HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/01/2009 05 Audience ParticipationSeptember 1, 2009
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HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY OF YAKIMA
I am Connie Little, 2002 Simpson Lane, Yakima, WA 98901 e -mail:
clittle a,bentonrea.com (509) 453 -2815
This visit brought me to a standstill with my campaign to get donations for the YAKIMA
AQUATIC CENTER, which COUNCIL recently archived until times are better. I
volunteered to begin a campaign for donations by our citizens because COUNCIL did not
want to assess a new tax for the AQUATIC CENTER.
Today's paper outlines troubles with fire problems at the Boise Cascade mill site where it
was studied for a location for the AQUATIC CENTER. It appears from the YAKIMA
HERALD REPUBLIC that a delicate situation is pending for this location. I have several
questions I would like answered at the next council meeting before I begin this campaign.
1. FIRE DANGER — It appears this is a problem that has to be resolved by the
owners and the city, re the YAKIMA HERALD REPUBLIC, DATED 9/01/09.
2. The excellent study prepared for the public to see by four council members and
other citizens points out with photos, charts, and maps that the Boise site is a good
site as is the Kiwanis Park site.
3. The Kiwanis Park site would need additional land to add to parking already in this
park, which makes it more expensive. This would mean that donors can expect a
larger investment, if this park is chosen for the YAKIMA AQUATIC CENTER.
4. I am afraid that these two issues will interfere with my campaign. We really need
a choice of location. This will require your vote on the matter, I believe.
5. I request that you bring the issue of the YAKIMA AQUATIC CENTER back for
additional information so the public knows which one of the two above mentioned
Sites is the preferred site. My own opinion is the Kiwanis Park site, which has
good parking and an additional cost to purchase available land be added to the
proposal to make it a nice site for the AQUATIC CENTER. I have toured
Kiwanis Park three times the past two weeks and been behind and all around
Boise Cascade logging decks and do not see any way we will get it for a
CENTER very soon, if ever.
I am anxious to help the youth and others get an AQUATIC CENTER
DONATION CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY. Could you please solve these
problems and report your wishes at the next city council meeting?
Respectfully,
Let me start by thanking the 315 thousand citizens who voluntarily signed
1033's petitions, as well as the thousands of volunteers who made that
possible.
Here's what we're debating with 1033: how fast should the government grow
and who should decide? 1033 takes the position that the public sector should
grow at the same rate as the private sector -- unless voters OK a bigger
increase -- and it should be the citizens, and not the politicians, who decide.
1033 brings back successful policies passed by the voters previously. In 1993,
during tough economic times, voters approved Initiative 601, which put
reasonable limits on government's fiscal policies. 601 established a
sustainable rate for government to grow, saying it could grow at the inflation
rate plus population growth with faster growth requiring voter approval'
Despite a multi - million- dollar opposition campaign, the voters passed 601.
And 601 worked very well for many years until the Legislature started putting
loopholes in it. It started with the Republicans in 1998, and accelerated with
the Democrats in 200,0, 20011 2002, 2005 and 2007. Those loopholes
removed 601's reasonable fiscal discipline and policies.
The result? Two major deficits — $3.2 billion in 2003 and $9 billion in 2009.
Those loopholes allowed them to take their budgets on a fiscal'roller coaster,
overextending themselves in good times — creating unsustainable. budgets —
which led to slashing during bad times. 1033 gets us off that fiscal roller
coaster by reestablishing 601's same reasonable allowance for growth while
permitting higher increases with voter approval.
601 worked, it can work again with the passage of 1033.
So what happens to excess tax revenues that government collects above
1033's limit? After a fixed percentage of tax revenue is transferred into the
constitutionally - protected rainy day fund, the remainder of excess tax
revenues gets refunded back to taxpayers via lower property taxes. Struggling
working families and fixed - income senior citizens desperately need relief -from
our state's crushing property tax burden. Washingtbn shouldn't be a state
where only rich people can afford a home. 1033 provides. needed, long -
overdue property tax relief.
Opponents want higher taxes and a state income tax. Opponents are against
ANY limit on government's growth and against ANY restriction on
government's power to take as much as they want from the taxpayers.
