Juneteenth, the oldest known commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, has not yet been recognized as a paid holiday for city employees in Sacramento, despite a proposal introduced by City Council members Rick Jennings and Caity Maple last year. The proposal, which seeks to designate June 19 as an official paid city holiday, has not yet been voted on by the City Council.
The date, June 19, marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers informed enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War had ended, and they were free. The observance became a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. While 47 of 50 U.S. states recognize Juneteenth in some form, Sacramento remains one of the major cities where city employees do not receive a paid day off for the occasion.
Jennings and Maple’s proposal, if passed, would formally recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday for city workers, affirming the city’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The measure argues that adopting the holiday would highlight the historical significance of Juneteenth and honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
“Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and marks a significant milestone in American history,” the proposal reads. “By adopting Juneteenth as a paid holiday, the city of Sacramento acknowledges its historical significance and demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law in 2022 recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday. However, state workers do not automatically get the day off. Instead, they must use personal leave to observe the day. Despite this, many cities in California—including Los Angeles, San Jose, San Diego, San Francisco, and Davis—already observe Juneteenth as a paid holiday, aligning with the federal observance.
Jennings, who represents the Land Park, the Pocket, and Greenhaven neighborhoods, reaffirmed his support for the measure, calling the holiday “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.”
Councilmember Mai Vang, representing Meadowview and Valley Hi/North Laguna, echoed the significance of the holiday, stressing the importance of using Juneteenth as a moment for reflection and action. “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.”
While the proposal remains a priority for the council members, Ryan Brown, chief of staff for Maple’s office, explained that it may be contingent on labor negotiations with the city’s unions. “It has not yet been agendized by the mayor for consideration by the council,” Brown stated. “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.”
City spokesperson Jennifer Singer confirmed that Sacramento does not currently observe Juneteenth as a paid holiday for city employees. The financial impact of adopting the holiday would likely come from paying employees for an additional day off, but the proposal suggests that these costs could be mitigated by adjusting other holidays or administrative efficiencies.
Sacramento County officially recognizes Juneteenth as a county holiday, and nearby Woodland recently joined the growing list of jurisdictions that formally observe the day, underscoring the significant historical contributions of local Black communities.
While the proposal has not yet been voted on by the City Council, proponents continue to advocate for Juneteenth’s recognition as a paid holiday for city employees, a move that would bring Sacramento in line with numerous other California cities and honor the nation’s history of emancipation.
