Palm Springs, California.  The battle lines to persuade voters to pass Measure “J” on the upcoming November election ballot are being drawn. The intent is for voters to approve a new city ordinance hiking the Sales Tax rate by one percent (1%) for a period of twenty-five (25) years. That quarter-century time limitation allows city officials to claim the tax increase is a temporary measure! Voters will see that somewhat creative reference in their voter handbook when they view the “impartial” analysis of the measure by the City Attorney.

Downtown big-moneyed interests have employed a public relations firm to sell the Sales Tax idea. A new website promoting the effort has been created and initial evidence of their plans for a slick Madison Avenue-style public relations campaign is depicted in the flyer image below. The influential interests behind the new “Vote Yes on J” campaign will probably spend upwards of $30 thousand to convince voters to pass the measure.  Their Committee to Support Measure J – Citizens for Revitalizing Downtown appears to be a determined lot and there are certainly good reasons why. They want a share of those taxpayer dollars – around $200 million over that twenty-five (25) period – for their own benefit! They want to see Desert Fashion Plaza redeveloped and they support diverting taxpayer funds to allow the plaza owner to make a huge profit – for himself! The new downtown committee apparently believes taxpayers will approve an outright gift of millions in public funds so a developer can make a big profit.

Will taxpayers fall for the smokescreen of disinformation and sleight-of-hand verbiage that will surely emanate from the slick new Madison Avenue-style campaign to pass Measure J? When city officials make statements of all the good that passage of the measure will accomplish, will taxpayers fall for unenforceable promises? Will speeches by safety officials, library staff or other city department officials sway voters into believing these folks are acting independently, or will they realize department heads and staff do the bidding of the City Manager, their boss?

The flyer depicted below is but a small beginning to what taxpayers may expect to see between now and November in the battle to get Measure “J” passed. Unfortunately it will probably be a one-sided battle for there is not a “Vote No on J – Citizens for Responsible Taxation” committee with deep financial pockets to fight on behalf of taxpayers. It’s clearly a David versus Goliath scenario with Goliath as the one with all the money and the most to gain by winning.

Bond Shands
Palm Springs, California - August 25, 2011

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More on this topic at DesertObserver.com

Taxpayer Funds for Desert Fashion Plaza Redevelopment

Palm Springs Ballot Deception Report

Palm Springs Plaza Fever

Palm Springs Sales Tax Ordinance

Palm Springs Officials Lack Credibility

Palm Springs Financial Skeleton Prospects

Desert Sun Endorses Palm Springs Sales Tax Hike

Desert Fashion Plaza Credibility and Trust Concerns

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