September 11, 2020

Western Growers Responds to Newsom Prop 15 Endorsement

IRVINE, Calif. (September 11, 2020) – In response to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s endorsement of Prop 15, Western Growers President & CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement:

“California farms and businesses are withering under a hostile and worsening legal and regulatory climate that has been compounded by the COVID-19 economic shutdowns. It is therefore very regrettable that Governor Newsom endorsed a ballot initiative that promises to hike the property taxes of business and farms by $11.5 billion. We need relief from the massive weight of California regulatory and tax policies that are increasingly motivating business owners to escape to friendlier states and countries. Prop. 15, if passed, will add even more fuel to the motivation to quit California. As a business owner himself, the Governor certainly understands this and should have started a badly needed realignment of the state’s policies toward business enterprises by opposing Prop 15. Despite this setback, we are confident that the voices of the people who drive California’s economy will persuade the voters to reject Prop 15.”

 

About Western Growers:
Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Western Growers’ members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. Connect and learn more about Western Growers on Twitter and Facebook

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