Acalanes Union Superintendent to Address CoCoTax at July Meeting
CoCoTax led the successful opposition to Measure T, a proposed $130 parcel tax that would have increased with inflation. The measure fell well short of the two-thirds needed for passage despite proponents raising $141,000 of cash and $20,000 of non-monetary contributions to push the measure. The County GOP and several active citizens posting on Nextdoor also played key roles in the opposition effort.
As Acalanes Union High School District plans its next steps, Superintendent John Nickerson has agreed to speak with us at a special July meeting. This is an important opportunity to learn about the District’s finances and to (politely) express our concerns as taxpayers to a key decisionmaker, so I hope many of you can join us. Please note that we are going to be at a different location (within the bounds of AUHSD) and will be using a different pricing scheme, so please read our announcement at https://www.cocotax.org/event-6199011 before signing up.
And Don’t Forget our May and June Events
We have two important meetings at Denny’s this Friday and on June 27th. Please consider signing up and attending if you’re not travelling those days.
Friday, 5/23 – Contra Costa Water District Board President Ernie Avila, plus discussions of the Urban Limit Line and El Cerrito Library Parcel Tax. We will also get information about an emerging situation in Pinole. https://www.cocotax.org/event-6130397
Friday, 6/27 – Oakland Mayoral Recall Leader Seneca Scott on his city’s financial and safety crisis, and its implications for us. https://www.cocotax.org/event-6189658
With Apartments Empty, ’Housing Crisis’ a Sham
On May 20, the East Bay Times published an insightful letter from CoCoTax Executive Committee member Mark Fernwood reacting to news of high vacancies in an East Bay apartment complex. Check it out here:
Re: “Apartments still sit vacant” (Page A1, May 18): This Bay Area News Group article should prove that the constant cries of a “housing crisis” are a fraud. We are told that there is an acute shortage, yet each year we hear that hundreds of thousands are leaving this state. This is due to a variety of issues, from high costs and high taxes to crime. Obviously, housing is left behind, so how can there be a shortage?
The huge vacancy problems of the mentioned project should prove that government controls and mandates are counterproductive.
If one goes to an apartment-locating site (like hotpads.com, apartments.com or apartmentfinder.com) one will find many hundreds of empty, waiting Bay Area apartments. Why then is the state forcing huge apartment complexes into single-family residential neighborhoods?
Other News
We have an exciting personal announcement and plans to regularize this email newsletter, so please stay tuned!
Marc