Measure UUT: The Rebuttal Statements

"Let there be taxes!"

Last week we posted ballot arguments both in favor and against the passage of Measure UUT. Today we are sharing the rebuttal statements, which will also be included in that voter guide the County of Los Angeles will be sending out for April's municipal elections in Sierra Madre. Fairly soon I hope. First we will print the rebuttal written in favor of Measure UUT. What is notable here is only two City Councilmembers signed off this time. The original pro-Measure UUT ballot statement sported the signatures of all five current council members. It is something that I consider to be significant.

Can it be the other three just couldn't find it in themselves to sign off on this series of agitated retorts? Would you have put your name to so hot-headed a document?


Two things that immediately jump out here. The first is that claim about $2 million dollars in cuts and savings. If City Hall had actually made this level of cuts, and hadn't merely shifted that money around instead, why would they need to try and raise utility taxes here for the third time? If actually made, wouldn't those cuts have twice offset the $1 million dollars in deficits cited by Capoccia and Goss?

The second unhappy mistake these two have made is citing that now infamous Sheriff's Proposal Review Committee meeting as a reason to vote for a 66% utility tax increase. In case anyone has forgotten, here is Pat Holland's letter to the Sierra Madre Weekly detailing how disgraceful and embarrassing an event that actually was (link).

Dear Editor: Rudeness at the Sierra Madre Meeting

I attended the Sierra Madre Sheriff’s Proposal Review Committee meeting on Monday, October 26, 2015, at the City Council Chambers.  The purpose of the Committee was to review the Sheriff’s three proposals to contract with the City of Sierra Madre in order to replace the existing Sierra Madre Police Department.  This is mainly due to the financial situation the City of Sierra Madre faces.  The Sheriff’s Department personnel from the Contract Cities Division were in attendance along with their Chief and the Captain from Temple Station.  The Sheriff’s personnel answered many questions as well as they could in a professional and courteous manner unlike some citizens of this City.  

I was embarrassed and disgusted with some citizens’ questions and non-questions that were posed.  There were a few citizens of this fine City who should be ashamed how they treated the Sheriff’s personnel.  One person who introduced herself as a doctor was absolutely rude and disrespectful.  She appeared to be a person who couldn’t care less about how people feel and are treated.  She was a disgrace to this City.  There was another person who never asked a question but went on and on bringing up ancient history and about how disgusted he was regarding how the Sheriff’s Department was corrupt and about things that happened over 20 to 30 years ago.

Some other people complained about response time and that the Sheriff could not respond as quickly as our current police department personnel can because they know the area.  I wonder if these people thought about when a new police officer comes to Sierra Madre if THEY know the area also?  Then there was a former Sheriff’s Volunteer who not only embarrassed himself by the way he disrespected the Lieutenant at the meeting, but he could not present any factual evidence on what he brought up.

Thank goodness there were some rational citizens who asked rational questions such as two longtime resident real estate agents.  They presented their positions and questions in a very professional manner.  There were other people who were courteous and asked questions or made statements in a very respectful manner.

Whether you are in favor of keeping the Sierra Madre Police Department or contracting with the Sheriff, they should have been treated with respect, just as you would want to be treated with respect.

-Pat Holland
SIERRA MADRE

As far as forcing "the disbanding of the Sierra Madre Police Department" goes, wouldn't that be the fault of those City Councils that agreed to overcompensate our cops by as much as $180,000 a year (link)? Something done by Councilmembers such as faux fiscal conservative John Capoccia? As any person familiar with math can tell you, that is far more than a small city of 11,000 can afford.

The second rebuttal statement was put together by three Sierra Madre residents opposed to this utility tax increase. An increase that, as I am sure you know, has already been voted down twice before. They too are focused on that apparently bogus $2 million in budget cuts claims cited by Mayor Capoccia and Mayor Pro Tem Goss.