TAXES

Folks, I’ve said this before.  Sacramento’s endless push for higher taxes and fees, like Mayor McCarty’s new property transfer tax and Councilmember Maple’s vacant property tax are mainly driven by years of repeated council overspending.  We must reject these tax grabs.

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Just listen to San Diego Supervisor Jim Desmond’s warning of the same thing:

“Over the next year, you’re going to hear politicians say taxes and fees

have to go up because there’s a “deficit” at the city, county, and state level.

 

What they won’t tell you is the truth: Their policies created the deficit.  Don’t

let them fix their failures by taking more of your money.  They already

take enough.”

 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Everyday across the country, there is another tragic story about a domestic violence killing.  There are some things that are tough to do.  Then, there are other things that are easy and meaningful.  Having the district attorney provide us with weekly reports on the number of domestic violence cases at his office and their disposition (filed, rejected, warrant issued) will help us understand the size of this problem and motivate people to get involved with this clear and present danger.  I’ve been pushing the city council to do just that but haven’t heard a reply.

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I’ll keep pushing – I won’t give up.

 

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

Leaders of our police department must be one hundred percent committed to open communication and transparency.

 

This is a focus on department management, and our police department must be an institution of trust.  I have pushed the department and council to stop hiding crime data.  I am also pressing the important effort to stop the city council from controlling both the police department and the city agency that investigates police misconduct (OPSA).  In addition to this structural conflict, councilmembers seek endorsements and take donations from police officers, a practice that can breed mistrust.  

 

The agency investigating the police department should be under the oversight of a stronger and more independent Sacramento Police Commission.  I have been trying to make this happen.

 

CONSULTANTS

I’ll push a policy of posting all consultants payments online.

 

Anybody remember the fiasco when San Diego approved spending 4.5 million on a consultant regarding trash collection?   Payments to consultants is an issue across government.  Sacramento County was recently scrutinized for a $75,000 payment to a consultant.  I questioned how much the city of Sacramento recently paid Raftellis, the consultant who facilitated a meeting of the council to help it set its priorities.  The amount was not in the public agenda documents.  So, I have to keep trying to get an answer.