Heading into tomorrow’s election, Saturday marked the last official “Yes on Measure Y” event, as dozens of supporters gathered at the Downtown Starbucks to discuss Measure Y, and to pick up additional signs, flyers, and door hangers.
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Many present or former city officials were at the Measure Y rally. A front row exception, at far left, was Fred Iglesias. At his left are Doneil Weissman, Mayor Andy Weissman, the Weissmans’ granddaughter, Cambria, ex-City Treasurer Crystal Alexander and City Councilperson Meghan Sahli-Wells. Photo by Cary Anderson.
Due to the tremendous support for Measure Y – a proposed half-cent sales tax increase – flyers and signs have become a hot commodity
Referring to a prior Yes on Measure Y event, City Councilmember Mehaul O’Leary jokingly remarked:
“That was the first time that I can remember having the Culver City Chamber of Commerce and the Culver City Democratic Club in complete agreement. Both agree that we should all vote Yes on Measure Y.”
The Democratic Club and the Chamber of Commerce are certainly not alone in their unparalleled support of Measure Y.
Measure Y has been endorsed and is supported by every member of City Council, every member of the School Board, more than a dozen former Mayors and former members of the School Board as well as the Culver City Education Foundation, the Culver City Senior Citizens Assn., the Culver City Firefighters Assn., the Culver City Fire Management Group, the Culver City Police Management Group, the Culver City Employees Assn., and numerous neighborhood associations, including Culver Crest and Blair Hills.
In the argument for Measure Y, Council members explained that they are proud to live and work in Culver City, and to enjoy high quality services and programs that provide an exceptional quality of life.
However, since the 2008 recession, Culver City has lost $4.5 million in state funding, an additional $6 million in local revenues, plus millions annually through Sacramento's elimination of the Redevelopment Agency, threatening our successes.
The city has taken unprecedented measures to deal with this crisis: reducing the city workforce by nearly 18 percent and reducing the operating budget deficit through a combination of departmental cuts, retirements, and health care concessions.
In addition, all Culver City labor unions agreed to pay their full share of pension costs and to cap health care expenses, reducing the City's costs for pensions and health benefits, now and into the future. Yet, even with all these cuts and concessions, more is needed.
If passed, Measure Y will maintain essential Culver City services such as 9-1-1 emergency responses, paramedics, police and fire protection, as well as funding for sidewalk and street repairs, parks, senior and after-school programs.
Measure Y is on Tuesday’s ballot.
