Resolution

It is essential that we change the existing mega development high-rise, high-density, gridlock traffic generating culture at City Hall.

City Hall has tossed aside the General Plan and Municipal Code height and density limits to accommodate massive mega development projects. City Hall has spot-zoned to the detriment of our quality of life.

In defense of this process, City Hall argues that our City needs the increased revenue that will allegedly be generated from these massive high-rise, high-density developments.

Yet, the same City Hall that lays claim to dire financial straits has no compunction to spend our tax dollars lavishly:

1. Roxbury Park:  $37.9 million
2. La Cienega Park:  $18.5 million
3. Industrial Area/commercial development:  $30.4 million
4. Cultural Center Parking Structure:  $12.2 million
Total:  $99 million

In addition, City Hall seeks to substantially increase our taxes in order to provide essential services.

For example, from 2005 to September 2006, City Hall increased our water rates 26%, compounded. In July 2007, City Hall further increased our water rate 12%. City Hall presently proposes an 8.5% further increase, per year, for the next four years.

Not satisfied with raising our water rates approximately 70% over this time period, City Hall has plans to increase substantially our property transfer tax.

Classically, the incompetent, spendthrift City Hall depletes the Treasury by excessive spending, allows mega high-rise, high-density traffic generating developments, then resorts to burdensome taxes to pay for necessary City services. Such is the nature of things presently.

Change at City Hall is essential.

An honest, straightforward, righteous residents voice is also necessary as a countervailing force to the present hubris of the offending officials at City Hall.

We believe that an historical analog is apropos and may be instructive. There was a moment in ancient Rome, when Cicero, a renowned prosecutor and trial lawyer, brilliant orator, Senator and Consul, held accountable public officials who violated the public trust.

Confronted by two Tribunes who participated in the People’s Legislative Assembly and who were unduly influenced by unscrupulous greedy aristocrats, Cicero, with public support, asked for a popular vote to remove the official offenders from office. Cicero believed that the offending officials had violated their oath of office when they failed to represent the people’s interest.

A vote of 18 tribes was required for removal. After the 17th tribe voted in favor of removal, Cicero queried the official offenders if they still wished to vote against the public interest. In so doing, Cicero granted the offenders the opportunity to re-think their position, or if not, face expulsion from the People’s Legislative Assembly.

We hold steadfast to the view that an elected official’s vote is a sacred trust, not a voucher available in the commercial marketplace to the highest bidder.

If you share our cares and concerns about maintaining our “village community,” want a fiscally responsible City Hall, wish to join our effort to end spot-zoning, put a stop to high-rise, high-density development and redirect the focus at City Hall from excessive development to pro-resident, you must join us and speak out!
 

Copyright © 2009 Beverly Hills Citizen™