The following letter to the editor was published in The Beach Reporter newspaper (TBRnews.com) on Thursday, November 1, 2012 in the Letters section. The Beach Reporter has a strict 250-word limit.
No to Proposition 30
It seems that The Beach Reporter has decided to jump into the political arena and into the deep end for that matter.
Proposition 30 is yet another shifty tax increase, disguised to “save the children” yet once again. The money will go to schools and nobody can touch it, just like Jerry Brown promises. (Anybody buying this one?) But where in the “schools” — classrooms, teachers, supplies, teacher benefits?
Please tell me:
Whatever happened to all the money that lotto was supposed to infuse our schools? Paying for all the “stuff” to free up the money for actual school operations.
Where is the reform in the pension programs and operations? I’ll pay more, but show me where you’re going to cut.
Do I need to remind any Manhattan Beach resident of all the past failures with the school administration?
It’s hard to rally us for new taxes as a new building goes up at the high school. Yes, “we need it,” I know. Still think the new administration building next to the school looks great? Let’s just forget how much money was wasted on it.
If we, as a state, would stop wasting money on feel-good projects (high speed rail) we would have plenty of money to fund schools. We are taxed enough, near the top of all the states. Use the taxes you already take from us properly and we would be fine.
Kurt Schweter
Manhattan Beach
El Segundo Police Officers' Association (ESPOA) Exposed