Measure E - Yes, No or Undecided - Let's Talk
Measure E, the controversial 1/2 cent sales tax hike that will be on the ballot this November will help plug a $4.8 million deficit in the City of Tracy's budget. I attended the forum on this measure on Monday night and both sides had interesting arguments. I want to hear your thoughts on this subject.
- Do you think you'll vote yes, no or undecided? Why and what questions remain for you?
Let's talk, this is a very important issue for our city.
Tags: Tracy CA Measure E
Views: 5
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Marlene S-B on -
Quite an interesting question, Rainey -- Are the banks stiffing on their new share of responsibility? The cynic in me would say yes, but I really don't know. Someone should be mowing those lawns and even maintaining the look of occupancy with timed lights and so on. But if I'm the banker and I'm not making money on the property anymore, why should I throw cash on it? That's the thinking, and is the "policy," as far as I've heard and observed it. But I will come back to the central issue of a very negligible sales tax levy, one that not just Tracy residents pay, but anyone who drives 580 and wants dinner out, or a tank of gasoline, it's not going to make a dent in the pocketbook -- it doesn't affect groceries -- and while the money trickles in, let's get active regarding the citizen input, and steer it into the right places. I have no issue with police and fire salaries --I don't make that kind of money or benefits but I don't put my life -- my life! -- on the line in my 9 to 5.
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Permalink Reply by newtotracy on -
I hear you Marlene...and as I said, I have no issues paying an extra 1/2 cent tax...but I want to know it's not going to pay some desk jockey's salary and we, the taxpayers, get hit with yet another "temporary" tax a few months/years down the road. They always seem to cut from the bottom...which really, how does that benefit anyone? It gives you and I, the taxpayers, less people to help us when we need it...because the desk jockeys sure aren't out front helping (and most couldn't if you paid them extra!).
It's NOT much money...but it needs to go to the right place! If there isn't a structure or a person who can ensure this, then I don't feel confident in voting yes. Our current administration sure doesn't seem to be making decisions that benefit me...and I'm the average taxpayer.
I don't put my life on the line in my job either...anymore. This is because I just quit commuting to the Bay Area. I know it isn't the same thing, but danged if I didn't feel just as jeopardized a lot of the time! Sad that we have to go all that way to have a decent job...I'd like to see some jobs come here. I'm not a true dreamer, I worked in the internet world and I know those egos won't come to this area...but I could care less about working in internet companies...just get some good companies over here and have them hire locally (and no, Macy's does NOT qualify!)...let's grow Tracy smart...not by lumping taxes upon taxes upon cuts that don't help...and of course, let's not grow in a way that ends up costing us!
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Permalink Reply by Marlene S-B on
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Right on so many fronts, Rainey. Big stuff that you address, such as: Macy's is NOT it, and commuting for work from here is -- unjust-- is that too strong? -- If we don't levy this minute tax, we won't have anything at all to work with -- so if we vote yes for it, we can at least start to steer the ship in a new direction. That's implied in the phrasing of the bill, but we ought not be too trusting of that language! This matter of luring "good" jobs and business to the Central Valley is critical. I have no idea how to do that, except that I know many people living in the rat race to the west have no idea of what they could trade in and never miss if they moved east -- but without the good, solid jobs here, it can't happen for them, for us. Same people. Some people are certain they are missing out by living here, not over the pass. I know plenty of Tracyites already who never even go downtown, to the galleries, to the farmers' market, to the boutique businesses, or even know that this is Tracy's centennial, and what that means! So there are challenges coming at us from all sides. The levy would be a drop in the bucket, and we could start from there.
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Permalink Reply by newtotracy on
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I agree again Marlene...except that I still just don't think the tax is the answer. Sure, it doesn't amount to much...but it is something. And in this time when people are struggling...that little something might make the difference. If I'm pinching every penny...and there is an extra 1/2 cent tax in Tracy...but I commute from the Bay Area...why not shop there? Sales tax is lower, I'm already there...screw it...I'm going to get new clothes on my lunch break. Tracy just lost not only that 1/2 cent tax...but the other 8.75 cents too. And it CAN be that big a difference for people! Look at buying a new car...or any other big purchase. If I were buying something big...I'd head out of Tracy with an extra 1/2 cent tax. (well I wouldn't because I try my hardest to support local business...but many would!)
