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SACRAMENTO-

Oakland Vice Mayor Larry Reid was in Sacramento Tuesday to sing the praises of Measure L, otherwise known as the “Strong Mayor” initiative.

If voters approve Measure L, the mayor would be granted a wealth of new powers like being able to propose a budget, veto city ordinances and remove the city manager.

Sacramento currently operates under a council-manager government. Measure L would change it to mayor-council government, much like most larger cities in the U.S.

Reid says he’s worked in both types of municipal governments, and says the “Strong Mayor” system creates a stronger community.

“Ultimately, the budget reflects what the council wants in terms of allocating resources to the neighborhoods to help change those parts of Oakland that needs to be changed,” Reid said.

Critics of the measure argue that all it accomplishes is a shift of power from neighborhoods and city council members to the mayor’s office.

“If you read the proposal, it has a lot of problems. It has no tie-breaker. It takes a 75 percent vote of the city council to overcome a mayoral veto and it just will cause a lot more political strife,” council member and Measure L critic Steve Hansen said.

Kay Recede filed this report.