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Council endorses Santa Clara County Measure A and Proposition 50 on Nov. 4 ballot

5906090 · October 7, 2025

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Summary

Palo Alto City Council voted 6–0 to support Santa Clara County Measure A—a five‑year general‑sales tax to offset state Medi‑Cal funding cuts—and Proposition 50, which authorizes use of newly drawn congressional district maps through 2030.

The City Council voted unanimously (6–0, Mayor Loughing absent) on Oct. 6 to adopt positions of support for two measures appearing on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot: Santa Clara County Measure A and California Proposition 50.

Why it matters: Measure A would authorize a county general‑sales tax to fund health‑care services that county officials say are threatened by federal-level reductions; Proposition 50 would allow use of specially drawn congressional district maps through 2030 to respond to out‑of‑state redistricting actions.

Measure A: Assistant City Clerk Christine Pryor and Deputy City Manager Chantal Cotten Gaines reviewed the two ballot measures. Speakers from the community—Raymond Goins, a community health worker, and Jennifer D.—urged the council to support Measure A, saying county health and mental‑health services are at risk without new revenue. Council members referenced a prior county briefing and said Measure A would help blunt anticipated Medi‑Cal and federal funding cuts that could force service reductions and hospital impacts.

Proposition 50: Council members discussed the broader democratic and political context. Several members said they prefer independent redistricting but supported Proposition 50 as a limited, temporary measure designed to preserve congressional representation and counter actions taken by other states that would reduce representation for California. Council members emphasized the local impacts of federal budget and policy decisions and the need to protect services and representation.

Vote: The council voted to support both measures by voice/roll‑call (6–0 with the mayor absent).

Ending: Council members said supporting Measure A addressed immediate health‑care service risks in the county, and backing Prop 50 was intended to protect California’s congressional representation during an interim period; both votes were framed as protecting local interests.