Thread: L.A. Measure S - Passing By Wide Margin; Prop 93 - 52-48

From John and Ken on KFI:

Bad News: Measure S is passing 'overwhelmingly'! (I can't BELIEVE this one)!

Good News: Prop 93 is still too close to call: 52 = No; 47 YES (Only 4% of votes in)

What was measure S?

I'm surprized that it is that close for prop.93 Looks like there still seems to be a large number of people that would like to keep the crooks in office longer!

Measure "S" is the phony phone tax! It's actually going to actually ADD a 9% city tax to cell phone users!

Measure S Reduction of Tax Rate and Modernization of Communications Users Tax -- City of Los Angeles (Ordinance - Majority Approval Required)
45,557 / 65.21% Yes votes ...... 24,308 / 34.79% No votes
Shall an ordinance be adopted to reduce the City’s tax on communications users from 10% to 9%; modernize the ordinance to treat taxpayers equally regardless of technology used; exempt low income senior-citizen and disabled households; to fund general municipal services, such as 911, police, fire protection, street maintenance, parks and libraries; subject to an annual independent audit.

So why does the police chief say LA needs the money?

Measure S: L.A. services depend on funds
By William Bratton, Police Chief
Article Created: 02/02/2008 07:04:48 AM PST

THOSE of us responsible for the safety and welfare of the residents and business community in Los Angeles are working hard to reduce crime in the city. In fact, we are succeeding.

Serious crime in Los Angeles is at the lowest per capita rate since 1956. In 1956 the population of Los Angeles was 2.3 million and there were 385 serious crimes per 10,000 people. In 2007 the estimated population of Los Angeles was 4.2 million with a per-capita crime rate of 290 per 10,000, a significant decrease from 1956. Homicides have been reduced to a rate thought unattainable in 1992, when Los Angeles recorded its highest number of homicides in a single year, 1,092. Last year there were 392 homicides.

Thus, last year, 700 fewer families were forced to mourn the loss of their loved ones than in 1992. Through the city's commitment to public safety and the dedication of the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department, today, the residents of Los Angeles live in the second-safest large city in the United States.

To continue this success and further improve the safety of those who live, work and visit our great city, we need help. We need the residents of L.A. to vote in favor of Measure S. Measure S allows the city of Los Angeles to continue to collect the telephone users tax at a slightly lower rate than the previous city telephone user tax (from 10 percent to 9 percent).

Without the approval of Measure S, the city would lose approximately $270 million
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in funding. Such a significant loss would result in cutbacks in necessary fire and safety services, street maintenance, programs for youth and the elderly, public safety programs such as gang and crime prevention programs, Domestic Abuse Response Teams, Crime Investigation Units and traffic control that are all essential to fighting crime in Los Angeles.

One thing is certain: Measure S funding for the Los Angeles Police Department and other city departments is necessary to maintain our current levels of service. Without it, services will suffer significantly and our mission to continue to improve the quality of life of our residents will face great obstacles.

As the city seeks to continue the reduction in crime across Los Angeles, not only would current crime prevention programs be affected, but new programs that seek to prevent crime and modernize the capabilities of the department would be at risk. New critical programs, such as the installation of in-car video and other advanced technology and communications equipment, may not see the light of day.

Measure S is supported by a broad coalition of neighborhood, community, labor and business leaders, and former and current elected officials. This bipartisan group understands the critical need for these funds to support the continued effort to make this city safe for all those who call Los Angeles home.

Those of us in public service understand the concern of some that city funds have not always been spent as intended by the voters. However, significant safeguards are also included in Measure S to protect residents and business owners. First, once Measure S is adopted, the city cannot increase the tax without further voter approval. Second, Measure S requires annual independent audits be conducted to ensure that the tax is being collected properly and that the funds are being spent appropriately.

Probably the most significant impact to the city, should Measure S fail on Feb. 5, would be the loss of funding that is necessary to ensure the city has a sufficient number of police officers, paramedics and firefighters on the job, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In the past, large cities have been able to rely on the state and federal government to assist in providing necessary funding for public safety. Today, however, the state of California and the federal government have allocated far less money to all cities and particularly to Los Angeles for public safety, education and traffic relief, which is why Measure S is essential.

Measure S will ensure the city of Los Angeles can keep its commitment to its residents by appropriately funding public safety and other important services. I strongly urge all voters to vote yes on Feb. 5.

William Bratton is chief of the Los Angeles Police Departme

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_8150...e=most_emailed

DOMACK...What that article DOESN'T say is that a Judge threw out the old 10 % city phone tax two years ago. He declared that old tax "ILLEGAL".

So the sneaky rats in City Council decided they had to get that tax BACK..it generates $250M/year. So they lied and told the voters that they would actually be getting a 1% REDUCTION!

I am shocked that the voters fell for it! We have really tried to get out the word...but anytime you mention children, police, or fire fighters...the voters vote YES! It's the oldest trick in the book!

As John and Ken also mentioned, since when do voters EVER have to vote for a tax reduction! Duh! Never!!!

PROP 93 is the biggie.

It is a big scam.

Praying for its defeat.

Prop 93 was misleading too. Give it a title that includes 'term limits' and voters jump at it but many surely don't realize it will actually extend limits for around 25 incumbents.