QUESTION: I wonder when you add up all these new fees and taxes under LA Mayor Anotnio Villaraigosa and subtract it from 100% (of someone's income) -- HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY LEFT WITH? It seem like people will be left with a negative balance for every dollar they earn in the City of Los Angeles:
Since Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Viagraosa took over, first it was the "trash collection fee." Then a "bulky item fee." Then further raising (tripling) of the "trash collection fee." Then Prop S (phone and internet tax). PLUS, the State's Prop 1C money for "Emergency Housing and Shelter."
THE PROBLEM: They always say these new fees and taxes that they place on the ballot are for ONE thing; then a year later we find out the money was used for something else.
From LA Daily News regarding "Trash Collection Fees":
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the City Council are planning an additional 30 percent increase that will push the monthly trash fee to $36.
The controller (Laura Chick) found that the trash-fee increase so far has generated $137 million over two years - more than enough to hire and outfit 405 net new officers during that period.
The rest of the money was used to help cover cost-of-living pay raises for existing sworn and civilian Police Department employees.
"There was a lot more money and that money went to cover a variety of expenses," Chick said Tuesday.
When Villaraigosa proposed hiking trash fees in early 2006, he pledged to use the money to hire 1,000 new police officers.
But he and the City Council left open the possibility that additional revenue would go toward public-safety spending.
"Therefore, from a legal standpoint, we believe the funds have been used appropriately," Chick said.
[ZUMA DOGG SAYS: Excuse me!!! Josh Kaminsky from Eric Garcetti's office SWORE to me that the money would ONLY be used to hire 1000 new cops when the "trash fee" first hit the agenda two years ago!!! AND UNTIL 1000 NEW COPS ARE HIRED, LAURA CHICK SHOULD NOT BE COVERING FOR VILLARAIGOSA BY USING THE TERM, "SURPLUS" REGARDING "TRASH COLLECTION FEES." (If there is a "surplus" as she called it in the media (the excuse to use the money for something other than 1000 new cops), she should also be calling for a "refund!")
"Probably the public did not think at the time that (the trash-fee increase) was going to pay for raises," Chick said.
"If there were misperceptions or unrealistic expectations that the money was only going to be used for police hires, my report dispels that myth." [NO YOUR REPORT SPINS FOR ANTIONIO! YOU ARE DAMN RIGHT PEOPLE DID NOT THINK THE MONEY WAS GOING FOR RAISES? WHY WOULD THEY? YOU TOLD THEM IT WAS FOR 1000 NEW COPS! WHERE DO YOU THINK THE SLOGAN, "1000 NEW COPS CAME FROM?"]
This type of spin goes to show you how no matter what they say up front when they are asking for the money, they will always try and spin their way out of it. Which only shows how they cannot be trusted, because they hide behind arguments like, "it is not illegal." (I guess it's just completely unethical. I guess you can call Prop S a "reduction", too.)MORE TAXES ON THE WAY: This November, look for
a) a half cent sales tax on the ballot to pay for infrastructure;
b) a $3.00 property tax to "once and for all end the gang problem";
c) a school construction bond (because LAUSD always makes such good use of bond money and they deserve to have people throw more money at the problem).
PLUS: a host of new fee "updates" as in "UP-date" that will hit workers, residents and business owners. Things like;
a) a quadrupling of the parking meter rates;
b) property owners NOW FULLY RESPONSIBLE for the cost of sidewalk repairs;
c) maintenance and repair mandates -- or else on the "lien" list;
d) DWP officials admit that a 30%-50% water rate increase is likely. (With a doubling of the rate over the next three years not out of the question.)
Mayor Sam put together a list:
Among the soak the taxpayers plans on or potentiallly coming to the ballot include:
California Veterans' Housing Bond
California High Speed Passenger Rail Bond
California Children's Hospital Bond
California Alternative Energy Vehicles Bond
City of Los Angeles $30 Million Gang Tax
LA Community College Construction and "Green Technology" $3.5 Billion Bond
LAUSD $3.2 Billion Property Tax Increase for Construction
MTA Half-Cent Sales Tax for Transportation (which they round up by the way)
City of LA Personal Income Tax? (Also known as the "Occupational License Fee")
Of course there a ton of other fees the politicians can raise without your vote such as the trash tax and DWP rate increases.
So when is enough enough? When do we tell the politicians no more?
PLUS THIS:
Amid concerns that voters may hesitate to approve a fifth multibillion-dollar school construction bond in a decade, Los Angeles Unified officials and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have crafted a proposal to woo the public with promises to fund charter schools and small learning communities. View Full Story
MTA ADMITS MONEY CAN BE USED FOR OTHER PROJECTS: During the hearing when Council decided to approve the half-cent sales tax on the November ballot, MTA officials were forced to admit that although a list of projects are earmarked for this proposed money (a list of projects were read) -- the officials ALSO admitted that there is nothing in place to prevent this money from being used for other projects not mentioned. The fear is that money earmarked for certain areas can be diverted to other areas. In other words, some Councilmembers were fearful that their own "bait and switch/shell game" tactic would be used on them.
FROM ZD's INBOX: Have you looked into Bringing Back Broadway and the appointed of Jessica Wethington
McLean as the executive director? Public money being spent recklessly in a district that
needs services not entertainment.
Mayor09.com
Looks good on a bumper sticker!
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