A curious thing happened at the Santa Ana City Council Candidates Forum hosted by Com Link last night. The event moderator asked the candidates if they intended to support three ballot measures that are going to increase our sales, income and property taxes – Measure Q, a bond measure to fund remodeling projects at Santa Ana College; Prop. 30, the tax increase initiative backed by Governor Jerry Brown, which actually restores a few sales and income taxes that would otherwise go away; and Prop. 38, an even bigger tax increased backed by liberal millionaire Molly Munger, much to the chagrin of Brown.
The candidates responded and it is worth noting that the faction that is supporting Council Member David Benavides, including Ward 1 candidate (and incumbent) Vince Sarmiento, Ward 3 candidate Eric M. Alderete and Ward 5 candidate Roman Reyna, all supported all of these tax increase measures.
Think about this for a moment. There are quite a few Democrats who support only one of the two statewise tax increase meaures, either Prop. 30 or Prop. 38, but the Benavides cabal supports both of them – and Measure Q to boot. This is terrible news for seniors and others on fixed incomes!
I am already on record as opposing Measure Q – we are already paying more for a previous bond measure that was wasted by the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Trustees – they spent the money on the Santiago Canyon College campus and on a new Deputy Sheriff Training Center, that we did not need. They did not do what they said they would do with the money, at Santa Ana College. It was a bait and switch. So no, I am not inclined to support yet another of these measures.
Prop. 30 is a tough one. If it does not pass Gov. Brown says he will slash funding to the UC and CS systems and to our community colleges.
Personally I believe that there are other alternatives to raising our taxes, such as getting rid of the death penalty, which wastes millions of dollars every year due to the many death row appeals – and in the end no one ever gets put to death. So why not dump it and just put these inmates in jail for life – in fact you can put them in general population and the other inmates will take care of business themselves.
The state could also save millions by revising Three Strikes to include only violent felonies. And by ending the drug war, particularly the ridiculous war on medical marijuana.
By the way if you think this is it for the tax increases that the Benavides cartel is going to support, you have another thing coming. If Benavides wins and his faction does continue to dominate the City Council, I guarantee that when the Santa Ana police contract comes up these guys will give them everything they want – as the cop union has already endorsed Benavides and company. And then these Council Members will put a public safety assessment on a special election ballot and force yet another tax increase down our throats.
It should be noted that the tax increase measures were opposed at the forum by Ward 3 candidates Charles Hart, Brett Elliott Franklin, Shane Ramon Barrows and Steve Rocco; and Ward 5 candidate Karina Onofre. Kudos to them! The O.C. Register article about the forum did not disclose what the mayoral candidates had to say about the tax increase measures.
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saw nothing but little old ladies in big hats there. Every white person over 40 in Santa Ana was there. Where were the artists? Where were the NPO leaders? Where were you?
I was at Tony Tapia's fundraiser.
I looked for you everywhere Art! I wanted to say hi to my new found friend and I went home disappointed :(
Rocco RULES.
Benavides was his ususal vanilla self, spewing political verbage with NO MESSAGE.
His gang member associates scared me. Is this who we can expect to surround the mayor, guys wih tattoos on thier neck?
Pulido was short confident and almost ignorant.
Then again the COM-LINK crowd is the least representitive of the activist groups. But they DO vote.
Voted for the SAUSD bond and the last Santa Ana College bond but give me a break..another bond for SAC? They just passed the other one and they want more money? Does anyone have any idea how much utilities cost in Santa Ana now? Water bills...electric bills..previous bonds..it's almost breaking me and now...What world do these people live in?
Why is Mr. Reyna opposed to the use of Aloe Vera?
Don't try to bait us into making idiots of ourselves. Who needs stinking Aloe Vera?
so do you also know that if prop 30 doesnt pass that the SAUSD will be asking teachers and staff to take 15-20 furlough days, so i hope you find a babysitter or can work it out with work to miss at least 2 to 3 days a month because thats what you will have to be doing.
Don't believe the threats coming from Sacramento! They found several hundred million over the summer in state agency bank a counts no one was monitoring. And as I mentioned in my post the state could start saving millions more with a few simple reforms!
Funny how each year they say they have cut the budget "to the bone" and each year they find the money!
Carpetbagger,
"BUT not once has anyone disputed the FACT that david banged a young girl, a subordinate, causig his wife to leave him. FREAKIN’ CRAZY!"
This rumor you and only you is pursuing is not a FACT it is a CARPETBAGGER POLITICAL WITCH HUNT RUMOR.
You do not live or work in Santa Ana nor do you have kids attending Santa Ana Public schools.
You simply are a hired attack dog for the Pulido campaign.
If you really had a issue on this subject you would be attacking others alleged to have this issue. For example Daly......you don't.
Conclusion......you are focused on Benavides political witch hunt because you are a hired attack dog for the Pulido campaign.
WHY WOULD ANY ONE SUPPORT A CANDIDATE THAT FEELS THIS TYPE OF CAMPAIGN NECESSARY TO GET VOTES.
PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THIS WILL CAUSE A BACKFIRE ON THE PULIDO CAMPAIGN.
LOOK FOR THIS POLITICAL WITCH HUNT MEDIA ATTACK TO INCREASE CLOSE TO ELECTION TIME. IT IS CLASSIC PULIDO CAMPAIGN STRATEGY. DON'T BE FOOLED.
Pulido doesn't hire a anonymous commenters. And why pick on this guy for not living here when you don't either?
Dr. Lomeli,
Keep attacking me, the messenger and IGNORING the message.
I am not going away. I was here long before you and your silly theroies. Greg Diamond attacked me for questioning Julio Perez's residency. HE LOST.
I have been commenting on Santa Ana politics for years.
I know you are trying to bait me into revealing my identity so David's thugs can come harass my family. That's nothing new for guys like you.
But, this is not about YOU. It's about the people of Santa Ana. I don't even like Miguel Pulido, but compared to David, who in the midst of a NASTY divorce, decideds to run for mayor??? Come on, how can you defend that?
I have to wonder about your motivations. If a decent man, as I have thought you to be is willing to sell his vote, oh that's right you CAN'T VOTE, Um willing to sell his sould for a man who has disgraced his wife and child, what does that say about Al Lomeli.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT DAVID NEVER HAD AN AFFAIR?
Please enlighten us.
I agree that attacks are bad no matter who does it but this election the only people I see attacking are David and his group of candidates. Pulido does not attack others. I saw a re=run of the candidates debate and he never attacked Benavides one time!
Pulido is keeping it classy. Benavides has no vision and no ideas. And his voting record is 98 percent with Pulido.
Funny you should say that about the vision. It is exactly what I thought watching the debate. Benavides kept attacking the vision of Pulido but never offered HIS vision. Not once. No new ideas. He was on there 6 years and voted with Pulido the whole time. You would think he would have an original thought but he does not seem to have any.