I think we need to start by making this town easy to do business in. I've heard that Black Bear Diner is now not going to be open until Nov or even Dec...because of permitting stuff. I understand the need for permits etc...but I've talked to quite a few small business owners and it's a pain in the patootie to get going in Tracy. That's just a crock if you ask me. When someone says that it's 2-3 times as hard to get things rolling here as in the Tri Valley or elsewhere in the SJ Valley...that tells me that we're creating a bunch of unnecessary paperwork (and in turn maybe unnecessary employees, payroll, benefits etc?) and making people WANT to open their business in Manteca instead. Better highway frontage (sorry but I5 is better than I205) and easier to do business with the city...heck ya!
We need to encourage small businesses...we need to spend a little money if need be to get things going downtown (just read that the Jazz Cafe is closing...in no small part due to nothing else being open I'm sure...why go there when you can't do anything else?) so that when I walk my dog at 7 pm...it's NOT A GHOST TOWN!!! There seriously was nearly nothing open...most commuters (HUGE part of our town's population) aren't even home by 7 not to mention up for going somewhere. Let's accomodate them too...they are a big chunk of revenue that we're missing out on! Let's make downtown like Palo Alto used to be...or like Livermore is...heck, I lived in Livermore and wouldn't even drive the downtown route due to traffic! I want Central to be a pain in the butt too!!! ;-)
And let's get those empty buildings on MacArthur filled. If it means we need to help the business moving in (gee...haven't we set a precedent for doing that now?)...then let's do it! Those are currently empty and probably a haven for drug deals and who knows what else. We don't need some monstrosity to "welcome" us to Tracy...gag me! We need to work with what we have instead of throwing it away and building something new. If we aren't going to use it...let's destroy it and make that be land that something...anything...can be grown on. Something useful for crying out loud. We've dressed up the sidewalks with trees and lawn and benches...so that nobody can be there? Where is THAT logic coming from?
Sorry for ranting...but I'm ticked off. We keep getting the threat of losing police and fire services but we never hear those in charge volunteering to cut THEIR six figure salaries. I think keeping a police officer on duty is a damned sight more important than having a desk jockey push permits around.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Miller on -
Assuming that 70% of sales tax is paid by Tracy residents, and Measure E is estimated to raise $6.5 M annually the additional 1/2 cent sales tax would cost every one of the 17,947 households in Tracy and additional $253.52 annually.
That's not "...a few pennies." But the issue for everyone is not basically the money.
If you're of the belief that "public safety employees have a dangerous job and no amount of pay or compensation is enough." OR, if you or your son or daughter or sister or brother is a public safety employee, then, you are in favor of Measure E. Or, if you buy into the ballot argument that the City will need to make drastic service cuts if Measure E doesn't pass, you may vote for it.
On the other hand, if you are of the mind that some public employee salaries and benefits and public safety employee retirements have exploded in the last 25 years to the point that these employees are, basically, becoming wealthy in their public service jobs and governments are going bankrupt trying to support the retirement costs. Or if you're read that the City (in spite of the protestations of City leadership that deep cuts have already been made) could do a great deal more to save money or operate more efficiently or raise money in other ways, you're against Measure E.
We all want good public services. Most people are glad that the men and women who serve the City are on the job. I know I am. The issues are "Are we paying too high a price for public employee services?" and "Should the City be better managed before we resort to higher taxes?" For better of worse, we get to answer "yes" or "no" on November 2nd.
