OPINION: Why Voters Should Say No to City Parcel Tax
Resident identifies Council’s misstatements –
I do not support the proposed parcel tax. The city’s official position statement, written by (Mayor John) Chiang and (Councilman Jeff) Wieler, has material factual misstatements.
The Council (except Keating) who are mostly attorneys, the City Administrator and City Attorney have been less than forthright about things the past few years. They previously spread misinformation and scare tactics on the proposed and defeated sewer tax. The deceptions and the arrogance that leads to this behavior needs to stop.
Chiang’s recent letter in the Piedmont Post claims that the Council is “saving money” by not moving forward with the ill-conceived Blair Park sports field. It is a ridiculous and misleading statement. The City has spent over $500k in hard $ and staff time on that project, and has not been reimbursed by the proponents (developers) PRFO, who agreed to pay all costs and indemnify the city in the lawsuit filed by Friends of Moraga Canyon. That lawsuit and its likelihood of prevailing in court are the reason the project was stopped.
Likewise, Chiang and Council didn’t save the taxpayer residents the $60,000 + they had to raise through private donations to sue their own City Hall. Enough!
Voters should be told the truth, and the blatantly false “unanimous recommendation of the city council” statement submitted on the ballot by Wieler and Chiang should be the final straw, for most voters.
Mallory Hill, Piedmont Resident
Editors’ Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association. The Piedmont Civic Association does not support nor oppose candidates or ballot measures.
