Desert Sun Endorses Palm Springs Sales Tax Hike
Palm Springs, California. A letter to The Desert Sun and its editorial page editors.
Dear Desert Sun Editors:
The following paragraphs appeared in today's July 22nd "Support sales tax hike to revive Palm Springs" editorial.
"City officials and developer John Wessman explained to The Desert Sun editorial board Wednesday that making the tax increase exclusively for the mall and museum would make it a specific tax, which would require two-thirds voter approval."
"Making it a general tax to pay for a range of city improvements - such as new parks, trails and bike routes, street improvements and renovating the library and other public buildings - means it would need a simple majority. From The Desert Sun's standpoint, it also provides funding necessary to invest in the city's future, providing both infrastructure support for the residential population and the gentrification of the downtown area. This is wise investment spending."
If any portion of your support for the sales tax hike is based on the above, then I seriously question your judgement.
My interpretation of your editorial is that the only reason for the "city improvements" verbiage in the sales tax proposal is to take advantage of a legal loophole and allow the fashion plaza ballot measure to pass with but a majority of the votes cast. Doesn't this really represent a bit of government sleight of hand? And doesn't it indicate there's probably little interest on the city's part in new sales tax money actually being used for "city improvements"? Aren't we really being sold a mixed bag that's little more than a slush fund proposal with coffers to be filled from a new tax on residents?
I'm not prepared to make my own final assessment of the sales tax proposal until the ballot measure language has been made available and I've reviewed any firm commitments it includes. Shouldn't you have held off on your own endorsement until complete factual information, in written form, is made available?
I suspect your editorial decision was not made based on the "city improvements" issue and that your mentioning them was more a gratuitous space filler than a demonstration of belief. Your rush-to-judgment editorial probably represents a keen desire to see fashion plaza development move ahead, whatever the cost or actual beneficial outcome, than a cool, calm, balanced judgment based on careful reflection. If that is really the case, then you've done Palm Springs residents a serious disservice.
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
The following paragraphs appeared in today's July 22nd "Support sales tax hike to revive Palm Springs" editorial.
"City officials and developer John Wessman explained to The Desert Sun editorial board Wednesday that making the tax increase exclusively for the mall and museum would make it a specific tax, which would require two-thirds voter approval."
"Making it a general tax to pay for a range of city improvements - such as new parks, trails and bike routes, street improvements and renovating the library and other public buildings - means it would need a simple majority. From The Desert Sun's standpoint, it also provides funding necessary to invest in the city's future, providing both infrastructure support for the residential population and the gentrification of the downtown area. This is wise investment spending."
If any portion of your support for the sales tax hike is based on the above, then I seriously question your judgement.
- The amount to be set aside for "city improvements" is unknown,
- the list of those improvements has not yet been identified
- and actual plan designs covering such improvements probably don't exist.
My interpretation of your editorial is that the only reason for the "city improvements" verbiage in the sales tax proposal is to take advantage of a legal loophole and allow the fashion plaza ballot measure to pass with but a majority of the votes cast. Doesn't this really represent a bit of government sleight of hand? And doesn't it indicate there's probably little interest on the city's part in new sales tax money actually being used for "city improvements"? Aren't we really being sold a mixed bag that's little more than a slush fund proposal with coffers to be filled from a new tax on residents?
I'm not prepared to make my own final assessment of the sales tax proposal until the ballot measure language has been made available and I've reviewed any firm commitments it includes. Shouldn't you have held off on your own endorsement until complete factual information, in written form, is made available?
I suspect your editorial decision was not made based on the "city improvements" issue and that your mentioning them was more a gratuitous space filler than a demonstration of belief. Your rush-to-judgment editorial probably represents a keen desire to see fashion plaza development move ahead, whatever the cost or actual beneficial outcome, than a cool, calm, balanced judgment based on careful reflection. If that is really the case, then you've done Palm Springs residents a serious disservice.
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
to view The Desert Sun's "Support sales tax hike to revive Palm Springs" editorial
The Desert Observer Website www.DesertObserver.com
Posted by Desert Observer at 7/22/2011 4:22 PM 
Categories: Opinion, The Desert Sun, City Council, Desert Fashion Plaza
Tags: The Desert Sun Desert Fashion Plaza City of Palm Springs
Categories: Opinion, The Desert Sun, City Council, Desert Fashion Plaza
Tags: The Desert Sun Desert Fashion Plaza City of Palm Springs
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