Despite the community’s outpouring of affirmation throughout the past month for placing a sales tax increase on the Presidential ballot in November, Monday evening’s decisive meeting of the City Council will be dripping with drama.
From the mouth of the Mayor this morning, in response to a question:
“The issue of putting something on the ballot will be a slam dunk,” Andy Weissman said. “We still are going to wrestle, though, with what the measure is going to be.”
A half-cent? Three-quarters of a cent? Or a variation that spans both considerations?
At 7 o’clock in Council Chambers, the Council will begin deliberating, for the final time, what challenge to present to normally supportive Culver City voters. Could be a long, yawning stretch as they also must vote whether to attach a time limit to the tax(es).
And Mr. Weissman’s position?
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m still betwixt and between.”
Chamber’s Choice Is Clear
Between half and three-quarters?
“I am undetermined as to the best approach. I will continue to solicit community opinion, and to hear what the Chamber of Commerce is going to say Monday night. They already have pre-empted a discussion by endorsing a position (favoring a half-cent increase, to sunset after five years).
“I suspect they will come in Monday and articulate why that is the proper position and speculate on what the consequences may be if we do something else.
“We also have to decide what that ‘something else’ is going to be,” Mr. Weissman says. “Last night at the Democratic Club, Tuesday at the Exchange Club, Monday night at Linwood Howe, and all of the preceding sessions, reaffirmed that the city appears to be supportive.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a question of ‘if’ but of ‘what.’”
How can Mr. Weissman be persuaded in either direction?
“I don’t have an answer to that one yet. I believe everything I am doing now is affirming a decision I already have made.
“I am not sure I am going to be swayed. This is a tremendously difficult question. There seems to be the recognition, on the part of the public, that has participated in these forums, that the city has a need for additional revenue, accompanied by a respect for the level of services the city continues to provide.”
(To be continued)
