League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure Z Temporary Emergency Funding City of San Leandro Majority Approval Required Pass: 12630 / 61.11% Yes votes ...... 8037 / 38.89% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure Z

Arguments Against Measure Z

Vote YES on Z - All Measure Z money goes to your LOCAL services and Sacramento can't touch it! Without Measure Z, we don't have enough money for critical local services. Sacramento politicians have taken $7 million from San Leandro. This year the City had to cut $6.9 million in services. And we still have a $3 million budget gap, meaning more cuts to local services without Measure Z. Measure Z is a temporary, emergency solution that gives you LOCAL CONTROL to protect and maintain our LOCAL SERVICES. Police and fire services are reaching dangerously low levels. Consider the facts: We have already cut 8 police officers in the last 2 years. Without Measure Z we will cut 7 more officers. San Leandro's police force is already below the number of officers needed for a city our size. Without Measure Z we lose a fire ladder truck and 9 firefighters in July 2011. Without Measure Z, 9-1-1 emergency response times will increase 184% to 6 minutes, over the 5 minute response safety standard. YES on Z maintains fire emergency response times. YES on Z maintains patrol, gang suppression, school, and investigation police officers YES on Z maintains library hours and programs for children, adults and families. YES on Z maintains streets and repairs potholes. YES on Z maintains senior services and youth after-school programs allowing us to be a good partner to schools. YES on Z includes strong fiscal accountability, with annual audits and Independent Citizens Oversight to monitor spending, guaranteeing funds are spent responsibly and as promised. By law, YES on Z requires every dime be used for local services. Join police officers, firefighters, the Chamber of Commerce, and community leaders - vote YES on Z to protect and maintain local services. Visit www.ProtectOurServices. org for more information. s/Roberta Faith Frazier Former Councilmember/60-year resident s/Michael Fitzgerald Former Homeowners Association President/lifelong resident of city s/Isaac Benabou Vice President, San Leandro Police Officers Association s/Kenneth Pon CPA s/John Torres President, Local 55, Alameda County Firefighters Association Rebuttal to Arguments For Bullying taxpayers with threats is a time-worn political tactic. Politicians hold core services hostage so that frightened, overwhelmed citizens are coerced into approving higher taxes. The record is clear. San Leandro has enough revenue to pay for essential services if elected leaders exercise fiscal discipline. Over the past decade, City expenditures far outpaced inflation. Taxpayers contributed 100% to employee pensions, a benefit rarely seen elsewhere in the public or private sector. A disturbing + and rising + number of City staff draw more than $100,000 annually, a fact previously hidden from the voters by the Council and disclosed only because of litigation by the Oakland Tribune. Our council funded special interests, like $3 million to dredge the San Leandro Marina (an enormous sum to appease a small number of well-connected yacht owners), while refusing to budget $20,000 for school crossing guards. What our City needs is competent management to efficiently run services, rather than favor large campaign donors and special interests. They should answer to their true employer, the taxpayer. There is nothing quite so permanent as a "temporary" tax. Raising taxes today inevitably sets the stage for even higher taxes tomorrow. The political temptation to spend always exceeds whatever money is available. The highest sales tax in Northern California burdens consumers and business. High ticket purchases will migrate to lower tax areas. Imagine trying to attract retailers like Trader Joe's with the highest sales tax in the County! Vote NO on Measure Z for accountability and fiscal discipline. s/Terry Floyd Libertarian Party of Alameda Co., Treasurer s/Don Franke Retired School Inspector s/Flint Evans Lang Engineering, President s/Walt Fernandez Proprietor, Walt's Health Club

Raising San Leandro's sales tax to 10%, the highest in Northern California, is a mistake. Our financial problems are the result of millions in ongoing City Hall deficit spending and we must fundamentally alter our spending to solve the underlying issues. This sales tax is ill-conceived, will not solve the ongoing problems, nor does it ensure adequate Police and Fire support. It will only hurt those most vulnerable; seniors, struggling families, and the unemployed. In addition, new retailers and shoppers will avoid San Leandro, leaving us with nothing but a bad reputation and even lower tax revenue. City Hall gambled revenue would rise, despite all predictions, draining our reserves as a result of $24 million in deficit spending, none due to state raids on funding. Short term planning resulted in $15 million spent for a Senior Center we cannot afford to open. Pay scales continue to exceed the private sector with more and more employees making over $100,000/year. Administrators were hired, while police were laid off. Tens of thousands of our own tax dollars have been spent to bully us into this tax, rather than funding services and supporting those in most need. Something must change. City Hall must fundamentally alter their spending to eliminate the ongoing deficit. In addition, overtime must be brought under control, and our priorities established. We must put the people of San Leandro first and re-fund our police, libraries, pools, as well as the services for our most needy. Before putting another tax on the backs of the people, our leaders must show they can make wise decisions with our money and bring spending under control so all of San Leandro can grow and prosper. s/Tim Holmes Zocalo Coffeehouse, Owner s/Bill Stephens San Leandro City Council s/Brenda Salgado Farrelly Pond Neighborhood Association s/Mia Ousley San Leandro Community Action Network (SLCAN) s/Dan Walters Copper Harbor Co., President Rebuttal to Arguments Against Measure Z is a temporary, emergency solution to protect and maintain our local services. This is money the State can't take away for their own billion dollar problems. Even the opponent's argument says we need to re-fund essential services, including public safety. Without Measure Z the City does not have the money to fund the police, fire, streets, libraries, and other services we need. Don't be fooled - the City has already drastically cut spending. Measure Z temporarily protects vital services during this recession. THE FACTS ARE: The City has cut $8.5 million in the last two years, reducing staff by 20% (95 positions + including 8 police officers). ALL employee salaries have been frozen. The State has TAKEN $7 million from San Leandro and will take more. The next round of cuts has already been presented to Council. Police and fire services are 60% of the City's budget + without Measure Z we cannot avoid cutting more police officers and firefighters. Without Measure Z we LOSE 7 ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS. Without Measure Z, we LOSE A FIRE ENGINE AND 9 FIREFIGHTERS. Without Measure Z, SMALL LIBRARY BRANCHES WILL CLOSE. Without Measure Z, MOST RECREATION PROGRAMS WILL BE ELIMINATED. Yes on Z is about putting the people of San Leandro first! Residents oversee how Measure Z money is spent. Measure Z requires an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, annual audits, and that all funds go to LOCAL services. Visit http://www.ProtectOurServices.org and join six Councilmembers and the many Measure Z supporters throughout our community. s/John E. Faria President, Mission Bay Residence/Former Mayor/Past Chamber of Commerce President s/Benny Lee Chair of Park & Recreation Commission/Heron Bay Board Director s/Robert H. Glaze Alameda County Fire Commission/Former Vice Mayor/Past President, Washington HOA s/Thomas R. Silva Trustee, California Apartment Association Political Action Committee s/Joseph W. Kitchen Former Chief of Police