The following letter to the editor was published in the El Segundo Herald newspaper (HeraldPublications.com) on Thursday, January 12, 2012 in the Letters section on page 14. The El Segundo Herald has a strict 250-word limit, including the title.
More Time Needed to Deliberate Tax
The greater El Segundo community is proud of the collaborative relationship between City government and the private sector. This partnership has served our community well, especially during challenging economic times.
We were surprised and disappointed when we learned, with only a few days’ notice, of the Council’s intention to propose a significant tax increase targeted at a single segment of the business community without having first sought input from the Chamber of Commerce and others. This is a sharp departure from the transparent, collegial process that has always served the people of El Segundo for years.
A matter as important as the single largest tax increase in the City’s history deserves thoughtful deliberation, with sufficient time invested not only in research and analysis, but in meaningful discussion with the community. The scant 18 business days from the time this proposal was first aired in public until the deadline to decide whether or not to place the tax increase before voters falls short of the time necessary to exercise responsible diligence.
The Chamber has reviewed the preliminary arguments pro and con. We are convinced there is no reason to rush this issue onto the ballot and every reason to take a more measured approach.
We believe additional study and a constructive dialogue among all parties will ultimately achieve the best result for the City, a process, which is impossible under the current timetable. We respectfully urge the City Council to postpone their decision until all the facts have been fully evaluated.
Marsha Hansen
CEO/Executive Director
On behalf of the Executive Board
El Segundo Police Officers' Association (ESPOA) Exposed