1033 provides fiscal discipline with flexibility: any revenue from any source
deposited into general funds is limited except voter - approved revenues, rainy
day funds, and federal funds for the state and except voter - approved revenues
for counties & cities.
Putting a reasonable limit on the growth of government, like 601 previously
did, gives politicians the excuse to say `no' to the special interest groups and
encourages them to finally start prioritizing and reforming government.
Opponents have no alternative to 1033 to lower property taxes. Opponents
have no alternative to 1033 to get government off the fiscal roller coaster.
Opponents want us to trust the politicians, despite their insatiable appetite for
higher taxes. Opponents ignore the 16 years of positive history with Initiative
601 in Washington state, preferring instead to talk about different tax limits in
California, Colorado, and other states. Opponents are against 1033 because it
allows the people, and not the politicians, to decide how fast the government
should grow and how big a tax burden we can afford.
Both Forbes magazine and the Tax Foundation rank Washington as the 8t"
highest taxed state in the nation. 1033 keeps us from hitting #l.
Property taxes keep going higher and higher and government keeps getting
bigger and bigger. The people are losing control. 1033 allows the state,
counties, and cities to grow, but at a rate that citizens can control and
taxpayers can afford. 1033 gets government off the fiscal roller coaster,
allowing it to grow at a sustainable rate that doesn't outpace taxpayers' ability
to afford it.
1033 is needed now more than ever.
We.'re very proud of our supporters and very hopgful that voters will support,
controlling the growth of government and lowering property taxes by
approving 1033 in November. Thank you.
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The list was compiled by the request of councilman Micah Cawley. Concerned citizens are
requesting the below addresses and named businesses be checked out by code enforcement.
Concerns for safety especially fire and environment ( soils, ground water) and how
chemicals, batteries, tires and etc are being disposed. Concerns on business licenses and
zoning as well.
Requesting that the dates, times, by whom and mode of contact and results please be given to
councilmen —Micah Cawley and Bill Lover. Requesting written results by 1 November 2009
to the previous councilmen.
512 S.3rd St.
516 S. 3`d St.
704 S. 3`d St.
Valley Auto and Jakes Custom Auto both at this address
900 Pitcher Street
Lenard's Automotive Machening
603 Englewood Ave.
Lalpita's Van (in Dollar Store Parking)at 210 N. 5'h Avenue
2210 Englewood Ave.
918 S. 81h St.
324 Fair Ave. (Restaurant)
Lopez Auto Sales at 1804 S. F' St.
Taqueria at E. Nob Hill Blvd
Audio King at S. 7'h & E. Nob Hill Blvd
EZ Drive Auto Sales at 709 E. Nob Hill
Imogen Salon at 812 E. Nob Hill
Automotive at 716 E. Nob Hill
Romans Auto & Paint at 1521 S. 181 St.
Champion Auto Dent Repiar at 817 S. 9'' St.
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Martinez Transmissions at 813 N. 5' Ave.
Dick's Radiator Repair, at 901 N. 5'
Forklift Repair at 803 N. 4'' Ave
Rainbow Kids Childcare Culery at 1113 Swan Ave.
Good Looks Hair Salon at 310 W Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Lawn Care at 1102 Iler Ln. -- Off south Fair Avenue
1815 171h St.
5' Wheel Truck Repair and Scorpion Auto Sales
at 2015 S. 18" St.
Child Care Center at 305 W. Lincoln Ave
Paint & Body Repair at 610 N. 18' Ave. .
Mezas Automotive at 415 W. Washington
1410 Simpson Ln.
1511 S. 15'' St.
1515 S. 15t' St.
1506 Simpson Lane
Jinerey Auto Sales at 1517 S. 1811 St.
Cisdero Auto Sales at 1805 Sliger Rd.
Taqueria at 1324 Fair Ave.
Uruapan Ln Fashion at 1320 Fair Ave.
501 S. Naches
611 N. P�h St.
902 & 904 N. 41 St & E I Street
1504 N. 4'' St.
1002 Hathaway