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Darrell Steinberg

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Darrell Steinberg
56th Mayor of Sacramento
In office
December 13, 2016 – December 10, 2024
Preceded byKevin Johnson
Succeeded byKevin McCarty
49th President pro tempore of the California Senate
In office
December 1, 2008 – October 15, 2014
Preceded byDon Perata
Succeeded byKevin de León
Member of the California Senate
from the 6th district
In office
December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2014
Preceded byDeborah Ortiz
Succeeded byRichard Pan
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 9th district
In office
December 7, 1998 – November 30, 2004
Preceded byDeborah Ortiz
Succeeded byDave Jones
Member of the Sacramento City Council
from the 6th district
In office
1992–1998
Preceded byKimberly J. Mueller
Succeeded byDave Jones
Personal details
Born
Darrell Steven Steinberg

(1959-10-15) October 15, 1959 (age 65)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJulie Steinberg
Children2
EducationUniversity of California, Los Angeles (BA)
University of California, Davis (JD)
Signature

Darrell Steven Steinberg (born October 15, 1959) is an American politician and attorney who was the 56th mayor of Sacramento, California from 2016 to 2024. He was elected to be mayor on June 7, 2016 (avoiding a runoff). Before that, he was California Senate President pro Tempore and the leader of the majority party in the California State Senate from 2008 to 2014.

Steinberg was a Democratic member of the California State Senate representing the 6th District. He had also previously served as a member of the California State Assembly (1998–2004) and as a member of the Sacramento City Council (1992–1998).

Early life, education and early career

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Born in San Francisco to a Jewish family,[1] Steinberg graduated from Capuchino High School in Millbrae-San Bruno, California, and from University of California, Los Angeles where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics. He then earned a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis School of Law.[2]

He served as an employee rights attorney for the California State Employees Association for 10 years before his work as an Administrative Law Judge and mediator.[3] He has continued to mediate disputes of public interest during his tenure as mayor. In 2022, he mediated a dispute between the National Union of Healthcare Workers and Kaiser Permanente, and was appointed to mediate between the University of California and the United Auto Workers during the 2022 University of California academic workers' strike. He also was once a UAW member.[4]

California State Assembly

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Steinberg was a member of the California State Assembly from 1998 until he was termed out in 2004. During his time in the Assembly he served as chair of the Assembly Committees on Budget, Appropriations, Judiciary, Labor and Employment, and the Select Committee on High Priority Schools. He authored 80 bills that were signed into law in areas that included mental health, K-12 education, foster care, and workplace safety. Steinberg is considered a strong advocate for children and mental health issues. He opposed mandatory arbitration clauses.[5]

Steinberg authored legislation to focus additional educational resources on high-poverty schools and make them more accountable for improvement.[6] He authored several laws to improve the state's foster care system, including measures to improve system accountability and educational stability. His legislation in foster care included AB 408, which mandated steps to help older foster youth find permanent homes and families.[7] He also passed AB 34, the first significant expansion of community mental health programs in more than a decade.[8]

Steinberg also authored AB 1127, a landmark bill to give stronger prosecutorial power to district attorneys to address serious and willful violations of Cal/OSHA regulations that result in worker injuries and deaths.[9] Some supporters called this legislation "the Tosco bill" because of an accident that occurred at the Tosco Refinery near Martinez, California in 1999. The accident, which resulted in four deaths, was held up as an example of insufficient penalties for dangerous workplace-safety violations.[10]

State Senate

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Steinberg in 2008

Steinberg was the President pro Tempore of the California State Senate from 2008 to 2014. In February 2008, he was selected by Senate Democrats to become Pro Tem in the next legislative session, when the incumbent would be termed-out.[11] He took office in November 2008 as the first Senate leader from Sacramento since 1883.[11]

Before being elevated to Pro Tem, he was Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.[12] He also chaired the Senate Select Committee on High School Graduation.,[12] the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism.[12]

As a member of the State Senate, Steinberg continued many of the same causes he had undertaken as a member of the Assembly. He continued his work on improving test scores, aiding under performing schools, lowering dropout rates, and improving the state's mental health system.[13][14] In 2007, Steinberg introduced a bill to cap at 20 the number of hours high school students can work after school if their grade point average is not 2.5 or higher.[15]

On November 13, 2013, State Sen. Ron Calderon lashed out at Federal authorities claiming that they wanted him to record conversations between Sen. Steinberg and fellow Sen. Kevin De Leon in a sting operation targeting Steinberg and De Leon.[16]

Mental healthcare advocate

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Throughout his legislative career, Steinberg has been a strong advocate for mental health care. He has called it "the under-attended issue in our time and in our society". He is known within the mental health community as a long time champion.[17]

Steinberg became passionate about mental health during his time on the Sacramento City Council. In 1997, the City of Sacramento engaged in a lawsuit against Loaves and Fishes, a private charity providing food to the homeless. The free lunches began to draw thousands of homeless people which had become a nuisance to local business near the shelter in North Sacramento.[18] Former Mayor Joe Serna and then Councilmember Steinberg were the only two members to vote against the lawsuit. Upon further investigation into the rapidly increasing homeless population, Steinberg discovered that an overwhelming portion of homeless suffered from mental illness and did not have access to proper mental health care. He took up working on ways to help solve this issue.[19]

