CRG responds

On deadline for the work product people actually pay for, but wanted to take one second to post Wayne's response to the Chamber release re: Measure D:

Citizens for Responsible Government Wayne Lusvardi, Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2008
STATEMENT ON PASADENA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORT FOR MEASURE D - PASADENA'S TELEPHONE AND INTERNET TAX
PASADENA, CA - On the eve of an economic recession, the Chamber Board is endorsing a poorly written telephone and Internet tax that never expires and uses one of the highest tax rates in California.

Wayne Lusvardi, Chair of Citizens for Responsible Government said, "It shouldn't surprise voters that under former Pasadena City Councilmember Paul Little, the Chamber is suddenly more concerned with increasing the tax revenues of the City of Pasadena than it is in protecting the revenues of Pasadena's small business community. Voters should also be aware that the Board of the Chamber contains numerous individuals who do not live in the City of Pasadena and other individuals who have siginificant economic ties to City government."

The City of Pasadena lawyers who drafted Measure D have already admitted in writing that although the Council has exempted "initial access" to the Internet, Measure D continues to authorize a tax on Internet usage in the same way that it taxes telephone usage. It is an indisputable fact that Measure D taxes Internet use as neither the City nor the Superior Court contested CRG's ballot Rebuttal statement stating such.

Finally, the City has annual budget surpluses far in excess of the amounts it would receive under Measure D. Therefore, Pasadena does not need Measure D to maintain existing service levels. In addition, Measure D contains no guarantees that any specific amounts would be spent for police, fire, street repair, parks or libraries and the City.