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HOLT SAYS THERE’S ANOTHER WAY TO PLAN AND PASS AN INFRASTRUCTURE TAX

Started by districtweekly · 10 months ago

Gabriella Holt lives up on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, so she doesn’t get to vote on Long Beach’s Proposition I—the $571-million property parcel tax placed on the November ballot by Mayor Bob Foster and the City Council (minus Fifth District rep Gerrie Schip ... Continue reading »

7 comments

  • John_B

    10 months ago

    Dave: I’m inclined to agree with Ms. Holt on this one. So much of what our local elected officials do, or attempt, on our behalf seems ill considered, poorly planned, abysmally communicated or some combination of all three. Both the currently proposed budget and the infrastructure bond proposal seem to be prime examples of this.

    Because they directly impact the electorate and public funding, all issues of public policy must be well and thoroughly planned if they are to have any chance of success. Once well planned they must then be just as well communicated to those who ultimately pay the bills (us).

    When elected officials fail in one or both of these criteria, the public tends to feel overlooked, dismissed and slighted…and rightly so. Our local infrastructure belongs to the public after all, as do the tax dollars that would be used to re-pay any bonds that may be approved. Given that perspective, our elected officials really should be better at including the people they represent (us) in their planning processes and then *much* better at keeping us informed as the process continues.

    Ms. Holt hit the bulls-eye on this one. She seems to clearly understand whom all of our elected officials are supposed to be working for…the electorate.

    For that, if for no other reason, Gabriella Holt should be elected come November.
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  • Alex

    10 months ago

    I too agree with Holt! Why are more people not holding the local officials accountable? Perhaps it's high time Long Beach put together a citizen oversight committee, rather than throwing something on the ballot and expecting peole to vote yes. Everyone should make sure to vote HOLT in November, as she seems to be what this city and state needs.
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  • JuanPardell

    10 months ago

    Why was Mayor Foster's parcel tax proposal rushed? Because he attempted an end-around on the taxpayers by supporting salary increases in the face of a budget deficit. By placing the cart before the horse, he and the city council probably thought there wouldn't be such an uproar of trying to increase taxes. They were wrong. Although I applaud Gabrielle Holt's explanation, she should remember that Long Beach is not Palos Verdes. Her area is far more affluent with a population base much smaller than Long Beach. However, her methodology is much better than what Long Beach city officials have so far offered.
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  • Lindaonline

    10 months ago

    When the parcel tax fails it will be for the very reasons Ms. Holt mentioned. It is so clear to everyone but the mayor.
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  • DCinLB

    10 months ago

    I t will be interesting to see how many people who agree with Holt will vote for her. Her approach is to look at expenses first, her opponent's approach is find what to tax.
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  • Jane

    10 months ago

    How refreshing...Elected officials who are responsive to their community..Based on this I would vote for Holt over Lowenthal and the whole City Council, for that matter.

    The taxpayers in Long Beach are already funding a ridiculous number of unsuccessful developments and all the same names seem to pop up over and over for the last 15 years at least. Here they go again trying to fast track some sort of crack pot tax scheme...for what and why, they don't want to answer. Nonsense! We need transparency and a city government that is not dismissive and disdainful of the citizens it serves. We have not had that in a long, long time. What will it take to get this to happen in Long Beach? A citizen revolt?
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  • grdnsage

    10 months ago

    If it is not maintained it will fall apart. Who will maintain?contractors? used a park restroom lately?,love that cleanliness?BUILD WITH MAINTENANCE IN MIND. Ask a maintenance person or a gardener what that means because it is not taught in college courses on public administration. If council would allow maintenance dollars to be spent on maintenance first and on their special projects second that might be helpful. Not that they are not needed but some are more helpful to politics than constituites.
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