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SF's Hotel Tax (Prop. J) and Arizona's Anti-Immigrant Law - Made For Each Other



When the Arizona state legislature recently adopted an anti-immigrant law, the Board of Supervisors called for a boycott of the state, and Mayor Newsom placed a moratorium on city workers traveling to Arizona on official business.

San Francisco’s officials were justified in voicing their opposition – the Arizona ordinance singles out non-residents for discrimination, and by its nature unduly burdens a particular segment of the resident population, namely Hispanics, who are more likely to be questioned by police officers as potentially “illegal” immigrants.

But is San Francisco itself any less officially intolerant of outsiders? Or does our city government simply single out different groups of outsiders for discrimination?

 

Like a law targeting non-residents for arrest and deportation, a hotel tax is attractive to politicians because its main victims can’t vote against their oppressors. Naturally, most hotel guests come from outside the area.

Proposition J would add to San Francisco’s already high hotel tax, raising the total confiscation level to a whopping 16%.

Like Arizona’s unfair SB 1070, Proposition J also unduly burdens a segment of the resident population, namely anyone in the hospitality industry and anyone whose business or job relies on tourist income.

Because this tax is going to keep more tourists away from San Francisco. No question about it. In economic terms, when you tax something you get less of it.

Which makes it not only intolerant of outsiders, but frankly a pretty stupid and shortsighted move when you consider how important tourism is to San Francisco’s economy. One could say the same about Arizona’s official attitude toward Mexicans, given the state’s location on the Mexican border.

Please join San Franciscans who want our city to be a tolerant and welcoming place in voting NO on Prop. J.

 

Starchild
Candidate for School Board
Outreach Director, Libertarian Party of San Francisco

 



 

 
Local Ballot Issues For The November 2010 Election
Dear All;

At our LPSF meeting August 14 we will be discussing the local initiatives for the November ballot preparatory to making formal recommendations at the Sept. 11 meeting.

This is the Department of Elections web site for the ballot issues.

http://sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=2201

Currently there are 14 ballot issues with Jeff Adachi's pension reform pending verification of signatures.

Some issues involving taxes or new bond issues will be a slam dunk on what the recommendations should be. Some such as the sit/lie ordinance will require further discussion.

I will have a thumb nail version of what each is about later before the following weeks LPSF meeting for discussion.

Ron Getty
Vice-Chair
Chair Initiatives Committee
 
LPSF Straw Poll Vote On SF Ballot Initiatives PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ron Getty   
Saturday, 14 August 2010 22:22

Straw Poll Vote – LPSF Business Meeting Aug.14, 2010


Department of Elections Qualified Local Measures November 2, 2010


http://sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=2201


PROP. AAVehicle Registration Fee (PDF) - County Transportation Authority

 

Adds a $10 vehicle registration fee to fund transportation related projects.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes – 0 No - 6

 

BONDS

 

PROP. A Earthquake Retrofit Bond ($46,150,000) (PDF) Mayor Newsom

 

$46 million bond to provide funds for seismic upgrade for some 2,800 multi-story residential buildings built before 974 and deemed to be soft story and likely to collapse in an earthquake.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes – 0 No - 6

 

CHARTER AMENDMENTS

 

PROP. B City Retirement and Health Plans(PDF) Jeff Adachi

 

Would require City employees to contribute 10% towards their retirement fund.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes – 6 No - 0

 

PROP. C Mayoral Appearances at Board Meetings(PDF) - Chris Daly

 

Requires the Mayor to appear at one regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors each month.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes - 1 No – 1 No Position - 4

 

PROP. D Non-Citizen Voting in School Board Elections(PDF)David Chiu + 8 Sups.

 

Allow parents of children who are not citizens to vote in SFUSD board elections. This will require a separate ballot sheet at the cost of some $200,000 for all polling places. Special note: The California state constitution requires citizenship to vote.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes - 1 No – 4 No Position - 1

 

PROP. E Election Day Voter Registration (PDF) - Ross Mirkarimi + 7 Supervisors

 

To allow voter registration on election days in local elections only.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes – 0 No – 4 No Position - 2

PROP. F Health Service Board Elections (PDF)Sean Elsbernd + 9 Supervisors

 

To shorten on a one time basis the term of 1 Health board member from 5 years to three years and one member from 5 years to two years so the terms will expire in pairs in the future and can be filled in the same Board election.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes - 0 No – 0  No Position - 6

 

PROP. G Transit Operator Wages (PDF)aka Fix Muni Now – Sean Elsbernd

 

Requires Muni transit workers to negotiate their pay and benefits locally. Pay will not be based on average of two highest paid transit workers nationally.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes – 6 No - 0

 

ORDINANCES

PROP. H Local Elected Officials on Political Party Committees (PDF) Gavin Newsom

 

Elected officials would not be allowed to be a member of County Central Committee.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes – 0 No – 6

PROP. I Saturday Voting (PDF)

 

Trial program to open 400 Saturday polling booths funds to be voluntarily donated.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes – 0 No – 5 No Position - 1

 

PROP. J Hotel Tax Clarification and Temporary Increase (PDF)

 

A 2% increase in the hotel tax to be sun-set in 2014.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes – 0 No – 6

 

PROP. K Hotel Tax Clarification and Definitions (PDF) - Gavin Newsom

 

