Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez tried her best to stop the PBID (a property tax in Downtown Santa Ana that is used largely to promote bars and restaurants and to maintain and secure the area) at Monday night’s Santa Ana City Council meeting, but she could not muster any support from her colleagues.
Instead, “The issue will be taken up again in May, according to Councilman Sal Tinajero, who told the Voice of OC “because the city should be allowed to consider dismantling the district without threat of litigation at that time. The law governing the district requires council members vote annually on whether to continue the district.”
Some folks are trying to make it sound like the Council is now at odds but the reality is that while some of them are upset with Alvarez, for putting the PBID motion on the agenda despite the lack of support from her colleagues. But they aren’t going to dump her. They will work it out and move on.
Downtown Inc., which administers the PBID, has to get their house in order. They need to take a hard look at their Board and the rules they use to select Board members. They need to reconsider how they spend the money they take in. And they need to dump Irv Chase’s promoter, Archer Altstaetter, who continues to go after Alvarez on his Facebook page.
May will be here soon enough and if the Council allows a new vote to go forward the PBID is destined to die.
“Tinajero said during an interview that he believed Alvarez was pandering to her base of supporters and not thinking of the best interests of the wider community in her battle against the tax district.”
The majority PBID property owners argue that the PBID/CMD was formed in violation of the democratic process…violation of the USA constitution. Downtown Inc. has adopted bylaws that excluded the tax payers…….property owners from voting for board members that make the decisions with our taxes……..a violation of the USA constitution……..TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
THE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN AN OATH WHEN SWORN INTO OFFICE TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWERS, AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF SANTA ANA FROM VIOLATIONS OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
COUNCILWOMAN ALVAREZ IS ARGUING FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AS SHOULD THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
Is this pandering?…………NO! it is governing.
Defending individulas. businesses and property owners from violations of their constitutional right is in the best interest of the wider community and the USA.
WE ARE READY TO PLAY THE POLITICS IF NECESSARY.
Alvarez did her job, she put forth the motions the one percent’ors demanded. All three failed.
Now the (wealthy?) property owners need to pool their money and hire a lawyer, they may win.
I remember watching the vote count at the council meeting years ago on this PBID, besides the city being able to vote on it (because the city pays into it also) the voting turn-out was very low.
The lesson to be learned is to VOTE dang it.
cook seems to be confused whether these property owners are wealthy or not? 1%ers or not?
What do you think Admin, a.k.a (Our master of all things just and fair)? a.k.a Santa Ana Master Spin Doctor.
The PBID screwed the downtown landlords who aren’t wealthy. Ans you can be assured that rents had to be increased, screwing the businesses that were already suffering because of the recession.
If anyone is 1% it is the wealthy landlords, like the Chase family, who run the PBID.