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Permalink Reply by Marlene S-B on
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You've got the makings of a great letter to the editor there, Rainey. I'm heartsick that the Jazz Cafe is closing and it's nuts if the Black Bear Cafe is being held up -- in this economy especially, even a few weeks can be a make or break deal. How responsive is the city council on these forum matters? I don't know city gov't well at all yet. Maybe fresh blood is the ticket; again, I don't speak with any authority or experience. It was easy for my husband to get his acupuncture clinic up and running, but that's not food and drinks. For me, Central Avenue is a plum -- the theatre and galleries are visible and accessible, and convenient. I know long-time residents who don't know a thing about the gallery. But as you say, if you commute to work, it's a very long day and you likely don't go back out at night. I'm having fun exploring everywhere [observing, not shopping particularly]. And as for nice portals to the city, you can't beat the wide, clean, contemporary look of 11th out at 205. It's a great entrance, quite a contrast coming in from the East. But what's also appealing to me about Tracy is that not every inch of ground is landscaped and over-watered. There are some natural, "wild" spots and they help keep it real. Not to mention offering creature habitat in a small way.
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Permalink Reply by newtotracy on
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Thanks Marlene,
I too really like downtown and I see HUUUGE potential in it (ok, I'm biased because I live near downtown...but I've also seen downtown successes and know the boon they can offer). I think commuters would go back out...but so much is closed by the time they can...so they've gotten used to not going out. It's going to take some big promotions...and some failures in order to get success on this one.
I love the open fields west of town...and I love the fact that we haven't paved over everything...yet. But with the new mostrosity west of town (tallest building will be 15 stories AND a golf course in there...really? do we need either of those things?), expect that to change. My cute little house may not be enough to keep me...I might just keep moving farther inland and away from the concrete jungle that I moved to Tracy to escape.
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Permalink Reply by Marlene S-B on
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What?????? What's coming in? Who's building it? Is it essential? There's a loaded question. Golf courses are another touchy issue -- talk about sucking water. I can't imagine a responsible community approving a golf course now or in the future. There are several in this area already, yes? And they aren't good enough? Hmmmmm.
We live on the east side also near town. I love the location, still not tired of driving the straight county roads through the orchards and fields. And we are downtown in a minute, so easy. I'm still deciding which daily newspaper to take, so there's the news stand on Central -- almost a relic in today's marketplace, but a buffet of information. If voters pass the half-penny, perhaps some of it can go to the very "big promotions" you talk about. If the theatre [I use the British spelling because they do it] spaces fill up with audiences, for example, it will cost the city less in support money and that would be a big deal. Agreed: retirement benefits and so on for municipal employees need to be revisited, especially in how they are funded in a sick economy like this one.
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Permalink Reply by newtotracy on
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here's some links to the "Gateway Business Park"...
http://tracypress.com/view/full_story/2647051/article-Final-hurdle-...
http://www.ci.tracy.ca.us/departments/economic_development/gateway_... (interesting how none of the pdf's link to live pages...hmmm)
anyway...awhile back you COULD link to them...and the tallest of the buildings was like 15 stories...that would be the first one I believe.
What's coming in? The hospital is moving...a health club "might" be interested...and I think maybe a hotel? Who's building it? maybe these guys in some part? http://www.treadwellrollo.net/Portfolio/SectorProject/3/5/206
Is it essential? not in my book but that's me. :-) I think we have plenty of spaces with existing buildings that we could utilize...but again...that's me.
To me, in a recession/depression...a golf course is the LAST thing we need to build in an area where battles rage about water. Seriously? We all pay through the nose and farmer's have to fight for water...but we need a freaking golf course? There's one not 30 minutes away...what's wrong with that one?
Personally...I have no issues with good pay and benefits/retirement for police and fire...but basic gov't employees? No way. They don't have to do things any differently from someone who works in the public sector...they aren't risking their lives...what makes a gov't employee better than a "regular" person?
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Permalink Reply by Tiki Kiki on -
I was origionaly under the impression that Measure E would help with the fire and police department, but then was informed that the revenue would go into the general fund. Kinda misleading in my oppion. All I have to say is if it dose go through, there better be results or we will have to focus on who lied and how we will deal with them. To all the politisions, be careful. We voted you in to office and have no problem taking you out.
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