S.F. supervisors Alan Wong, Stephen Sherrill backed by anti-worker PAC

A political action committee tied to the California Alliance of Family-Owned Businesses is spending heavily to support San Francisco supervisor candidates in June races. As of May 20, it spent $66,000 for Alan Wong in District 4 and $52,000 for Stephen Sherrill in District 2. The PAC can accept and spend unlimited funds for favored candidates. The alliance was created in 2024 to advocate for franchise business owners, including operators of McDonald’s locations. Its donors include franchise groups that previously fought a 2024 law raising the fast-food minimum wage to $20. The alliance has also opposed measures such as the Know Your Rights Act, limits on workplace surveillance, and a bill granting employees up to five unpaid days for immigration appointments. Wong’s campaign cannot coordinate with independent expenditures, and candidates have no control over such committees.

"As of May 20, the PAC, the political arm of the statewide group California Alliance of Family-Owned Businesses, has spent $66,000 to boost Wong in District 4 and another $52,000 for Sherrill in District 2. The committee can take in and spend unlimited amounts in support of its favored candidates. California Alliance of Family-Owned Businesses was created in 2024 to advocate for business owners who operate franchises like McDonald's, according to its website."

"The PAC's top donors are franchise groups across California, including one that runs about a dozen McDonald's stores in Central Valley, and two others that operate McDonald's locations near Los Angeles and in Palm Desert. The group was formed by such franchisees, specifically those who fought a California law that increased the state minimum wage for fast-food chain restaurants to $20 in 2024."

"Most recently, the California Alliance group objected to the Know Your Rights Act, which requires employers to give workers written notice of their rights. The organization also opposed a bill to limit workplace surveillance, and another that allows employees up to five unpaid days to attend immigration appointments."

"Candidates have no controls over independent expenditure committees and are not allowed to coordinate with them. Wong, who touts his experience as a labor organizer and received backing from the construction trades, is now backed by a group that has rallied against worker protections and wage increases."

Read at Mission Local