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.
Questioning Rush to Tax Chevron
As I was preparing to enjoy a long holiday weekend, I was very surprised that the City Council decided to rush through a tax increase for one local business. With lightning speed, a majority of the Council decided to investigate a ballot proposal to increase taxes on Chevron by tenfold. Council members contend that Chevron doesn’t pay as much as refineries in other cities. This increase is based on a representation by the City Manager that is still unclear to me and I question the data that was presented.
The City of El Segundo has historically engaged in a constructive dialogue between business and residents. Why is this tax and ballot measure different? What’s the rush and why is the City singling out just one business?
What’s next for citizens and other business in El Segundo during this recession—pay for trash removal, sewer fees and sales taxes increases?
Tax increases are not popular with voters, especially in a recession, and they are unlikely to support them without well-documented reasons. In this case neither the City Manager nor the Council has demonstrated the need for this huge tax increase, or for singling out just one business to pay for it.
Let’s take the time to analyze the issues, gather all the facts and make a good decision that benefits our community.
Linda Briese Johnson
El Segundo Police Officers' Association (ESPOA) Exposed