In addition to being Super Tuesday, where we get to find out which Republican, and Democrat, go head to head in the fall, and when we get to find out if the casinos get more slots, and whether the Termed-Out Assemblyman and State Senators get "Grandfathered" into another 12 years in office, we, in Newport Beach, get to vote on putting a White Elephant (City Hall, for those new to my blog) in a Park.
For my typical "In-Depth" Analysis on the State-Wide Ballot measures, go here.
Anyway, if you look at the poll on the left you'll see that my 17 readers (down from 30) voted and were 64% to 35% (?), 11 to 6, against putting a City Hall in the Park.
I'll write about my opinion first, and then I'll predict what will really happen second.
First, after running into Former-Mayor Rosansky the other night, who is firmly in favor of Measure B, I decided that I am against Measure B.
Here's why -
1. I'm a small government guy. I believe that our City Government should be much smaller. According to my research (crack research, I tell ya), we have more City Employees to Residents than any of our neighbors. Anyway you look at it, anyway that Councilman Keith Curry tried to explain it to me, anyway you try to justify it, we have too many City Employees on the Payroll. So having those mobile homes on the lawn at our old City Hall aren't necessary. What's necessary is to try and pare down that +/- $107k/year average salary. What's necessary is to fit into our current City Hall and not design a New City Hall which will accommodate for FUTURE EMPLOYEE GROWTH. What's necessary is to get as much of the taxpayers dollars BACK to the taxpayers and not into the Employee Pension Liability funds.
The argument that our current City Hall is susceptible to Tsunami is hooey, primarily because if there was a Tsunami coming (which in itself is a crazy statement), don't you think we would be more concerned with all the little kids who go to school at Newport Beach Elementary first, before worrying about a bunch a civil servants?
2. Let's say that City Hall does move from it's current location. What happens to the current site? It'll probably go to the highest bidder (so the City can try and save up money to pay off/defend the numerous Rehab-related lawsuits...) who will then put a Park there? Right...
Condos and/or businesses will go into that already bottlenecked Newport Blvd. You think traffic was fun going onto the Peninsula during the summer months already...
So notwithstanding any other argument about having a Centrally located City Hall, or this or that, I don't even think we should move City Hall, which would then automatically make me vote No on B.
Now, reality...
Measure B is democracy at it's best. Newport Beach residents get to vote on where to put City Hall.
A Yes vote = City Hall in the Park.
A No vote = City Hall Not in the Park.
Easy as pie.
The voters cannot say that the City Council wasn't acting in the best interest of the Residents because Measure B takes the City Council right out of the equation.
Now that money part...
Jack Croul has put in lots of money in Yes on B for his friend Bill Ficker.
That's very nice of him. But let's take him and Audrey Burnand out of the equation right now to get a better look at the real money raised.
As of the January 19, Yes on B raised a total of $36,680 (without the Croul dough) and No on B raised $19,090 (without the Burnand contributions).
And this is without contribution limits.
To put it into comparison, WITH contribution limits of $500, both Councilwoman Leslie Daigle and Councilman Mike Henn raised more than double what Yes on B raised.
What does this tell me?
Either the community doesn't care enough to put their money behind the mouths (likely), or
Neither side decided to try and raise their own money because of their main benefactors (unlikely).
If people donate money to you, then they'll usually vote for you.
What would you rather have? 1000 people donating $100 to you, or one person donating $100,000 to you. That one person is just one vote.
Throwing money at the issue/candidate helps because it helps get your message out, but it's not always the reason one wins (Former Mayor Heffernan raised less money than challenger Bob Wynn and Former Councilman Dick Nichols raised less money than challenger Bernie Svalstad, both won.)
I think most of the residents actually don't care about where a new City Hall goes.
Ask 10 of your neighbors if they've ever been to City Hall. I bet you only 2 (if that) have.
Then ask them if they'll go to the new Fancy City Hall. I bet you only 1 will.
But with all that said...my guess?
Measure B passes 65% to 35%.
Low voter turnout (% of registered Newport Beach voters) on Measure B compared to the Presidential primary.
Basis behind my prediction?
I don't know...gut feeling.
No comments:
Post a Comment