ELECTION 2013 - As part of the election process, City View Channel 35 allows the spokesperson for each proposition to make a three minute statement that is subsequently aired on Channel 35.
So rather than watching Channel 35, we invite you to view the three minute YouTube video or read the related transcript. (Video)
Subsequent to the taping on February 1, several Neighborhood Council stakeholders who are opposed to the job killing 9½% sales tax determined that the City could eliminate the projected budget deficit of $216 million without a tax increase and without layoffs of cops, firefighters, or other City employees.
In the middle of February, both The Los Angeles Times and The Daily News urged voters to Vote No on Proposition A, very wise advice since the City has not negotiated new contracts with the campaign funding union leadership who looking for rollbacks, significantly higher wages, and even more restrictive work rules that will stymie budget, pension, and work place reform.
And now, the fiscally challenged City Council President Herb Wesson, the former Speaker of the State Assembly responsible the out of control budget that resulted in the recall of Governor Gray Davis, is muscling AEG (Farmers Field), JH Snyder (Vermont and Wilshire), and numerous other special interests who are dependent on the City’s largesse to contribute $2 million to fund an advertising blitz to scare the hell out of us by threatening our very safety.
However, rather than being bamboozled by City Hall and their cronies, our NO vote on Proposition A, the 9½% sales tax, will send a loud and clear message to the new Mayor, the City Council, and its seven new members that we demand budget, pension, and work place reform.
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TRANSCRIPT
Hello, I’m Jack Humphreville.
Some of you may know me because of my involvement with our Department of Water and Power and the 2009 defeat of Measure B, the Mayor’s multibillion pay off to the IBEW for their campaign contributions.
I also initiated the Ratepayers Advocate that was approved by 78% of the voters in 2011.
Now I am asking you to join me in voting NO on Proposition A, the PERMANENT half cent increase in our sales tax to a job killing nine and a half percent, one of the highest rates in the country.
Our City is fast approaching bankruptcy as it refuses to live within its means.
Our lunar crater streets and broken sidewalks are proof.
And the ever increasing pension contributions are eating our lunch.
But the campaign funding union bosses are pleased as the City’s payroll has ballooned by over $2 billion.
Now Mayor Villaraigosa and the Herb Wesson led City Council want more of our hard earned cash to pay for their political payoffs.
But there is no plan to balance the budget, fix our roads, or fund our pension plans.
They just want our dough, no questions asked.
We will be bombarded by advertisements funded by AEG and other influential real estate developers and special interests who have made off with billions.
They will even try to blackmail us by threatening to lay off cops.
But as we all know, politicians will say and do anything for money.
But this $200 million tax increase will not pay for potholes, cop cars, or restore any vital services.
Rather, it is going to pay for only a portion of the $750 million increase in labor costs over the next four years.
This includes raises for our firefighters who already make north of $200,000 a year.
Approving this regressive increase in our sales tax will only lead to more bad behavior.
Will the union bosses agree to no increases in wages and benefits?
Are you kidding?
And before you know it, City Hall will be back again asking us for even more money.
This backroom deal was rushed to the ballot in less than two weeks without any hearings.
The City Council did not consider a temporary tax increase.
Nor did it consider a recent poll where voters preferred pension reform to an increase in the sales tax.
They even brushed off the negative impacts on job creation and retail sales.
Our gutless City Council refuses to make the tough personnel decisions because they are beholden to the campaign funding union leadership.
Rather, it is open season on homeowners and all hard working Angelenos.
But we cannot give into City Hall’s fear tactics where they threaten our very safety.
We must demand real budget and pension reform where the City agrees to live within its means.
Until then, City Hall and their self serving cronies do not deserve any more of our hard earned money.
Vote NO on Proposition A.
