The O.C. Register is reporting that, “A city council committee on Tuesday will discuss the equipment and personnel needs of the city’s police and fire departments.
The discussion comes as council members evaluate whether to put a public safety tax before voters on a ballot measure next year.
In recent months, Santa Ana’s City Council has placed additional emphasis on public safety by hiring new gang officers, creating a citizens’ commission focused on gang prevention and expanding recreational programming for youth.
The Public Safety Committee
http://www.longbeachrealestatehome.com/2007/06/24/my-long-beach-home-won-t-sell
There goes the neighborhood!
CMA (comparable market analysis) indicate that Santa Ana is in the top five locations for continued declines in housing prices. Overtaxing homeowners will not benefit existing homeowners. It will also keep potential buyers wary of a city that continues to mismanage huge revenues each year.
Don’t need a larger police budget.
What is needed is a larger parks and rec budget.
“Hold on to your wallets! And be sure to let the above-referenced council members know you don’t want your taxes raised.”
As I rectal Art, it was your beloved Michele Martinez who started this EPIC boondoggle which is responsible for all the above named increases.
I hope people will really go to these meetings and speak out STONGLY against the taxes. Most times it’s lots of bravado on the blogs but then nothing or weak statements at meetings. Blogs alone won’t do it folks, you have to go in person and speak out strongly against this with threats of voting working against them in future elections if they support it. It’s the only thing they listen to.
Anonymous 9:59 a.m.
Notice that this proposal to increase taxes is being presented in an “off year” as it relates to city council elections. And with all due respect, threats are not the answer. There are better ways to change the faces on your council. We did remove our mayor and vice mayor in the 2002 election in Mission Viejo but it took a great deal of cooperation by activists in our city. You need to create a game plan for removing those who put your city into this bottle of red ink. The strategy and tactics are the same as we promote in protecting property rights.
One solution is to declare bankruptcy as they did in Bridgeport, CT. That might be fun.
How would you like to be introduced at events as the mayor of Orange county’s largest city that just filed for bankruptcy protection?
That Larry Gilbert is a real genius. Is he actually employed anywhere?
I got a phone call last week from a friend who lives in North Santa Ana. She told me there was yet another telephone survey polling a public safety tax done last week. She got called by the poll folks and recounted many of the questions they asked. I thought this was a dead issue.
As long as Catherine Standiford is in Santa Ana she will be looking for ways to fleece the residents. Either scaring them into giving her tax money or cutting services. How else will she be able to keep driving shiney cars? Think we should give her another raise. It has already been 10 months and we’ve only given her about 35% raises so far!
Why don’t they start by conducting a national search for a NEW POLICE CHIEF? The good (god?) Mr. Walters is getting his full pension (because in the weird world of public service you can be “retired” and pulling a full pension by continuing to work in the same position you are “retired” from) for retiring form the SAPD and getting $350K a year in addition for working the position he is retired from.
Why doesn’t the public safety committee address the rape they are perpetrating on the Santa Ana taxpayer in the guise of Chief Walters continuing fleecing of the taxpayer?
Where is the outrage? The city rejects a tax increase, so it is relabeled a “Public Safety Tax”? Buffalo Bagels! Horse Hockey! Monkey Mushrooms! (Have I successfully skirted the dreaded censor by avoiding saying “BULLSHIT”?)
The bottom line is that the City Council doesn’t seem to understand that all these costs are supposed to be paid for from the existing budget! What about getting a police chief that is not pulling double pay everyday? What about rejecting double-digit pay increases for the city management ? Y’know, UNNECCSSARY EXPENSES? This incompetent group of bottom feeders cannot manage to balance a budget.
Re: #9
Didn’t you know Walters is a sacred cow in SA. He can’t be touched for fear of him yelling at you all red faced and with veins sticking out of his neck all the while telling you what a tough job he has, also reminding you that if you might ever have a situation at your house the cops might be a little late getting there. Plus Walters is still sore from losing the OC Sheriff’s postion to Carona years ago.
Walters is just another fine example of Ream’s out of town disciples fleecing the taxpayers of SA. These two clowns care nothing of the city that has made them millionaires, other than their paychecks, of course.
You people are just silly sometimes. How is it some kind of evil conspiracy if it is up for vote? Voting is THE most public and effective way to express your opinion. If you don’t like it – Vote NO. Or maybe you do like the idea of more officers, but just don’t want to pay for it – then Vote NO. But please stop lathering yourselves up in a scandal that isn’t there.
Outsourcing the entire Police Department to the Orange County Sheriffs Department would save several Million dollars, each and every year!
Make sure that your voice is heard on this issue, and start the process of a Lawsuit and or recalls to prevent further Taxes!
Nobody is going to do it for you, the real criminals are inside City Hall – it’s time to make an arrest!
Take a long look at the salaries and Golden Benefits Packages, that you aren’t going to get in Private Industry, not ever.
Remember we scroll the salaries at our website 24 Hours a day!
David S. Harvey
Save Irvine .com
#11:
Ream. How appropriately named. Santa Ana needs an industrial sized tub of KY to continue taking this.
The OJ Team was at this meeting, right?
What happened? Is the city moving forward to put this on the next ballot?
Tell us about the discussion.