Our office is off to a busy May beginning with last Sunday's Touch-a-Truck event, which we co-sponsored with Justin Rudd. I hope you, your family, friends and little ones were able to take advantage of this this amazing occasion. If not, look for it next year.

Regarding City Council items, we have two important issues on the City Council agenda for this month. On May 10th I will be asking my City Council Colleagues to request the Board of Health and Human Services to study the impacts of leaf blowers in our City. I would like the Board of Health and Human Services to produce a detailed report within six months on any past discussions, codes, ordinances, and/or regulations on the matter. The report should also include recommendations that the City Council could consider taking on this matter as a next step. Additionally, on May 10th I will be asking for a report from the City Manager regarding issues that residents and the City have experienced since the transfer of assets from Verizon to Frontier Communications. The report will include issues with the City's network, the City's communications with the California Public Utilities Commission and Frontier Communications, and how residents and business owners can register and resolve complaints about service.

Last month the Grunion Gazette featured an article that I co-authored with Third District Intern Alexandra Escobar regarding Mayor Garcia's proposed 1% sales tax measure. It is very important for residents to be informed about Measure A & B and to ask questions from credible sources, therefore I have included the article below, please read it and be an informed voter for the June election.

Finally, I would like to wish all you amazing mothers in our community a Happy Mother's Day on May 8th. The dedication and love you provide your loved ones cannot be measure on just one day; but hopefully it's just a small reminder of the joy you bring to your family. I personal respect and honor my mother for all that she provided me, many years ago, and how she continues to enrich my life on a daily basis. I would also like to encourage everyone who will be enjoying the Memorial Day holiday to take a moment during that day to remember the many people who have died while serving in this country's armed forces. Your gift of freedom, for this country is greatly appreciated and is never forgotten.

Featured on April 8th, 2016 in the Grunion Gazette

Written by :  Suzie Price,  Third District City Councilwoman and Alex Escobar, 3rd District office policy intern. 

We've all heard the complaints: "Our streets and alleys need repaving. When will the potholes on my street be filled? Why does it take so long for fire and police to arrive on scene?" Long Beach is a fantastic city to live in, but it is disheartening when residents watch parts of their city crumble. People want what is best for their hometown, but improvements, especially city infrastructure development, comes at a cost. So, on June 7, voters will cast their votes and share with Mayor Robert Garcia and the City Council whether they think a proposed 1% sales tax increase is the way the city should generate revenue to spend on the most common public safety and infrastructure complaints heard by most council districts. I have been asked at various community meetings to write an editorial piece outlining what a general tax is and how sales tax revenue is divided up. My position on this tax has been to educate and let the voters decide. It really is something that is up to the people, not something that the city is imposing. I thought I would use this opportunity to share some basic information as these discussions get under way. The current sales tax rate in Long Beach is 9%. The tax is split amongst the state, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Long Beach at 6.5%, 1.5% and 1% respectively. The 1% sales tax increase, proposed by Mayor Garcia and supported by his mayoral predecessors Bob Foster and Beverly O'Neill, would bring the city's tax rate up to a total of 10%. Although the proposed increase would bring the city's sales tax rate above average in the state, nearly 50 cities in California have sales tax rates of 9.5% and higher. In Los Angeles County alone, Santa Monica, Culver City and Inglewood boast a 9.5% tax rate while La Mirada, Pico Rivera and South Gate share a 10% sales tax. The proposed 1% sales tax increase would start at 10% for the first six years and drop to 9.5% in the final four years. The current sales tax revenue projected for 2016 is about $58.5 million. Should Long Beach residents choose to cast a majority vote on June 7, the 1% increase would generate an additional $48 million annually for a total of $288 million in the first six years of the decade-long tax hike. Assuming that at least $58.8 million is concurrently generated annually for six years, a total of $351 million could also be incurred for a potential grand total of $639 million to ensure Long Beach remains competitive and safe. The ballot measure has been proposed as a general tax, meaning that a majority vote by Long Beach residents would allow the City Council to spend future revenues of the 1% increase on any aspect of city business. A specialty tax, which could have been proposed, is a tax imposed for a specific purpose and must be approved by a 2/3 majority. Specialty taxes are often used to fund specific and defined projects such as public libraries, hospitals, schools and protection services. A special tax, however, is a type of tax - not a fee or charge. The revenue generated from a special tax is dependent upon the area in which the tax revenue is serving and does not need to remain constant. Essentially, the tax can be reduced or repealed anytime after its approval. A resident considering the future of their city may want to ensure the funds generated from the proposed 1% general tax are spent on the most pressing infrastructure and public safety needs, but the term general could concern some. As the Third District Councilwoman, my intent is to put into place measures such as the Budget Oversight Committee and Citizen Oversight Committee and make certain the city is held accountable and spending tax revenues wisely and fairly and in line with the stated intent of the measure, as approved by the council. The decision is now in the hands of Long Beach residents. Council adopted a resolution stating the desire to spend future revenues on street, sidewalk and alley improvements as well as enhancing Long Beach's storm drain system and public safety. A five-person advisory panel will be assembled to monitor how future tax dollars are spent. Additionally, a city financial official will provide relevant budgetary information to the committee and make regular reports to the Budget Oversight Committee and the City Council. Please take the time to educate yourselves on this issue and fact-check any information you receive from proponents and opponents of this issue. It's an important one, and we want to do our part to educate our residents and encourage them to seek out more information as they commence discussions on this topic.