers and frontline responders who are called to rise to every crisis in support of our community’s well-being.”

About Alliance San Diego

Alliance San Diego is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) community empowerment organization working to ensure that all people can achieve their full potential in an environment of harmony, safety, equality, and justice. Our mission is to provide a means for diverse individuals and organizations to share information, collaborate on issues and mobilize for change in the pursuit of social justice, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. We pursue this mission through targeted civic engagement programs and strategic coalitions that focus on specific issues and policy reforms.

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