Realizing the import of Measure Y, 225 concerned residents came to Vets Park on Saturday morning for the “Yes on Measure Y Walk.”
Mayor Andy Weissman got things started with an inspirational talk.
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Vice Mayor Jeff Cooper explained the importance of the half-cent sales tax increase that is proposed on the Nov. 6 ballot. “If Measure Y passes,” he said, “it will help maintain essential Culver City services, such as 9-1-1 emergency responses, paramedics, police and fire protection.
“While adding just 5 cents to a $10 purchase, Measure Y would raise an estimated $8 million annually for local services – with the majority of revenue coming from non-residents shopping and dining in Culver City.”
Council members Meghan Sahli-Wells and Jim Clarke were on hand and spoke as well.
School Board members Kathy Paspalis and Nancy Goldberg, off-duty public safety personnel, and dozens of retired City Council members and School Board members eagerly attended the rally.
Culver City senior citizens were out in full force, and Culver City youths, including the Culver City High School baseball team, the high school Interact Club, and the high school Muslim Student Assn., came out to enthusiastically support Measure Y.
Former Mayor Alan Corlin was astounded by the outpouring of support from Culver City’s youth. “It’s great to see our students so involved and so motivated,” he said.
“It never surprises me, the number of people who will do the right thing when the right thing needs to be done.”
When asked why he would wake up early on a Saturday morning to walk the city for Measure Y, Culver City Middle School student Matthew Paspalis responded, “We have a great city. I want to make sure that Culver City is as great in the future as it is now!”
Retired School Board member and senior citizen Madeline Ehrlich effused, “I think it is an amazing turnout. Today showed the tremendous city-wide support for such an important Measure.”
If Measure Y is unsuccessful, the city will need to make more severe cuts to essential city services, potentially including a reduction in police patrol levels, an increase in response times to emergency calls, the reduction or elimination of programs for seniors, a reduction in street, sidewalk and tree maintenance, and the elimination of most park and playground staffing and programming.
For more information, see http://www.yesony.com/
Mr. Zeidman may be contacted at Scott.Zeidman@LASlots.com.
