Scott Houston in Raising Taxes 101
El Segundo City Council candidate Scott Houston has completely misrepresented his true record, politics, and agenda. Houston is a Progressive (ultra-liberal, big tax-and-spender), not a fiscal conservative. He even described himself as a Progressive when he previously ran for another position.
Houston claimed in his campaign literature that he is for “low taxes”. However, as demonstrated by the video above and the links to the official El Segundo City Council meeting minutes below, Scott Houston urged the City Council to raise not one, but two taxes during the recession, at the August 3, 2010 El Segundo City Council meeting.
Houston urged the City Council to put both a Utility User Tax (UUT) and a hotel Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) hike on the November 2, 2010 ballot for the legally required voter approval. Houston then criticized Councilman Carl Jacobson for opposing tax increases in favor of controlling city government spending.
And without any proof, Houston claimed these tax hikes would not impact any businesses. However, representatives of the businesses that would be adversely impacted spoke, providing facts that proved Houston was either ignorant or intentionally lying.
Clearly, Houston was in lock-step with the fire and police unions, urging the City Council to increase taxes to help pay for the huge pay raises of more than 15 to 23 percent given to those unions during the recession.
The August 3, 2010 El Segundo City Council meeting minutes state, at the top of page 4:
“Scott Houston, Resident; spoke in favor of placing a TOT and UUT increase on the November ballot.”
“Marsha Hanson, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce; addressed the chamber’s concerns regarding the proposed UUT and TOT increases. The Chamber urges Council to find new spending reductions.
“Joe Hardy, Hacienda Hotel; spoke regarding the UUT proposal and stated that slowly increasing taxes on the business community was not the solution to the budget deficit.”
“Lily Craig, Chevron; spoke regarding the UUT proposal, and stated that slowly increasing taxes on the business community was not the solution to the budget deficit.”
“Mike Robbins, Resident; spoke against raising any taxes, and employee compensation.”
You can read the August 3, 2010 El Segundo City council meeting minutes yourself on the official City of El Segundo web site at:
El Segundo City Council Meeting Minutes Index
http://www.elsegundo.org/depts/elected/minutes.asp
El Segundo City Council Meeting Minutes for August 3, 2010
http://www.elsegundo.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=8044
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
RAISING TAXES 101 featuring SCOTT HOUSTON
This is a special presentation of the Public Safety Project.
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The following excerpts from the 8/3/10 El Segundo City Council Meeting show that SCOTT HOUSTON is Campaigning OPPOSITE his Past Record.
SCOTT HOUSTON CLAIMS he is for low taxes, but he tried to RAISE OUR TAXES.
HOUSTON spoke at the 8/3/10 City Council meeting, strongly URGING the Council to INCREASE TWO TAXES during the recession . . .
[ VIDEO CLIPS: ]
August 3, 2012 El Segundo City Council meeting
MAYOR ERIC BUSCH: “… meeting of the El Segundo City Council, Tuesday, August third. And we are actually starting on time this evening, so it’s a good sign. We call the meeting to order.”
MAYOR ERIC BUSCH: “That brings us to Public Communications. Scott, Please.”
SCOTT HOUSTON: “Good evening, Mayor and members of the City Council. I’m Scott Houston, 120 Loma Vista Street. And I’m here tonight to encourage the City Council to approve placing an initiative on the November 2nd ballot to increase our Utility Users Tax and also our Transient Occupancy Tax. I think it is important this option of increasing these two revenue sources be considered. They should be placed on the ballot for the CITIZENS of El Segundo to decide. And if the citizens decide that they don’t want them, they can vote them down. But we should have a choice. We the voters in El Segundo should have the opportunity to have our say.”
If Houston REALLY wanted the voters to have a choice, he would have proposed that a TAX CUT ALSO be put on the ballot. HE DID NOT.
Houston’s proposal is like a coin toss called as “Heads I Win, Tails Nobody Wins. And let’s keep flipping!”
Houston read a script at the 2/15/11 City Council meeting, strongly urging the Council to enact Measure P directly into law, without letting us vote on it.
Houston’s script was nearly identical to the script read at that same meeting by Fire Union representative Bryan Partlow, the sponsor of Measure P.
Houston believes voters should ONLY be allowed to VOTE if it will ADVANCE THE AGENDAS of the Fire & Police Unions that support him.
HOUSTON went on to criticize Councilman CARL JACOBSON for opposing tax increases in favor of controlling City spending . . .
[ VIDEO CLIP: ]
SCOTT HOUSTON: “I remind everybody the last time we broached increasing the TOT in El Segundo, it was knocked down by two members, Carl Jacobson and also Kelly McDowell. I disagreed with that decision then, and I disagree with it now.”
Scott Houston never saw a City Expenditure or a Tax or Fee Increase he didn’t like.
HOUSTON NEVER OPPOSED the wildly Excessive and Unsustainable Firefighter and Police Salaries, Benefits, and Pensions . . .