AB 34 pilot projects

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During his first year in the State Assembly, Steinberg authored AB 34, which began three pilot projects that provided integrated services to the homeless in Stanislaus, Los Angeles and Sacramento counties. The pilot was so successful in lowering hospitalization, incarceration and homeless episodes the program was expanded to more than 30 counties in late 2000 as AB 2034. Data collection by the pilot programs demonstrated the success of the services being provided.[20]

Mental Health Services Act

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Steinberg authored Proposition 63, the California Mental Health Services Act, approved by California voters on the November 2004 statewide ballot. The act imposes a 1% tax on incomes of $1,000,000 or more for mental health funding.[21] He co-authored "Prop 63" with advocate Sherman Russell Selix Jr.[22] In the first five years, the program has provided mental health care to 400,000 Californians.[23]

The Mental Health Services Act includes a "whatever-it-takes" approach to support services for people with severe mental illness and is the first of its kind in the United States. Services can include providing a safe place to live, a job, help in school, physical health care, clothing, food, or treatment when a mental illness and a substances abuse disorder are combined. These are examples of full service partnerships which have been proven to be effective in helping people with severe mental illness transition successfully to independent living situations.[23]

The Act also provides Prevention and Early Intervention services (PEI). PEI improves mental health care treatment by creating programs in places where mental health services are not traditionally given, such as schools, community centers and faith-based organizations.[24] The intent of PEI programs is to engage individuals before the development of serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance or to alleviate the need for additional or extended mental health treatment.

The Mental Health Services Act has proven to be a cost-effective way to address mental health care. A 2012 report found that every dollar spent of mental health services in California saved roughly $0.88 in costs to criminal justice and health, and housing services by reducing the number of arrests, incarcerations, ER visits, and hospitalizations.[25]

Mayor of Sacramento (2016—present)

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Tenure

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In 2021, Steinberg backed a legislative proposal that would make Sacramento the first city in California to end zoning that permits only the construction of one single-family home on a property. The proposal was intended to deal with the housing shortage and skyrocketing rents in California.[26]

In June 2021, Steinberg was one of 11 U.S. mayors to form Mayors Organized for Reparations and Equity (MORE), a coalition of municipal leaders dedicated to starting pilot reparations programs in their cities.[27][28]

Personal life

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Steinberg is married to his wife Julie and has two children: daughter Jordana and son Ari.[29] They live in the Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood of Sacramento.

Electoral history

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City Council

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State Assembly

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1998
1998 California's 9th Assembly district Democratic primary[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg 14,992 63.20
Democratic Robert Pernell 11,501 20.69
Democratic Alice Huffman 7,379 13.27
Democratic Frances Gracechild 7,238 13.02
Democratic Leslie J. Cochren 4,597 8.27
1998 California's 9th Assembly district election[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg 66,867 72.32
Republican Mike Dismukes 25,591 27.68
2000
2000 California's 9th Assembly district Democratic primary[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg (incumbent) 55,705 100
2000 California's 9th Assembly district election[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg 75,953 70.2
Republican Charles Hargrave 24,572 22.8
Green Jan Louis Bergeron 5,698 5.2
Natural Law Bruce B. Saunders 2,012 1.8
2002
2002 California's 9th Assembly district Democratic primary[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg (incumbent) 33,311 100
2002 California's 9th Assembly district election[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg (incumbent) 58,883 69.90
Republican David A. Pegos 22,146 26.20
Libertarian Douglas M. Poston 3,322 3.90
2004
2004 California's 9th Assembly district Democratic primary[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg (incumbent) 33,311 100
2004 California's 9th Assembly district election[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg (incumbent) 58,883 69.90
Republican David A. Pegos 22,146 26.20
Libertarian Douglas M. Poston 3,322 3.90

State Senate

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2006
2006 California's 6th State Senate district Democratic primary[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg 51,252 81.6
Democratic Sam J. Hawkins 11,615 18.4
2006 California's 6th State Senate district election[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg (incumbent) 115,628 58.7
Republican Paul R. Green, Jr. 71,051 36.1
Peace and Freedom C.T. Weber 5,573 2.8
Libertarian Alana N. Garberoglio 4,774 2.4
2010
2010 California's 6th State Senate district Democratic primary[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg (incumbent) 64,965 100
2010 California's 6th State Senate district election[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darrell Steinberg (incumbent) 137,012 61.0
Republican Marcel Weiland 71,051 31.5
Libertarian Steve Torno 11,236 4.9
Peace and Freedom Lanric Hyland 5,916 2.6

