By Gary Abrams
Re “Does Anyone Know How Much School Bond Will Cost Me?”
Dear Mr. John Derevlany,
Rarely does a question elicit a response from the usually non-responsive elected officials. On many occasions I have asked questions that have been ignored by all the elected. Once in a while a question is asked that brings out the indignation of the elected.
During the Blair Hills Assn. candidates forum last week, copies in hand, I mentioned the little-known Sewer Utility tax base rate increase of 600 percent added to the Culver City property tax statement passed last July 22 by the City Council.
Mr. Jim Clarke (incumbent), who was seated next to me, semi-yelled “Not true.”
At the end of the forum, Mr. Clarke attempted to explain to me that what I have is not the total picture. He stated something to the effect that there has been some maneuvering (that only elected officials can understand) from one part to another (sort of like the shell game where you try to guess which one of the three shells hides the object). The end result, he said, is not 600 percent, but more like 16 or 17 percent.
I sat there awestruck. Saved by one of the rare moments in my campaign, a member of the audience was standing around trying to get more information on another subject of interest, about the Culver Villas low-to-moderate income apartments, across the street from the School District offices.
During my 2009 School Board campaign, I attended a hastily arranged City Council meeting where they discussed forking over $6 million of taxpayers’ cash to a private developer. Have you ever heard of Irving Place or the Culver Villas? The elected officials keep it on the down-low. At $166,000 per, the city paid the developer over $2 million of taxpayer funds for each unit with 12 units reserved for city employees only. The developer gets to keep the rents.
I asked the City Council members why they do not assist the schools financially. Usually the Council does not respond to questions from taxpayers. One Councilman must have felt the spirit. He responded. He stated that it was prohibited by law. When Gov. Brown came into office he disposed of the Redevelopment Agency. One reason given was that they were not sharing the funds with the schools.
I meet Dr. Steve Levin, a rocket scientist, last year when he was successfully running for the School Board. He was accompanied by Mr. Alan Corlin, an ex-mayor, who introduced us formally.
I asked Dr. Levin about his knowledge of the Culver Villas, which can be seen from my front yard. He denied any knowledge of the project. I followed up with a question about the school pool, the Natatorium.
Dr. Levin stated that he was in favor of the restoration of the school pool, but admitted being perplexed in finding a way to fund the operation and maintenance cost, reportedly $30-$50,000/monthly.
The school pool has dumbfounded all elected officials since the taxpayers approved funds to renovate the Natatorium.
I request any City Council or School Board member to cite the law that would prohibit the city from assisting the school district. Not a peep.
On another subject, to quote the headline above a recent letter from Dr. Levin, there is “Nothing Confusing About the Cost of the Bond Measure.”
Dr. Levin, I am glad you do selectively respond. Are you attempting to explain this bond thing as a “trust us (elected officials), we know what is best for ‘our’ tax dollars” proposition?
http://www.smartvoter.org/2014/04/08/ca/la/
Mr. Abrams, a candidate for City Council in the April 8 election, may be contacted at gabrams@ca.rr.com
