Juneteenth not a paid city holiday in Sacramento; proposal awaits action

Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but the city of Sacramento still does not officially recognize it as a paid day off for city employees.

Last year, City Council members Rick Jennings and Caity Maple introduced a proposal to change that. Their measure called for Juneteenth — June 19, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States — to be observed as a paid city holiday.

“Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and marks a significant milestone in American history,” the proposal stated. “By adopting Juneteenth as a paid holiday, the city of Sacramento acknowledges its historical significance and demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

The holiday became a federal observance in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed Juneteenth National Independence Day into law, commemorating June 19, 1865 — the day Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War and slavery, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Nearly every U.S. state — 47 of 50 — observes Juneteenth in some manner, with 28 states including Nevada, Oregon, and Washington giving their state workers the day off.

Gov. Gavin Newsom emphasized the historical significance when signing California’s Juneteenth observance into law in 2022, stating, “Juneteenth marks a defining moment: the true emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. … This is history we can’t ignore. We have to face it head-on.”

California officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2023, but it only allows state employees to take the day off using personal leave.

The city proposal, meanwhile, has not yet come before the City Council for a vote. City spokesperson Jennifer Singer confirmed the city does not currently observe the holiday.

Jennings, who represents Land Park, the Pocket, and Greenhaven, reaffirmed his support for the measure.

“Juneteenth is a holiday that deserves to be celebrated by all Americans. It is a day to honor the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a future that is a more just and equitable future for all,” Jennings said.

The holiday became a federal observance in 2021. In California, Juneteenth is also recognized as a state holiday — but state workers do not automatically receive a paid day off. Instead, state employees must request personal leave to observe it.

Councilmember Mai Vang, representing Meadowview and Valley Hi/North Laguna, emphasized the importance of going beyond merely granting city employees the day off.

“I hope that it goes beyond just a city day off and that we use this day to reflect, take action, and learn more about Black history and the continued struggles faced by the Black community,” Vang said. “Councilmember Jennings has been leading this work internally to make this happen.”

Ryan Brown, chief of staff for Maple’s office, said the proposal remains a priority but indicated that addressing it might depend on upcoming labor negotiations with city unions.

“It has not yet been agendized by the mayor for consideration by the council,” Brown said. “We would very much like to see this move forward; however, my understanding is that it would need to be part of labor negotiations with the city’s unions.”

The proposal notes that while the financial impact would primarily come from paying employees for the additional day off, those costs could be partially offset through adjustments to other holidays or administrative efficiencies. Singer said she was not able to comment on ongoing labor negotiations.

Several California cities, including Los Angeles, San Jose, San Diego, San Francisco and nearby Davis, already align their local observances with the federal holiday. Sacramento County officially recognizes Juneteenth, and Woodland recently joined the growing list of jurisdictions that observe it formally, highlighting significant historical contributions of local Black communities.