Comments on: Contra Costa water initiative loses big

By: Fred the Red

Fred the Red — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:46:06 +0000

I own 2 parcels in the lamorinda area and was never sent any ballots on both parcels even though I always recieve a tax bill for both properties. Would never have even know of this if not for the contra costa times article. 2 week before the election I made many calls to get a ballot sent for both parcels. I recieved only one ballot that had to be driven to Martinez to be counted. I was told that for the second parcel I would have to drive to Martinez on the day of the vote again to apply in person for the ballot which would be only available from the hours of 1:00pm to 4:00 pm. No ballots were available before that time. This whole misuse of public funds and the way it was handled should include an investigation into the way elections like these are handled. I can only thank god that this measure was defeated for the sham that it was.

By: JohnW

JohnW — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:29:42 +0000

Re: #16

So, maybe there’s hope for Mary Piepho after all. If Candace Anderson wins the District 2 seat, she and Piepho could give the BOS more fiscal discipline. Even Gioia, who has intellectual bandwidth, might be persuaded to join forces with them.

Okay, time to wake up from the dream.

By: Reality Checker

Reality Checker — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:55:02 +0000

Of the 3 Supervisors up for election;

G. Uilkema, voted ‘for’ the tax and is not re-running.
F. Glover, voted ‘for’ the tax and is running unopposed.
M. Piepho, voted ‘against’ the tax and is running unopposed.

By: Claire Voyance

Claire Voyance — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:35:16 +0000

86 percent of fire departments are all or mostly volunteer; they protect 39 percent of the population.

Volunteer firefighters save local communities $37.2 billion per year in tax money.

http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2010/November/20101124115752kcir0.3470532.html

Just say NO to any more taxes/fees for firefighters!

By: JohnW

JohnW — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:56:11 +0000

Re: #11

“…indicates that a new board should be voted in…”

San Francisco supervisors have term limits. How come CoCo doesn’t? Is that because SF is unified city/county? Could CoCo vote for institute term limits, or is that pre-empted by the state?

By: Claire Voyance

Claire Voyance — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:31:00 +0000

Hopefully, the tax/fee/etc. measures to be proposed for funding fire services will also FAIL!

Just say NO to Obscenely Overpaid Firefighters!

By: Arne Simonsen

Arne Simonsen — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:32:16 +0000

And even more discouraging is that the Clean Water Program used about $1.5 million in NPDES taxes it had collected on this campaign, when that money should have gone towards clearing our creeks, channels and storm drains.

By: Common Tater

Common Tater — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:00:29 +0000

The Board of Supes (Stupes?) really blew this one. They are definitely out of touch with the folks. This strongly indicates that a new board should be voted in as soon as election laws permit. Mark my words, they will try this again.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they take this to one of the activist judges who will reverse the vote since the voting public is too stupid to decide such important issues.

By: IMissLiberty

IMissLiberty — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:56:05 +0000

Next task: See if the Feds have gotten the message. This is a simple problem of an agency long ago achieving its agenda of removing industrial waste, but, in fear of their jobs, they keep ratcheting up the mandates. But they work for politicians, too, and this should be a pretty clear hint to them that the EPA has gone too far. As further evidence, look how well Ron Paul is doing picking up wins by explaining how their out-of-control spending costs society the ability to pay for capital improvements they would otherwise choose. Let them impose fines; they can’t get blood from a stone.

By: Bruce R. Peterson Lafayette

Bruce R. Peterson Lafayette — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:44:12 +0000

It looks like property owners are wiser than the politicians think they are. All of the expensive pro tax propaganda failed to convince people to be foolish.
I went to the February meeting. It was an obvious sham. The BOS & their hired help, acted like morons. That afternoon, the results of the meeting were in my mailbox. Now the lame excuses arrive.