NO POSITION on Los Angeles County Measure A (Sales Tax Increase for Public Safety, Emergency Response & Crime Prevention)  
After careful consideration, PJA is prepared neither to endorse nor oppose this measure which would increase the countywide sales tax by one-half of one percent (from $.0825 to $.0875 per dollar) in order to expand law enforcement  and emergency response resources in Los Angeles County and each of its cities.  PJA does not question the fundamental proposition that public safety and emergency response services deserve to be adequately funded.  In particular, PJA agrees that Los Angeles County and many of its municipalities have too few police officers to protect and serve a population that now exceeds 10 million.  However, the fact that such services are not currently funded adequately reflects more on the government’s inability to responsibly prioritize than it does on the adequacy of existing funds.  PJA is also troubled by the fact that Measure A seeks to raise new revenues from those who can least afford it.  By its nature, the sales tax is the most regressive of all possible taxes; it hits hardest those who are the poorest members of our community.  Measure A would increase L.A. County’s sales tax to the highest rate of any county in the state, and that increase would remain in place through the 2012-2013 fiscal year.  Measure A permits, though PJA wishes it required, up to 15% of the funds generated by this sales tax increase to be used in support of “youth and adult programs to prevent crime.”  PJA is appalled by the fear-mongering campaign in support of Measure A that has been waged through outrageous television advertisements and by fictional “scare” newspaper headlines that appeared on the opening page of the proponents’ website.  Yet PJA is also mindful of the fact that among Measure A’s staunchest supporters are some of this state’s most progressive legislators ­ including Assembly Member Mark Ridley-Thomas and Los Angeles City Council Members Eric Garcetti and Antonio Villaraigosa.  If Measure A (which requires a two-thirds vote for passage) is defeated, PJA hopes that this will renew and increase pressure upon the state and national governments to immediately divert necessary resources to the county and its cities in order to fund these essential services.  However, if this does not occur, Measure A may prove to have been the last best hope that these vital public services will ever be adequately funded.

SUPPORT Los Angeles City Measure O (Water Cleanup Bond Measure) 
Measure A is a $500 million bond proposal targeted at, among other things, cleaning up polluted storm water, increasing water conservation, reducing flooding, keeping dangerous toxins from overtaking our rivers and beaches, and preserving clean water by protecting groundwater quality.  These bonds will be issued in series of $100 million per year for five years and will be paid for over the course of decades through a one percent increase in property taxes for every $100 of assessed valuation.  All spending will be subject to independent financial audits by the L.A. Controller’s Office and reviewed by a Citizen’s Oversight Committee.  Measure O is supported by Mayor James Hahn, the entire L.A. City Council and a diverse coalition of businesses, public health and conservation organizations.  No ballot argument against Measure O was submitted.  PJA strongly encourages the passage of Measure O in order to ensure adequate water quality for all residents of Los Angeles for decades to come.