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Apparently the justification for not putting this resident generated demand for a measure to get rid of the UUT on the ballot this coming April goes like this. Without city staff first creating a financial impact report to instruct the voters about what to do, people would be utterly helpless and incapable of making up their own minds. At least in a way the city would like. And this was all done with a straight face, like they actually believed what they were saying is true.
The delay caused by this report, which takes a full 30 days to create (staff is very busy), makes it somehow impossible to get the No UUT measure on the ballot for this April. Why both couldn't be done at the same time was not discussed.
Mayor Capoccia even stated that this financial report was being done for the benefit of the voters. Voters who, by his own actions, would now be prevented from voting.
Try and wrap your head around that one.
In other words, the City Council and staff are of the opinion that you the voter cannot possibly function on a thinking adult level without first being instructed by staff about how to properly conduct your civic affairs and duties. This despite the fact that very few people really give a damn about what city staff thinks, and if they do it could be so they can go in the exact opposite direction.
After all, aren't those writing this report about the potential financial effects of the loss of the UUT the very same people whose salaries and benefits are paid out of that money? Do you think there is a chance in the world that this report will not be written in the most dire terms possible? Is that worth delaying residents the opportunity to vote on getting rid of their utility taxes for two years? Does this initiative really have anything to do with the opinions of City Hall?
I don't know how the city could imply that they believe residents are clueless idiots in a more clear and concise manner. This cooked up baloney was done with only one purpose in mind, to keep the "Stop The Utility Users Tax Initiative" off of April's ballot and as far away from City Hall's own Measure UUT ballot initiative as possible.
Mayor Capoccia then went off dyspeptically about his run in with someone who was collecting signatures for the No UUT ballot initiative. This has become a fairly well known story in Sierra Madre, one we reported on a month or so back (link).
I guess this must have gotten under the Mayor's skin a bit. The above was posted on December 13th, a month ago now. Apparently it is still on his mind.
In case anyone is wondering what that huge librarian pension bit was all about, here is how that number is reported on the Transparent California site (link):
According to Mayor Capoccia's understanding of the situation, all city employees are now entitled to a $98,690.52 yearly pension?
Maybe he was just upset.
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