Promises, Promises, Promises! You must need some more revenue?

Well here we are again, in Pinole, trying to decide whether or not to support another revenue measure on the ballot, Measure C. Measure C is the modified version of the 1998 Measure T. The main difference is that Measure T includes a sunset date requiring renewal by the voters and taxpayers, and Measure C does not, it continues the tax indefinitely unless repealed in the future by the voters. The revenue reaped by the city remains unchanged.

Does the city keep its promises on how they use the generated revenues? Do they present revenue measures in an honest and non misleading way? What is their track record on these specifics? Do long time council members keep their promises on the use of funds, or is new leadership needed to “check the status Quo”?

Well let me see…..hmmm. Measure T of 1998. It is hard to find the city’s promotional information, I’m sorry strike that city staff prefers the term “informational” information on this measure other than vague references in more recent city records, but I did manage to find a single news article by the San Francisco Chronicle, Suzanne Espinosa Solis, Chronicle Staff Writer, Published 4:00 am PST, Monday, November 16, 1998.

In the Chronicle article several Pinole residents were interviewed including, then Mayor, Mary Horton. Although there were mixed opinions about the measure, it did pass. The chronicle reported,” The awakening, Horton acknowledges, was prompted by yearlong slashes in the city's programs, things such as a Christmas- tree lighting, a spring park festival and a youth commission. The City Council's most drastic measure came weeks before the election: a vote to consider abolishing the police force and contracting with the county sheriff. The Fire Department, the council hinted, might be next.” The chronicle also reported, “Many say what was at stake was the city's sense of community. But others regarded the slashes and threatened Police Department demise as "scare tactics." "What they said was, 'If you don't vote for this, then we'll cut all the programs and things you like,' " said Eric Dobinson, a resident who refused to support Measure T. Dobinson, like many others, continues to believe the city can better manage its finances.”. Gosh! This sounds familiar,….don’t it. But don’t worry Mary had great insight when she told the Chronicle correspondent,” "Years before, councils were using redevelopment money to pave roads. We wanted to be more imaginative," Horton said. I guess using RDA funds to maintain the local infrastructure must be an outdated concept when we can use that revenue for “other” things.

Measure S 2006. Lucked out on this one, I obtained copies of the city’s flyer, Local Sales Tax Measure Fact Sheet and a letter to Pinole residents from then City Manager Belinda Espinosa. All three documents are concerning promotion of Measure S 2006. I also obtained a copy of the 2006 Measure S City flyer.

Right in the middle of “MAIN FEATURES OF PINOLE LOCAL SALES TAX”, it states “ensuring that the fire station in Pinole Valley stays open”, you see where it says that? The flier from the city states, “Measure S will allow the City to address critical funding needs, including: More police officers and firefighter/paramedics are necessary, to ensure we maintain emergency response times”. Do you see where the flyer says that? The City Manager’s letter to Pinole Residents states at the end of the fourth paragraph, “The revenue will also help us to continue to fund the fire station in Pinole Valley.” Did I read that right? But wait! There is another “informational” City flyer for Measure S 2006. It pretty much says the same thing, go ahead, read it.

Measure S 2014. The language of the ballot question began “Shall an ordinance be adopted enacting a local half-cent transaction and use (sales) tax to maintain essential police and fire services…..” Dang! Is that public safety being mentioned again? Maintain? Why is it that the staffing level of fire suppression personnel today is 30% below the levels in 2014? And of course it's an even larger staffing reduction from the inception of the original Measure S in 2006. At least they didn't use Valley fire station 74 as an excuse this time, they couldn't since it's been fully closed since 2011. Although the City Council and other supporters of Measure C have implied the measure would either "open" or "help open" the station.

Well how about Measure C? Again it appears public safety is threatened! “That’s why your decision is important. Do you want to continue this existing funding, without a sunset date, for general purposes – Public Safety………or should the City make $2 million in additional cuts to our already reduced service levels? The choice is yours on November 6th.” Do you see it? Has Public Safety evolved into a “general purpose” service? I think it is still a “core service”.

So given all this, I’d say that City Council has been kicking this can down the road for a long time, and now, with Measure C, we’re being asked to kick it down the road indefinitely. And I would say the City just can’t manage to keep the promises they’ve made, and that is why Pinole needs new leadership that can either be straight with the public or keep the promises they make. New leaders who will find the answers to our City's revenue woes and provide the service levels we deserve. The current council has been unable to find the answers, the ones Pinole needs and deserves. So if you really do believe in strong fire and police services, and the other services we've come to appreciate here in Pinole, then you should consider Vincent Salimi, Anthony Tave and Rafael Menis as your choices.

Vote this November 6, vote for change from the same old un-kept promises. Vote for the honest candidates, vote for the future of Pinole, vote for Vincent Salimi and Anthony Tave!