There are a lot of exhibits to hold up and show the failures of California, but one item that the dominant Left never fails at is making sure the state lives up to its alter-ego of Taxifornia.
It’s nearly useless to remind taxpaying citizens that Jerry Brown promised no new taxes without voter input. The governor and his band of bandits proved it again with the late-night passage of an increased gas tax of 12 cents per gallon in addition to a huge increase on car registration fees.
Hard-working men and women tirelessly striving to budget while trying to get to work to earn a paycheck, be damned: This governor and his buddies demand your money, period.
In response to taxpayers’ criticisms, Brown made it clear during a speech in Orange County in May 2017 that he was tired of hearing complaints and called us “freeloaders.” This dovetails with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association reminding us that during Barbara Kerr’s tenure as California Teachers Association president, she said taxpayers who oppose new taxes are “cheap.” She went on to win many awards and recognitions.
The most recent attempt at yet one more tax was an informative editorial from the L.A. Daily News. It’s called the “tap water tax.”
For some history, California voters just bought the feel-good tax proposition that was stated to raise yet another $4 billion for “clean water” funds. Days later, Brown declared it isn’t enough.
Traveling at lightning speed, there will be another ballot measure in November to raise another $8 billion. In the meantime, Brown is hustling for this (third) measure, a “tax,” painting it as a $140 million- per-year necessity to clean up water for rural users.
The new tax would be about $1 per month for each residence and $4-$10 per month for businesses.
In keeping with the usual tactic, sleazy but legal, the addicted tax-and-spenders tried to add this additional clean water debauchery as a rider to an existing bill. Such a rider is called a “trailer bill.”
A trailer bill-spot bill is literally a blank space, and it gets voted on as part of other legislation. Later, during the “semi-secret budget process,” the blank spots are amended by filling in the blanks, and it is promptly passed into law.
If the state Senate had its way, the water tax would have been masked (my observation) by the appearance of the money coming from the general fund, by the federal government or by selling bonds. By contrast, the Assembly thought it should be a statewide tax. The latter makes it very clear to the people: There’s no mask – it is a new tax.
The trailer failed, but SB-623, the Affordable and Safe Drinking Water Fund, lives on. As usual, the text of the bill has a lot of feel-good language but naturally includes, you guessed it, more taxes.
Irrespective of the disagreements between agriculture, dairy farmers and citrus farmers, new taxes are to be imposed on fertilizer sales and on each and every dairy and livestock facility and operation.
An analysis of the Appropriations Committee says the taxes are a measly 20 percent of what is needed; therefore, all California water users must pay the remaining 80 percent.
We are already experiencing increased water rates. For we obedient and environmentally concerned water users who complied with saving more water than requested, we were thanked with higher rates, then more on top of that.
A lot of us are wondering when the voter revolution starts and when voters will wise up and stop voting for the warm and fuzzy sound bites.
A lesson to be learned and learned well: “It is and never will be enough.” Vote accordingly.
Betty Arenson is a Valencia resident who believes in the Constitution in its entirety and that laws should be upheld and apply to everyone equally.
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Reality check. You need to take care of infrastructure, bridges, streets, etc. Californians have been avoiding maintenance for years. The bill is due. Suck it up. It is not a left/right issue. Would you change your worn out tires? Would you change the oil in your engine? We’ve had a dearth of leaders willing to take care our once world class transportation system. Now we do.
Being born and raised in Connecticut and constantly dreaming about living in California, and after living in Florida for about 10 years, I finally relocated to Santa Clarita in 1999. While living in California for the 16 years that I did, I never, ever thought I’d move out. I loved life in California, but the reality of finances and high taxes were always on my coattails. As I crept closer to retirement age, as much as I hated to, I realized there was just no way I could possibly afford to retire there. So with tears in my eyes, my wife and I packed up the Penske truck and moved back to Florida in 2015. It’s not bad here if you can learn to deal with oppressive humidity in the summer months and I did buy a brand new house for cash, but I do miss living in California every single day! Very sad! It’s reaching the point of where only the rich can afford to live there.
I lived in Stevenson Ranch from 1999 to 2015, but the high cost of living and high taxes chased me out. I miss California every day. Florida is just not the same, but it’s not bad and WAY more affordable!
Californians will elect Gavin Newson Governor by a huge margin, perhaps a landslide. As the Trump folk are so fond of saying, elections count. Under often liberal regimes over the last six decades (there are some exception) Somehow, poor, failing California keeps moving up the economic ladder. In May it became the 5th largest economy in the world behind the US, China, Japan and Germany.
