Mailbag: Council increased property taxes

Allow me to explain: property tax bills contain three different components. The first portion is labeled General Tax Levy. This portion is controlled by Proposition 13 and is limited to 1% of the assessed value of your home and cannot increase more than 2%, year over year.

The second portion is named Voter Approved Indebtedness. This portion can only be used to repay bonds approved by voters. Current law requires a 2/3 vote of the people to approve bonds, except for schools, which require a 55% affirmative vote.

The third and final component is labeled Direct Assessments. This is the portion that the City Council partly controls and this is the part of the property taxes that our illustrious incumbents voted to increase.

The record speaks for itself, but don't take my word for it. Listen to the incumbents boast of raising our property taxes (their words, not mine) at a City Council meeting: http://www.lagunabeachcity.net/cityhall/meetings_agendas_and_minutes.asp

Fortunately, we don't have to put up with this anymore. Join me in changing the direction of City Hall this November.

Emanuel Patrascu

Laguna Beach

As a resident and business owner in downtown Laguna for the past 30 years, I am offended by Mr. Petrascu's recent e-mail blasts and comments in the newspapers that the current City Council has done too little, too late to help local business.

I have owned businesses in Laguna Beach for years and have never seen a more pro-active and responsive City Council as it relates to business.

Personally, I have worked closely for several years with the current council members, I call them with my concerns, and I know that they have listened to me and have helped in a number of ways.

Kelly Boyd, when he was Mayor, wrote a letter to every owner of retail space in Laguna Beach to encourage them to work with local store owners on rents. Either to reduce rents or give rent free months, so that the stores could remain open during this recession and difficult economic time. My landlord listened, as he wants his tenants to succeed! I thank Kelly for that.

I called Elizabeth Pearson a few months ago, directly, asking her to add an agenda item allowing outdoor displays to our storefronts during the summer months. The City Council voted unanimously to support this and it has been a tremendous help during a difficult summer. All of the merchants are grateful for this support and we hope it continues.

Toni Iseman has worked for many years to encourage the free trolley system, and parking lots located outside of the downtown area, thus reducing the number of cars that clog the downtown district.

The entire City Council voted to allow free parking for employees of downtown stores, allowing them to park in a lot next to City Hall. This left hundreds of parking spaces available to Laguna residents and customers coming to Laguna to shop and dine.

Mr. Petrascu, I have some questions for you. You tell people you are a board member of the Chamber of Commerce. How many times have YOU gone before the Planning Commission or City Council to help a local business? Have you led the Chamber in new directions to help our local businesses? And why, instead of wasting all of your energy complaining about the current council, haven't you told us what YOU will do to help us?

I appreciate the City Council and the work that they have done. We as store owners need to follow the rules outlined in our business permits. There are those that feel that rules are not made for them, and violators must be held in check. This Council gives business owners a voice. If you follow the rules, and operate within the law, your voice is heard.