The City hotel tax will apply to all hotel rooms regardless of how the rooms are reserved or occupied. On-line or airline reservation of rooms will apply to hotel tax.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes – 0 No - 6

 

PROP. L Sitting or Lying on Sidewalks (PDF) - Gavin Newsom

 

No sit/lie on any public sidewalk citywide. Warnings will be given and those needing medical or mental assistance will be provided that assistance.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes – 0 No – 4 No Position - 1

 

PROP. M Community Policing and Foot Patrols (PDF) - John Avalos + 6 Supervisors

 

Would require each district station house to implement a beat foot patrol program in consultation with local residents and store owners.  A special note: If this ordinance receives more votes than sit/lie – sit/lie will not be implemented.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes - 4 No – 1

 

PROP. N Real Property Transfer Tax (PDF) - John Avalos + 7 Supervisors

 

An increase of the real property transfer tax.

Straw Poll Vote: Yes - 0  No - 6

Last Updated on Saturday, 14 August 2010 22:36
 
SF Examiner Slams Bloated Public Sector PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ron Getty   
Thursday, 12 August 2010 14:19

Dear All;

 

The SF Examiner had a hard hitting editorial about the public sector being so bloated. This is of course on the taxpayers backs from money taken from our paychecks.

 

http://snipurl.com/10lsh7   [www_sfexaminer_com]

 

Ron Getty

Vice Chair

 

 

 
SF Public Unions Sue To Stop Prop. B - Pension Reform PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ron Getty   
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:13

Dear All;

 

San Francisco " public servant " unions have sued to remove Prop. B - Pension Reform. It was placed on the ballot by signatures gathered under Jeff Adachi - Public Defender. Apparently, the public servant unions do not like the idea of having to contribute to their own pension plans. As it is San Francisco taxpayers are on the hook for literally hundreds of millions in unfunded health and pension retirement plan liabilities.

 

Currently, San Francisco public servants average some $40,000 higher in pay and benefits than private industry workers in San Francisco.

 

http://snipurl.com/10kecx  

 

Ron Getty

Vice Chair

Chair Initiatives Committee

 
SF Examiner Publishes Leslie D. Mangus LTE About Over Paid Cops PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ron Getty   
Monday, 09 August 2010 14:45

Dear All;

Congratulations to Leslie D. Mangus our LPSF treasurer who had an LTE published which spoke out against over-paid police and firefighters in SF.

 

http://snipurl.com/10fiqc

 

Circular Salary Argument

 

In the Aug. 6 article " Cops, firefighters tip pay scale", San Francisco Police Officer Association President Gary Delagnes attempted to justify high salaries by citing the high cost of living in the Bay Area. This argument is completely circular and nonsensical.

 

A major factor in the high cost of living here is the high salaries and benefits of public employees, notably police and firefighters. Does anyone in government ever study economics? Public-sector employees enjoy generous compensation packages because taxpayers, unlike customers of private firms, cannot cut off the money.

 

Wages at a private company are ultimately limited by the willingness of customers to buy the product and pay the cost. In the public sector there is no such limitation because governments acquire their resources by taxation, which is confiscation backed up by threats of fines and prison sentences.

 

Leslie D. Mangus

 

 
Small Businesses Roll Up Sleeves For Tax Fight PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ron Getty   
Monday, 26 July 2010 12:58

San Francisco's elected Supervisors treating small businesses as if they were ATM's. Nothing like taxing a small business and its employment opportunities out of existence. 

 

http://snipurl.com/zve3l   [sanfrancisco_bizjournals_com]

 
SF Examiner Publishes My Anti-Regulations LTE PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ron Getty   
Thursday, 22 July 2010 08:59

Dear All;

On Monday the SF Examiner had an article about merchants wanting a law to fine property owners who did not rent out store fronts. I had a few words to say about that and the SF Examiner published an edited version - which still makes the point.

Ron Getty

http://snipurl.com/zq3dj 

 

How to attract business


Merchants want legislative fines on commercial property owners who don’t lease empty storefront space in a timely manner.

 

Will such legislation attract businesses to anti-business San Francisco? Will the legislation speed up permits and license applications?

 

When you want to attract businesses to San Francisco, move City Hall’s costly laws, rules, regulations and bureaucratic red tape out of the way of opening and running a small business.


Ron Getty, Vice chair, Libertarian Party, San Francisco


This is the original article about the merchants wanting to fine property owners

http://snipurl.com/zq3f2
 
Coalition Formed To Fight New Businesses Taxes PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ron Getty   
Monday, 12 July 2010 12:09

econrecsfDear All;

 

A coalition of has formed a group to fight the slew of new business taxes proposed for the November ballot.

 

This is their web site:  http://www.economicrecoverysf.com/

 

This is their Face Book page. http://www.facebook.com/EconomicRecoverySF?ref=mf

 

Check them out and join the fight against taxes.

Last Updated on Monday, 12 July 2010 13:18
 
SFPD Writes More Traffic Tickets PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ron Getty   
Thursday, 08 July 2010 10:07

Dear All;

 

From the Wall Street Journal:  http://snipurl.com/z5upa    Let's be careful out there.

You may have a traffic ticket just waiting for you to make a mistake. Quotas anyone?

 

Of course, if the extra money collected went to crime fighting then it might be worth it

to track down people committing homicides, rapes and armed robberies.  But does

anybody believe this will happen?

Last Updated on Monday, 12 July 2010 12:50
 
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