Measure B to work out like Prop. 13
Does anybody remember the pre-election gloom and doom forecasts before the passage of Proposition 13, the much-needed property tax limitation measure on the 1978 state ballot?
We were told that the public schools would be forced to fire thousands of teachers, double class sizes and eliminate vital programs, and that cities, counties and other tax-supported agencies would lay off workers and reduce essential police and fire services.
Of course, the pessimistic predictions proved to be wrong. And countless senior citizens, fixed-income families and average-wage residents remained in their homes, saved from ever-escalating taxes due to inordinate increases in the assessed values of their properties.
(Yorba Lindans didn’t pay a city property tax back in 1978, but property-based revenues supported various school, water and library districts, as well as a dozen county agencies.)
Similarly, the dire prophesies made in frequent mailings, telephone calls and cable television ads by the professional political consultants who ran the expensive campaign against Measure B, the citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote on Land-Use Amendments initiative, won’t come true.
Don’t expect a bunch of special elections over the next few months or years if developers want to exceed the housing densities currently prescribed in city planning documents, as claimed in flyers funded by big bucks from building industry and real estate groups.
Do expect, however, that developers will design projects with densities within Yorba Linda’s historic guidelines, so they won’t have to face voters. The occasional density increase will be scheduled for a regular election or for a developer-paid special ballot.
And don’t expect Measure B to derail the new Yorba Linda High School, as suggested by a frequently aired cable TV commercial. Do expect YLHS to open Fall 2008 as planned.
Also, don’t expect City Council members to reduce police and fire funding to pay for special elections, which developers said would cost millions of dollars, as claimed in several “voter guide” endorsements purchased by the well-funded No on B committee.
Finally, don’t expect Measure B to curtail commercial development downtown--or anywhere else in the city. Do expect the Town Center Blue Ribbon Committee to propose restaurants and new businesses on commercial property without worrying about holding an election.
But residents can expect various deep-pocket groups to challenge Measure B in court. The Building Industry Association already tried to keep the initiative off the June 6 ballot, and they’ll probably be back with more legal arguments against its provisions.
A FINAL NOTE
Frequently and properly, City Council members use their positions at the dais to ask residents to support worthy causes and charities, from the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life to the activities of the Boys and Girls Club of Placentia-Yorba Linda.
I suggest that incumbents and challengers seeking council, school trustee and water district positions on the Nov. 7 ballot pledge the money they’d normally use to buy endorsements on the so-called “voter guides” or “slate mailers” to local charitable organizations.
Candidates who spend from $200 to $1,000 for each endorsement on these silly mailings aren’t fooling anyone. I’ll give special recognition in this column to candidates willing to take such sensible action.
We were told that the public schools would be forced to fire thousands of teachers, double class sizes and eliminate vital programs, and that cities, counties and other tax-supported agencies would lay off workers and reduce essential police and fire services.
Of course, the pessimistic predictions proved to be wrong. And countless senior citizens, fixed-income families and average-wage residents remained in their homes, saved from ever-escalating taxes due to inordinate increases in the assessed values of their properties.
(Yorba Lindans didn’t pay a city property tax back in 1978, but property-based revenues supported various school, water and library districts, as well as a dozen county agencies.)
Similarly, the dire prophesies made in frequent mailings, telephone calls and cable television ads by the professional political consultants who ran the expensive campaign against Measure B, the citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote on Land-Use Amendments initiative, won’t come true.
Don’t expect a bunch of special elections over the next few months or years if developers want to exceed the housing densities currently prescribed in city planning documents, as claimed in flyers funded by big bucks from building industry and real estate groups.
Do expect, however, that developers will design projects with densities within Yorba Linda’s historic guidelines, so they won’t have to face voters. The occasional density increase will be scheduled for a regular election or for a developer-paid special ballot.
And don’t expect Measure B to derail the new Yorba Linda High School, as suggested by a frequently aired cable TV commercial. Do expect YLHS to open Fall 2008 as planned.
Also, don’t expect City Council members to reduce police and fire funding to pay for special elections, which developers said would cost millions of dollars, as claimed in several “voter guide” endorsements purchased by the well-funded No on B committee.
Finally, don’t expect Measure B to curtail commercial development downtown--or anywhere else in the city. Do expect the Town Center Blue Ribbon Committee to propose restaurants and new businesses on commercial property without worrying about holding an election.
But residents can expect various deep-pocket groups to challenge Measure B in court. The Building Industry Association already tried to keep the initiative off the June 6 ballot, and they’ll probably be back with more legal arguments against its provisions.
A FINAL NOTE
Frequently and properly, City Council members use their positions at the dais to ask residents to support worthy causes and charities, from the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life to the activities of the Boys and Girls Club of Placentia-Yorba Linda.
I suggest that incumbents and challengers seeking council, school trustee and water district positions on the Nov. 7 ballot pledge the money they’d normally use to buy endorsements on the so-called “voter guides” or “slate mailers” to local charitable organizations.
Candidates who spend from $200 to $1,000 for each endorsement on these silly mailings aren’t fooling anyone. I’ll give special recognition in this column to candidates willing to take such sensible action.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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