HIGH PRIORITY ALERT: L.A.'s phony city budget set to blow up under state raid on local funds

It's gonna hit in the spring, uh? Let's see, that could be during a mayoral runoff. I guess now we know why Antonio is scouring the country for campaign contributions to keep anybody from challenging him.

Ron,

This terrible news, but I'm not shocked or surprised. My question is: what are we supposed to do about it??? We are nothing more than fleas on an elephant's back, as far as the elected crooks are concerned!

The crooks stay up all night devising 101 ways to tax us, the latest being plastic bags. We have been pillaged and plundered more than anyone can even imagine!

And what about the $200M that Schwarzenegger announced for first time home buyers??? We KNOW that the particular areas for this giveaway are predominantly hispanic, as is the case of the sub-prime debacle. ALL of the areas that were foreclosed upon were predominantly hispanic! Garnders and maids who had a combined income of $35K/year getting conforming loans of $417k!

So, please let us know what we can do about it, if anything.

". . . to keep anyone from challenging him."

I'm challenging him, and I've raised over $115,000 so far.

My name is Walter Moore.

My website is http://WalterMooreForMayor.com.

If you're fed up with recycled career politicians, take five minutes to review my credentials and platform, and if you like what you see, support my campaign. (That's politician-speak for "send money").

Since the Ronald Reagan years the country has been progrevessively moving toward a fascist state where corporations rule.

Just look at the ugly new names on baseball parks.

* * * * *

In a bold move to avert declaring bankruptcy, Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger sold California to Mattel, which is sure the deal will bolster their earnings after two consecutive quarterly loses.

"Were're going to move the entire state to China where the jobs are, mortgage rates are low and the cost of gas is a few cents a gallon," said Mattel spokesman Yuri Outtahere.

In addition to not budgeting for maintenance of this fountain (or the costs of water and power -- how MUCH is that as we're supposed to conserve?), they have to pay a security guard round the clock because the locals were using it as a dipping pool. Who's paying for that security, which with benefits must cost $50,000/ year at least? (Private security is a lot less, but anyone who works for the city probably has to be unionized.)

Re: California's Budget Shortfall
It is critically important to try and get the Governor to NOT pass an emergency resolution, which is the first step in the borrowing from monies approved by the California voters designated for other purposes.
From the governor's statements, he is opposed to the borrowing. However, given the State's situation, there will be significant pressure to put a plan in place very soon and it is important to communicate strong opposition.
SITUATION:
* The State runs out of cash in early August, maybe by Aug. 4. They may be rushed to do something before then to prevent higher cost borrowing.
* The State is considering borrowing against Prop 1A, but also Prop 42, Prop 63, Prop 10, and Prop 49.
* DOF has prepared a scenario where they could justify taking Prop 42 without any obligation to repay.
* One scenarios is that the legislature agrees to release far more Bond money than originally planned, in an effort to back-fill other local funds taken. The problem is that voters were promised that this was additional money, not back-fill money.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
1. Let the Governor know how important it is to the citizens of California for him to support local governments and oppose borrowing. He made these statements in both his budget and May revise proposals, as well as verbally on the Charlie Rose show.
2. We oppose any borrowing or take-away. We need to hit both in case that rumor concerning Prop 42 is correct.
3. Advise Budget Committee chairs and share the same concerns. The budget is out of their hands now, but they are still consulted in the on-going budget process.
4. Please convince the Governor to NOT pass an emergency statement concerning the budget, which is the first step to the borrowing action.

OOPS, 11:33 comment was supposed to go under the San Pedro Fountain post, prior.

Re: the state swiping Prop 1A funds: LAST year the state stole $1.2 BILLION from Prop 1A, which we paid in "surplus gas taxes" specifically for LOCAL Transportation. We were led to believe that when a measure gets 2/3 likes this at the polls, it's ironclad to go where promised, but clearly not -- no wonder people don't trust politicians; there's a way to legally get around the voters' will and move this money into the State General Fund.

WHY CAN'T THERE BE MORE IRONCLAD LANGUAGE? When the Council debated this issue in Council this a.m., there was a lot of indignation but I didn't see this underlying issue addressed. Some were wrong about where to assign blame: Alarcon, of course, blamed "the Republicans" namely Arnold, but I recall from last year that Arnold only did this as a last resort, after the Assembly couldn't balance the budget. Wesson raised the issue that he'd almost rather our Prop IA be raided by the state, if the alternative is cuts to healthcare and other benefits for indigents. BUT he's wrong here: it's NOT upto him, the voters approved all our our paying a lot more for gas in recent years ONLY for LOCAL TRANSPORTATION and there's a fundamental issue of public trust. (Even leftie Rosendahl got that right -- although he's pushing for a full 1c MORE sales tax hike.)

NONE of them mentioned or were apparently aware that since the state moved $1.2 BILLION from 1A into the General Fund LAST year, this is nothing new, and in fact LESS than last year. (Zev has talked about this in Transportation forums, but I've not heard anyone else do so.)

So if they're going to make a big issue of it (as they should, especially as the State wants to raise sales taxes by 1c just to repay this "loan" which it's self-appropriating) they should emphasize that this is the second year WE will pay twice for nothing: first, the "surplus" gas taxes stolen last year and this totaling over $2 BILLION, THEN ALSO PAYING THE EXTRA 1c SALES TAX AS A PENALTY WE MUST PAY FOR MONEY STOLEN FROM US. How's that for government "logic?"

11:33: See David's post on above/ Fountain Thread, noting that an item passed today giving CD15/ Hahn/ San Pedro $50,000 -- exactly the amount it takes for the full time security guard for the fountain.
-- But what about next year? This fee waiver is for one year only; will Hahn try to get the amount funded annually under some other guise, like Recs & Parks? (Isn't there also a security guard for the one at Griffith Park, or was anyway -- in that case, to guard against graffiti? Which might explain why Hahn/ LaBonge co-sponsored this motion for the San Pedro Fountain guard?)

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