Two days after Tuesday's historic mega-primary, Thursday brings us another defining moment: Probably the last time Measure D will be mentioned in print. Story below.
Didn't have a breakdown of vote-by-mails and PAVs versus actual votes cast Tuesday night. Political consultant Fred Register said the results showed support had narrowed in the ensuing weeks -- but not enough to drop below a majority of support.
In other news, Tuesday night also saw the first class I'm teaching at the University of La Verne. Polling the group to find out what sources they get their news from, one erudite student shouted -- "Your blog!"
I'm seeing a bright future for that one.
Voters OK user tax, bond measures
By Caroline An and Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writers
Article Launched: 02/06/2008 10:50:22 PM PST
PASADENA -- Anxiety over the economy didn't stop voters from agreeing to be taxed in Pasadena and giving generously to schools in San Gabriel.
After all the votes were counted early Wednesday morning, Pasadena's utility user tax was passed by a comfortable margin, with 58 percent of 30,860 voters supporting it.
"We all recognize that the Internet is a new technology that is changing the face of today's world and avoiding taxation of this new technology is a good policy," said Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard. "Pasadena simply wants to maintain a tax on telephone services that has been in place for 40 years."
In San Gabriel, voters answered concerns of aging schools by reaching into their pockets for $65 million - passing Measure A with nearly 70 percent of the vote.
The bond measure will fund technology upgrades and major facilities upgrades at two schools.
"It showed that the idea of, `we're doing the best we can for the students here,' is a good thing. We had a lot of support for that," said Lee Freeman, San Gabriel Unified School District's board president.
While there was support for the measure throughout the campaign, district officials said they were unsure if it would pass. History shows that San Gabriel residents are reluctant to support school bonds, rejecting four previous attempts in 1993, 1994 and 1998.
In 2002, Measure S, a $46 million bond measure, passed. That funding went to the first phase of
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improving schools.
The bulk of Measure A money will fund major classroom upgrades and build new libraries and computer labs at Jefferson Middle School and Gabrielino High School. Jefferson will receive about 40 percent - or $26million - of Measure A money.
Some initial technology work will start during the summer. The district's facilities oversight committee will start to prioritize which schools need immediate attention.
With two bonds totaling more than $100 million passed in just six years, putting another bond up for voter consideration in the next 10 to even 20 years is unlikely, said Susan Parks, district superintendent.
Measure D's victory didn't come as a surprise to most, but its road to victory was rougher than expected.
Strident opposition led by blogger Wayne Lusvardi and political consultant Martin Truitt drew attention through Internet discussions but lacked money to spend until the final days of the campaign.
The margin of support narrowed from two-thirds when absentee ballots were cast to about 56 percent on Tuesday, according to political consultant Fred Register.
Register helped organize the campaign promoting Measure D's passage.
"There were reasonable reasons to oppose this, especially if you're one who believes City Hall spends too much money. But I thought the grounds on which it was attacked were bogus, and ultimately, I think people reached that conclusion," Register said.
But by pointing out what they said were the measure's defects, opponents underscored an embarrassing disconnect between the City Council and its staff at City Hall.
"The matter was brought to us by staff late in the process, and it's conceivable that inadequate time was spent in examining the proposal, so we got off to a bad start with the council," Bogaard said Wednesday.
Bogaard tipped his hat to opponents as "capable people in the community who take seriously their responsibility as citizens to debate the issues."
caroline.an@sgvn.com, todd.ruiz@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4494, 4444
www.insidesocal.com/hallwaymonitor
Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, formally let the world know today that come March 11, he'd like the job being vacated by House Speaker Fabian Nunez.
Voters kept pols like state Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, from having to make a decision on whether to seek another term -- he's out. Sighs of relief from the likes of former Assemblywoman Carol Liu who can move forward with seeking his seat as planned.
