On Prop 50, Mahan and SJ Council ally with radical left Democratic Socialists
SJ Mayor Matt Mahan and his supporters on the SJ City Council continued their trek to the far left by endorsing Prop 50, the election-rigging initiative that will disenfranchise voters with minority viewpoints all around the state. CMs Mulcahy, Foley, and Doan voted with Mahan to endorse 50, as did CM George Casey, who was the lone vote at council opposing the misguided Measure A. Prop 50 is endorsed by the California Democratic Socialists of America. Their argument for 50, excerpted below, bears many similarities with Mahan's contorted logic endorsing 50.
In an ideal world, our ballot wouldn’t contain a measure like Proposition 50. We would have a political system built on true proportional representation, where the maps are drawn by and for the people, not by a political class to serve its own ends. But this is not that world. For decades, corporations and billionaires have spent enormous sums of money to rig our elections and consolidate their power, leaving us with a broken system that offers us two unpalatable options in a political game designed to keep the working class out of power.
This is a tactical moment that demands a tactical response. A "No" vote on Prop 50, while a symbolic stand against gerrymandering in all its forms, would be a unilateral disarmament in the face of an active assault on our democracy. This would be a “sideways” move. Sometimes we must fight fire with fire.
This is where we must move onward, not sideways. Our movement is about moving forward toward a just and equitable society, rather than getting distracted by lateral battles that don't advance our cause. A "sideways" move would be to lose focus on the primary threats to our communities, or to get caught up in a political game that doesn't serve our long-term interests. That is why our endorsement of a "Yes" vote is a pragmatic one, born out of a clear-eyed assessment of the stakes.
Passing Prop 50 is an essential step in stopping the advance of fascism in the United States. It will counter Republican-led rigging of elections in states like Texas and Florida and give us a tangible chance to fight back against the Trump and billionaire agenda.
Beyond the immediate tactical gains, our endorsement of Prop 50 aligns us with the broader labor movement in California. Unions across the state recognize the critical importance of fair representation in protecting workers' rights and advancing a pro-labor agenda. When the working class stands united, we are a formidable force. Our vote for Prop 50 is a vote of solidarity with our labor comrades, strengthening our collective power against the forces of reaction and fascism. By standing with labor, we reinforce the understanding that the fight for fair elections is inseparable from the fight for economic justice and a socialist future.
We cannot cede this part of the fight against fascism and leave the center to lead it alone—they will fail. Only socialism can beat fascism. We are not just voting on maps; we are voting to protect our fellow workers, our immigrant neighbors, and our climate from a right-wing agenda that seeks to dismantle our unions, gut our social safety net, and accelerate climate collapse.
Vote yes on Prop 50, not as an act of faith in the establishment, but as an act of tactical resistance. And then, let's get back to the real work of building power from the ground up, for a political system that truly serves the many, not just the few.
Fight back California! Onward and not sideways!
Read the whole thing here.
Follow Opportunity Now on Twitter @svopportunity
We prize letters from our thoughtful readers. Typed on a Smith Corona. Written in longhand on fine stationery. Scribbled on a napkin. Hey, even composed on email. Feel free to send your comments to us at opportunitynowsv@gmail.com or (snail mail) 1590 Calaveras Ave., SJ, CA 95126. Remember to be thoughtful and polite. We will post letters on an irregular basis on the main Opp Now site.