Tonight I voted against a proposal for the City Council to support a LA County proposed parcel tax on every property in the City because the process is wrong. As LA County Supervisor Don Knabe describes it as "under handed" -- 1.1 million property owners are being forced to mail in protests if they don't want the tax. Normally on a tax it is required a 2/3 for approval not a 50+1 which is being proposed.
Also our own City staff just pointed out in a memo on December 27th that the specifics of how the tax money will be spent has not been detailed. Which means we aren't even certain how this money will be spent if the taxpayers are burdened with the parcel tax. And, there are no limits on how long this tax will be in place.
The LA County Board of Supervisors is holding a hearing on January 15th to hear protests. The City of Long Beach needs to wait before we jump to support a parcel tax at this point. Let's insist any tax go on a ballot with specific guidelines how the money will be spent.
Notice: This is not a City of Long Beach site.
Dear Readers: Please note that this is not a City of Long Beach website and is not paid for nor maintained by taxpayer funds.
If you contact Gerrie Schipske through this site on any matter pertaining to the City of Long Beach, a copy of your contact will be forwarded to her official city email as an official public record.
Save Station 18
- Council Guts Fire Services in the Middle of the Night - 9/7/2011
- Come to Community Budget Meeting to Discuss Cuts to Fire, Police, Library and Recreation - 8/25/2011
- How Facts Get in the Way of Political Agendas - 8/12/2011
- They are at it again -- 27 firefigthers to be cut -- Station 18 to be downgraded - 8/8/2011
- You Did It -- Fire Station 18 Will Remain Open - 9/18/2009
Popular Posts
-
Join us for a 5th District "Know Your Neighborhood by Bike" Tour on Saturday, June 8th from 10:30am - 12:30pm ...
-
Last night, the Council approved two agenda items brought forth by Councilman Robert Garcia and me that would further open up City Hall to t...
-
I know my memory sometimes misses things, but in a search of records and the website, I cannot for the life of me find when the City Counc...
-
I am happy to announce that the Sares-Regis Group, the developer which purchased a great deal of the Boeing property in the 5th Coun...
-
Government transparency is the cornerstone of democracy. As such, it is our collective responsibility to protect our right to a governm...
-
October 27--276 Respond to Poll On Dog Park As of today, October 27 -- 276 people have responded to the poll on my blog which asks: If pr...
-
I objected to the City Council going into closed session regarding the potential sale of City Hall, the Main Library and the old court...
-
I has been a while since I blogged. That's because I have been down with bronchitis for more than 4 weeks. Yikes. It has taken its toll....
-
The City Council unanimously approved having the City Manager report to the Council in January on the impact that the FY 2013 budget has had...