Pico Rivera sales tax mailers walk legal line

In Sunday's paper, we'll present a story that's been a long time coming, since mailers to educate Pico Rivera voters began to surface several weeks ago.

The mailers, sent by the city with about $30,000 in cash approved by the City Council assert that city services will be slashed and public safety could be jeopardized if the tax is not passed to close a $4.8 million budget gap (the tax is expected to fetch around $6 million).

Opponents, like Councilman David Armenta, say the information campaign is about scaring voters into approving the tax, but city officials say they're within their legal rights with their campaign.

Roman Porter of the Fair Political Practices Commission said that as long as the city's campaign doesn't advocate for one outcome at the polls, they're in the clear. And though the city's campaign certainly leans in favor of the tax, it doesn't likely step over the legal line.

Read Sunday's Whittier Daily News for more information, and check out our Web site on Sunday to get a look at the mailers!