Let me remind you of historical facts.  The Stanislaus Taxpayers Association sued the City of Modesto over a Prop 218 violation, and won.  The Taxpayers fought the Vogel property acquisition and proposed illegal use, and won.  The Taxpayers and others opposed Measure F, the ToT tax increase to fund the Gallo Center, and won.  The Taxpayers and others opposed a $15,000,000 gift to the Gallo Center, and won.  The Taxpayers and others opposed Measure K, and won. 

            What do these few things have in common?  The Taxpayers Association has vigorously opposed the improper use of public money, and we won.  Even though it should be obvious to all that the Taxpayers Association and its friends are thoughtful and organized, pick only specific and few issues to oppose, and we WIN, we are treated like redheaded rascals who are of no consequence. 

            The BEE “news stories” constantly refer to us as “Gadflies”.  Do you know the definition of a “Gadfly” ?  Let me tell you that it is “A persistently annoying person.”  I could have no legitimate complaint if your disdain for righteous Citizens who care a great deal for our community, were demeaned in editorial comments.  Opinions are like elbows; every one has one.  But the BEE insists of doing so in the news pages.  Even today, you quote Craig Lewis as stating that “…the public didn’t understand” Measure K.  By saying, “It should have been a no-brainer”, Mr. Lewis implies that we are stupid.  Now, one could criticize Mr. Lewis as a pompous and arrogant misanthrope, or one could remind the BEE that the victors in the fight were left out of the story.  Well, not quite left out; the story contained 828 words, and 41 were loosely given to one spokesman for the “No on K” (We’re Taxed Out) Committee.  The story featured four pro-K speakers, some of whom distorted the facts. 

            A balanced story might have included several comments by the winners as to why we opposed the tax increase.  Facts such as, a sales tax hurts the poor, the elderly, the sick, those on fixed incomes, students and blue-collar workers far more than the wealthy realtor, Mr. Lewis, or the highly paid Bassitt and Harris and double dipping Grover, who is paid taxpayer money as an elected official and by doing contracts with government bodies.   Facts like, the vast majority of the money would go to shift funds from developers and builders to the taxpayer.  I could mention more, but then, you might call me a “Gadfly”.

            Judy, you were very kind to invite me to write an op-ed piece for the BEE, and you published it.  I want to acknowledge your consideration.  I may be too bold, here, and I do not want to overstay my welcome, but would it not be possible that more balanced stories could discuss the “news”?   Is it not fair that “news” stories might feature both sides of an argument?  Let me explain.  Lewis and Grover claim there is simply “no other way” to pave our roads and fix our streets, except by raising taxes.  Is that fact?  Weren’t the roads and streets originally created by the Cities, County, State and Federal governments?  Doesn’t government still build and maintain streets using general fund money?   Does the leadership of the BEE agree that the ONLY possibility of doing better is to tax the taxpayer who paid the taxes to build the roads in the first place?  Does not the BEE want to know the answer to the question the Taxpayers, and others, have been asking, namely, “Where has the money gone?”  Does not the BEE care where BILLIONS of dollars of gas tax has gone, why Modesto chooses to spend far too little on streets, builds out projects 10 to 12 years late, as in the case of the 9^th Street Overpass, 45 years late?

            Mr. Lewis made several shameful comments, quoted in yesterday’s and today’s BEE.  Even so, I would not call him a “Gadfly”.  He has his own economic interests to push forward, and I do not criticize him for that.  I do not criticize Gruppe for putting $40,000 into the K campaign, nor Teichert for giving $15,000.  They want to build homes and pave streets, and if they can get the taxpayer to pay for part or all of the infrastructure, I understand that.  All we ever wanted was for the whole truth to be told.  If the voter has the whole story, he or she can make a reasonable decision.  The last fact is that the proponents of K ran a fallacious campaign and that is what caused a few of us to rise up and fight. 

            We know at least three things.  First, as I said in my op-ed piece, if K fails on Tuesday, the proponents will bring a new one back on Wednesday.  Second, we know that they will not invite regular citizens to the planning table.  Why do we know that?  Because Lewis is quoted as saying, “We need to determine what the public didn’t understand.”  That is one of the more ridiculous statements I have ever heard.  You might suggest that he read the BEE – we published a full-page ad explaining in great detail why we opposed K.  We debated them twice.  Third, local governments must do a responsible job of meeting the needs posed by transportation needs.  Our elected officials are abrogating their responsibility by choosing to spend money on non-essentials instead of the essentials, safety, transportation, water and sewers.  Only when they do their job with what they have, will we consider the next step.

            Before I am accused of wandering, or being a gadfly, I shall close by saying that we appreciate the BEE when it reports facts in full.  I believe full disclosure is the key to complete communications.  I eagerly anticipate the rest of the story.   Dave

Comments (0)

Write comment

You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.