READER’S EDITORIAL: A LITANY OF EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL’S ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST ITS CONSTITUENTS-VOTE “NO” ON PROP D CHARTER CITY INITIATIVE!

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By Bonnie B. Price, PhD, and John Martes
 
April 24, 2012 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon is a city of 99,478, with 37,157 registered voters (4/6/12 SDROV).  Democrats number 12,453, Republicans 14,416, and No Party Preference (NPP) 8,294.  El Cajon is the poorest city in the county, with 30% of its population living at or below the poverty line.  It is a multi-ethnic, multicultural city having this composition: 57% white, 28% Hispanic, 4% Asian & Pacific Islander, 6% Black, and 5% other.  El Cajon’s population is 51% female and 49% male.  (All population data are from the 2010 Census available at SANDAG.org.)
 
The city council has taken a number of actions over time that have further impoverished the city.
 
Here’s a litany of some of their actions:

1.   Imposed the highest sales tax in the county for 20 years to cope with a structural deficit that only covers two years.   Sales taxes hit the poorest more than those who have greater wealth.

2.   Increased the sewer rates by 98% over last year.  These rates hit the poorest more than those who have greater wealth, as well.

3.   Created an initiative on the June 2012 ballot to make the city a charter city, independent of California oversight.  The initiative will hurt working people who are employed on city contracts.  Other issues are likely to emerge under a charter that removes current limitations.

4.   Filled a recent city council seat vacated by a woman, with a white male.  Now the council is filled with five white males.  Among those who volunteered to fill the vacancy was a Black woman, Vickie Butcher, and Iraqi-American male, Ben Kalasho.  The mayor did not even want to hear from volunteers or their representatives, but he was persuaded to allow them to speak.  Thereafter, he said he already had someone in mind to fill the seat and the others on the council agreed to only bring forth their own choices and cast a vote.

5.   Made a commitment to move forward with a plan to raze the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) and put a Marriott Courtyard hotel in its place.  The performing arts community committee had been promised that ECPAC would be repaired two years ago, and then reopened for their use. Nothing was discussed about ECPAC being city-owned land that should be assessed for its value, then opened for competitive bidding, if the council wanted to implement the plan. 

 
There are many other issues not listed here that make the city council the most unrepresentative, unresponsive city government in the county.  
We have until May 21, 2012 to get more people to register to vote.   Then, we need to get them to vote against the city council initiative to make El Cajon a charter city, independent of California restrictions on what the city council may choose to do. 
 
NO on PROP D is the name of a citizen group committed to ensuring responsive, responsible government in El Cajon.  Anyone who wants to join the effort should call Jonathan Goetz at (619) 633-5184 or send an email to kilomikelima8@hotmail.com  and volunteer to help as soon as possible.
 

The views in this editorial reflect the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org. 


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Comments

No on Prop D

The above article makes the case that the city council cannot be trusted to act in a way that supports their constituents. Voting in favor of Prop D will only make it easier for the city council to continue to ignore the needs of the citizens of El Cajon. The Green Party of San Diego recommends a no vote on Prop D as I do. Hugh Moore, El Cajon resident