Measure "W" must pass in order to send a signal to the County. That signal is DO NOT try to scam us again by a shady protest vote process via LAFCO to get that tax in the first place. Do what the California Constitution requires for special taxes - a 2/3rds vote of the citizens to impose that tax.
The County budget has more than enough funds to backfill this ill-gotten tax. Make politicians accountable and hold their feet to the FIRE so to speak.
As a former 29 Palms Councilmember my position is to urge all to vote "YES" on Measure "W".
A possible correction to the station closures, if the fire station on Yucca Mesa mentioned in the article is the one on Aberdeen just east of Avalon, that one is still open.
In addition, the Landers fire station on 247/OWS rd. is closed. As is the one in Panorama Heights in Joshua Tree, and the one on Copper Mountain Mesa, and I may be missing a couple more. That amounts to a huge loss for the entire Basin, not just the affected communities. Beside immediate loss for communities when stations shut down, it means fewer firefighters combined to fight wildfires, and ‘covering’ for neighboring stations when those stations are out on a call.
Personally, I am voting no on W, but also voting for a Supervisor candidate who wants to find funding for fire stations through different agencies, so the tax can be repealed without closures. I don’t know if he can do it, but the alternative is an incumbent who would rather just allow the increase. Voting no on an increase is largely symbolic when the majority of Supervisors are going to vote for the increase year after year. I haven’t heard much from either of the other two on any issues, let alone W.
I have to wonder where 29 Palms is going to find the extra revenue to keep their fire station open if W is repealed. Most likely axing the social and cultural programs that community members have worked so hard for. Possibly shuttering public use of Freedom Plaza, and the newly renovated public pool and local parks. That is a huge savings in liability insurance right there. Bonus: A closed facility is less likely to need emergency services. Win-Win. I hope people think long and hard about this and connect some dots before voting. Is it worth saving $172 on your annual tax bill?
A reminder that the Meet the Candidates event is happening this afternoon (Friday, 2/9) in Landers at Belfield Hall.
It just came to my attention that the Meet the candidates event has been moved to the Joshua Tree community center off Sunburst rd, behind sportsmans park and autocamp.
Unfortunately, these funds were not voted on by all concerned and yet the government continued to expand the areas it would cover and increase the tax to support it, without anyone's vote of permission. No doubt, they added more and more to what they considered 'needed' to justify increasing the tax "fee" . No, I'm sorry, but robbing Peter to pay Paul because Paul's gotten use to it and even takes more when Peter is looking the other way...no. Gov't aught not to do this.
Measure "W" must pass in order to send a signal to the County. That signal is DO NOT try to scam us again by a shady protest vote process via LAFCO to get that tax in the first place. Do what the California Constitution requires for special taxes - a 2/3rds vote of the citizens to impose that tax.
The County budget has more than enough funds to backfill this ill-gotten tax. Make politicians accountable and hold their feet to the FIRE so to speak.
As a former 29 Palms Councilmember my position is to urge all to vote "YES" on Measure "W".
A possible correction to the station closures, if the fire station on Yucca Mesa mentioned in the article is the one on Aberdeen just east of Avalon, that one is still open.
In addition, the Landers fire station on 247/OWS rd. is closed. As is the one in Panorama Heights in Joshua Tree, and the one on Copper Mountain Mesa, and I may be missing a couple more. That amounts to a huge loss for the entire Basin, not just the affected communities. Beside immediate loss for communities when stations shut down, it means fewer firefighters combined to fight wildfires, and ‘covering’ for neighboring stations when those stations are out on a call.
Personally, I am voting no on W, but also voting for a Supervisor candidate who wants to find funding for fire stations through different agencies, so the tax can be repealed without closures. I don’t know if he can do it, but the alternative is an incumbent who would rather just allow the increase. Voting no on an increase is largely symbolic when the majority of Supervisors are going to vote for the increase year after year. I haven’t heard much from either of the other two on any issues, let alone W.
I have to wonder where 29 Palms is going to find the extra revenue to keep their fire station open if W is repealed. Most likely axing the social and cultural programs that community members have worked so hard for. Possibly shuttering public use of Freedom Plaza, and the newly renovated public pool and local parks. That is a huge savings in liability insurance right there. Bonus: A closed facility is less likely to need emergency services. Win-Win. I hope people think long and hard about this and connect some dots before voting. Is it worth saving $172 on your annual tax bill?
A reminder that the Meet the Candidates event is happening this afternoon (Friday, 2/9) in Landers at Belfield Hall.
It just came to my attention that the Meet the candidates event has been moved to the Joshua Tree community center off Sunburst rd, behind sportsmans park and autocamp.
Unfortunately, these funds were not voted on by all concerned and yet the government continued to expand the areas it would cover and increase the tax to support it, without anyone's vote of permission. No doubt, they added more and more to what they considered 'needed' to justify increasing the tax "fee" . No, I'm sorry, but robbing Peter to pay Paul because Paul's gotten use to it and even takes more when Peter is looking the other way...no. Gov't aught not to do this.