. . . that have been costing El Segundo Taxpayers about $8 MILLION EXTRA PER YEAR
2009 FIREFIGHTER Annual Individual Total Compensation: Average: $211,000; Maximum: $342,000.
2009 POLICE OFFICER Annual Individual Total Compensation: Average: $178,000; Maximum: $304,000.
2009 POLICE CHIEF Total Annual Compensation plus his Pension Income while working half-time for 11 weeks as Police Chief after his retirement: $597,000.
The NEW 3-Year FIRE & POLICE UNION Contracts have NO SALARY REDUCTIONS.
The Contracts include 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAY RAISES, & GUARANTEE NO LAYOFFS, even if it Bankrupts the City.
[ VIDEO CLIP: ]
SCOTT HOUSTON: “We have excellent hotels in El Segundo, serving our business travelers and tourists alike, and they will not be impacted by an increase.”
SCOTT HOUTSON claimed a DOUBLE TAX INCREASE — a UUT and a TOT tax increase — will not impact El Segundo businesses. Was he MAKING THAT UP?
Business Representatives and Residents alike DISAGREED with SCOTT HOUSTON’S call to RAISE TWO DIFFERENT TAXES during the recession.
[ VIDEO CLIP: ]
Mayor Eric Bush: “Joe, Please.”
Joe Harding: “Thank you. Joe Harding, representing the Hacienda Hotel and also a resident of El Segundo. Back again to pleasd our case with regards to the increase in the TOT.
Most of you have seen first hand what our industry has endured over the past twenty-seven years, and I want to say thank you, for hearing us out and understanding our position. Our industry just can’t handle any increase at this time. Not in this economy. Not with the current room rate structure in Los Angeles. Not with the shift in our competitive set. We simply have to take this off the table. You must say “no” to the hotel killer tax.
Our staff, mostly entry level employees making twenty to thirty thousand dollars a year, substantially less than the City employees, have stepped up to take a 20 percent pay cut in order to keep their benefits and their jobs. They are doing their part to help us get through our financial crisis. We will survive because everyone is doing their fair share.
Today’s news is another example of where the travel industry stands. Mexicana Airlines canceled four daily flights from Los Angeles and similar amounts from several other major U.S. cities. Was it drastic? Was it painful? Was it necessary for survival? I say smart move to stay alive.
We are already in the survival mode at the Hacienda. We can’t lose any more business to our competitors who is now every other hotel. The current rate is a fair share and keeps El Segundo hotels in the game. We also understand the need for the business community to step up and do something. Whatever this is, it needs to be fair, across the board, and not target any specific industry.
A TOT and a UUT would hit us twice. That would be like kicking us when we’re down, and then running us over for good measure. We’ve already, uh, we’ve heard discussion of a one percent increase in the UUT for two years. Certainly a more equitable way of sharing the burden. And trust me, any increase places a burden on our already thin margin.
The City must make unpopular and difficult adjustments to their payroll and expenses. Asking bnusinesses to pick up the bill for the city and its residents in this economy is simply not a fair approach.
The Hacienda has been and will remain a stellar business in this community. Help make sure this continues. Leave the TOT where it is. It’s working for us. It’s working for the City.
And I end with an open invitation to Scott Houston to come to breakfast, lunch, or dinner with me, so you can see the full picture of the hospitality industry. Thank you.”
Mayor Eric Busch: “Thank you.”
Houston has been in LOCK-STEP with BOTH the Fire and Police Unions, promoting their political and financial agendas at City Council meetings.
The Fire and Police Unions want TAX and FEE INCREASES to pay for their WILDLY EXCESSIVE Salaries, Benefits, and Pensions.
That is why the Fire & Police Unions have been behind the Chevron Shakedown, as newly released Public Record City emails show.
Houston ran for City Council in April 2010. The Police Union endorsed him & gave him a large contribution and other support.
Houston returned the favor, urging the Council to raise taxes to help pay for more than 11% to 23% in pay raises given to the Firefighters and Police during the recession.
Thank you for watching this presentation of the Public Safety Project.
Scott Houston is OUT OF STEP with our Community.
Scott Houston is IN LOCK-STEP with the FIRE & POLICE UNIONS.
Marie Fellhauer and Cindee Topar endorsed (2010) Scott Houston.
Marie Fellhauer is a POLICE UNION MEMBER in Los Angeles.
Cindee Topar was Campaign Manager for a FIRE UNION MEMBER.
Topar is an official in a MILITANT UNION that TARGETS THE CUSTOMERS.
Please vote for Fiscal Responsibility, Transparency, and Control by Voters, . . .
. . . NOT Control by FIRE & POLICE UNIONS . . .
. . . that have been LOOTING the PUBLIC TREASURY . . .
. . . of the City they are Sworn to Protect.
Please VOTE FOR Carl Jacobson, David Atkinson, & Dave Burns.
Please VOTE FOR Lisa Wood for City Clerk for more Transparency.
Election Day in El Segundo is April 10, 2012.
CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY for MORE INFO . . .
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This has been a video production by Michael D. Robbins of the Public Safety Project.
Copyright © 2012 by
Michael D. Robbins
P.O. Box 2193
El Segundo, CA 90245
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