Mayor

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2016 Sacramento mayoral election[42][43]
Candidate Votes %
Darrell Steinberg 62,000 54.52
Angelique Ashby 29,519 25.96
Tony "The Tiger" Lopez 9,519 8.37
Marlene Andrade 2,132 1.88
Michael Edwards 1,814 1.60
Russell Rawlings 1,344 1.18
Richard Jones 751 0.66
Aaron Carranza 312 0.27
Charles Frazier (write-in) 4 0.00
Other write-ins 134 0.12
Total votes 113,728 100
Voter turnout 47.54%
2020 Sacramento mayoral election[44]
Candidate Votes %
Darrell Steinberg (incumbent) 89,048 77.25
Mac Arteaga 15,821 13.73
Jamar Jefferson 10,399 9.02
Total votes 115,268 100

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sacramento's new mayor Darrell Steinberg rooted in Jewish values, January 11, 2017". The Jewish News of Northern California. 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  2. ^ "UC Davis Magazine". Ucdavismagazine.ucdavis.edu. Archived from the original on 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  3. ^ "Biography | Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg". Sd06.senate.ca.gov. 2014-11-20. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  4. ^ "UAW 2865, SRU bargaining teams vote in favor of voluntary mediation". The Daily Californian. 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  5. ^ "Public airing of private justice / Assemblyman calls hearings on mandatory arbitration - SFGate". Sfgate.com. 2001-12-30. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  6. ^ "Keynote". Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  7. ^ Steinberg. "AB 408 Assembly Bill - Bill Analysis". legix.info. Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  8. ^ "Darrell Steinberg and the Campaign for Mental Health: The AB 34 Programs". digital.library.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  9. ^ "AB 1127 or the "Tosco Bill" | Cry Wolf Project". crywolfproject.org. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  10. ^ "Tosco to Pay $2 Million in Fatal Flash Fire / Firm pleads no contest to '99 refinery blaze - SFGate". Sfgate.com. 2000-01-07. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  11. ^ a b "Perata out, Sen. Darrell Steinberg in". SFGate. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  12. ^ a b c "Sen. Darrell Steinberg -- Biography". dist06.casen.govoffice.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  13. ^ [1][dead link]
  14. ^ [2][dead link]
  15. ^ [3][dead link]
  16. ^ "Ronald S. Calderon v US Complaint, Nov. 13, 2013". Scribd.com. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  17. ^ "California Budget Puts Some Health Care Issues on Hold". California Healthline. 1996-05-30. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  18. ^ Warren, Jenifer (1997-03-04). "Challenging Charity : Sacramento Sues Burgeoning Program for Homeless as a 'Public Nuisance' - Page 2 - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  19. ^ "Sacramento News & Review - The past, present and future of California's mental-health system - Feature Story - Local Stories - March 15, 2012". Newsreview.com. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  20. ^ "AB 2034 (Assembly Bill 2034) Integrated Services to the Homeless Mentally Ill : Telecare Corporation". Telecarecorp.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  21. ^ "California's Mental Health System - Underfunded from the Start" (PDF). Mhac.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  22. ^ "CCCMHA | About US". Cccmha.org. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  23. ^ a b "Mental Health Program Shows Success - California Healthline". Californiahealthline.org. 2013-10-07. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  24. ^ "Transforming Mental Health Care" (PDF). Calmhsa.org. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  25. ^ "Full Service Partnerships" (PDF). Mhsoac.ca.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-02-27. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  26. ^ "In a first for California, Sacramento poised to allow apartments in single-family home neighborhoods". Los Angeles Times. 2021-02-10. Archived from the original on 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  27. ^ "11 U.S. Mayors Commit To Developing Pilot Projects For Reparations," Associated Press (June 18, 2021)
  28. ^ Magagnini, Stephen. "Q&A With Mayor Steinberg on Reparations for Black Sacramentans," The Observer (August 10, 2021).
  29. ^ "Mayor Steinberg's Biography". www.cityofsacramento.org/. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  30. ^ "Statement of Vote Primary Election June 2, 1998" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  31. ^ "STATEMENT OF VOTE General Election November 3, 1998" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  32. ^ "\\Sosfps3\Elections\Users\khill" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  33. ^ "\\Sosfps3\Elections\Users\khill" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  34. ^ "sov preface documents 2002.PDF" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  35. ^ "sov preface 2002.doc" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  36. ^ "sov-complete.pdf" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  37. ^ "sov preface 2002.doc" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  38. ^ "STATEMENT OF VOTE GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION JUNE 6, 2006" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  39. ^ "STATEMENT OF VOTE" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  40. ^ "Statement of Vote June 8, 2010, Statewide Direct Primary Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  41. ^ "Statement of Vote November 2, 2010, General Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  42. ^ "Official 2016 Primary Election June 7, 2016". Sacramento County. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  43. ^ "Votes Cast For Qualified Write-In Candidates Voter Registration and Elections" (PDF). Sacramento County. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  44. ^ "Election Results, Voter Registration and Elections Results, Sacramento County, California, USA". eresults.saccounty.net. Sacramento County. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
[edit]
California Assembly
Preceded by Member of the California Assembly
from the 9th district

1998–2004
Succeeded by
California Senate
Preceded by Member of the California Senate
from the 6th district

2006–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by President pro tempore of the California Senate
2008–2014
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Sacramento
2016–2024
Succeeded by