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Santa Clarita regularly tops lists as one of the safest cities in the country. This reputation is well-earned thanks to the hardworking men and women of our Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and the vigilance of our residents.
As I look back on 2022 and reflect on the progress we have made in our community, I could not be prouder. Last year we cut the ribbon on the city’s 36th park, Vista Canyon, which offers residents pickleball courts, a new playground and the historic Mitchell River House.
Anyone who has lived in another city will tell you that the events we put on in Santa Clarita are second to none. As we look ahead to the warm weather and sunshine afforded by the arrival of spring, now is a wonderful time to add some of the marquee city of Santa Clarita events to your 2023 calendar.
After a three-year hiatus, the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society will commemorate the 95th anniversary of the second-worst disaster in California history by bringing back its renowned St. Francis Dam lecture and bus tour/hike at the dam site in San Francisquito Canyon on Saturday, March 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ethan Igbanugo's basket with 34 seconds remaining would prove to be the game winner as CSUN Men's Basketball knocked off first-place UC Santa Barbara 72-67 on Saturday at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
The College of the Canyons football program is hosting its first Super Bowl Saturday Football Camp for youth players on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Cougar Stadium.
College of the Canyons student-athletes Allyson Melgar (softball) and Ryan Camacho (baseball) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's & Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running Jan. 30 to Feb. 4.
Blue Star Ranch, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting post-combat veterans with post traumatic stress disorder, is looking for another therapy team to join its ranks.
California Credit Union invites all Santa Clarita Valley teachers who have a dream class project idea to apply for a credit union grant through its bi-annual Teacher Grant program.
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office released the 12 productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, Feb. 6 – Sunday, Feb. 12.
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 5 p.m., in the University Center, Room 301 on the Valencia campus of College of the Canyons.
The Los Angeles County health officer issued a Cold Weather Alert in the Santa Clarita Valley Monday through Tuesday due to the National Weather Service’s forecast for low temperatures.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed Monday no additional deaths and 62 new cases in the Santa Clarita Valley over the weekend, with 30 additional deaths and 2,201 new cases countywide.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed 19 new deaths throughout L.A. County, 1,417 new cases countywide and 25 new cases in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Carousel Ranch, a place where children with special needs discover and experience some of their greatest achievements through equestrian therapy and vocational training programs will celebrate its 26th anniversary this year.
The city of Santa Clarita has announced that as part of the median modification work taking place at Orchard Village Road and Wiley Canyon Road, additional lane closures are required on Saturday, Feb. 4 for street grinding and paving.
The California Public Utilities Commission has voted to accelerate the timeframe in which residential energy customers will receive a Climate Credit on their bills in order to provide much needed support to customers experiencing unusually high natural gas bills this winter.
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8 Comments
Reality check. You need to take care of infrastructure, bridges, streets, etc. Californians have been avoiding maintenance for years. The bill is due. Suck it up. It is not a left/right issue. Would you change your worn out tires? Would you change the oil in your engine? We’ve had a dearth of leaders willing to take care our once world class transportation system. Now we do.
Good article. Totally agree.
You’ve done it again, Betty.I wonder if there are enough voters in this State who will take heed. Somehow, I doubt that.
Betty,
Then when ever will you leave for the Great State of Texas? Or Oklahoma? Or North Dakota? Or….?
Alabama beckons…
Being born and raised in Connecticut and constantly dreaming about living in California, and after living in Florida for about 10 years, I finally relocated to Santa Clarita in 1999. While living in California for the 16 years that I did, I never, ever thought I’d move out. I loved life in California, but the reality of finances and high taxes were always on my coattails. As I crept closer to retirement age, as much as I hated to, I realized there was just no way I could possibly afford to retire there. So with tears in my eyes, my wife and I packed up the Penske truck and moved back to Florida in 2015. It’s not bad here if you can learn to deal with oppressive humidity in the summer months and I did buy a brand new house for cash, but I do miss living in California every single day! Very sad! It’s reaching the point of where only the rich can afford to live there.
I lived in Stevenson Ranch from 1999 to 2015, but the high cost of living and high taxes chased me out. I miss California every day. Florida is just not the same, but it’s not bad and WAY more affordable!
Californians will elect Gavin Newson Governor by a huge margin, perhaps a landslide. As the Trump folk are so fond of saying, elections count. Under often liberal regimes over the last six decades (there are some exception) Somehow, poor, failing California keeps moving up the economic ladder. In May it became the 5th largest economy in the world behind the US, China, Japan and Germany.