Editor:
Since the passage of Proposition 13 in 1980, the residents of Piedmont have realized that for our community to have the things that we as a community value, we needed a City Services Tax. Our city has had such a tax since 1980, and we have continuously renewed it for the past 32 years. The tax is up for renewal this year and is on our ballot as Measure Y. It will be at the end of your ballot and is not an increase over the past four years. I urge you to vote yes on Measure Y.
Measure Y helps pay for many of the special elements about our town that make us enjoy living here and coincidentally, help maintain our property values such as our beautiful parks and medians; well-maintained roads; the ability to use Oakland's Library; great recreation programs that our kids enjoy that keep them safe; our recent Harvest Festival; the 4th of July Parade: I'm sure everyone gets my meaning.
If Measure Y doesn't pass, we may not notice it quickly, but eventually we will have to see a decline in the city services we've come to rely upon. It's impossible for the Council to cut $1.6 million from our yearly budget without it catching up to us somewhere. Who will it be? What will be cut? Something you value dearly? Piedmont's one Public Works gardener? One less Schoolmates instructor at each school? No more YANA (You Are Not Alone) from the Police Department? Maybe fewer outings for the Recreation Department's Strictly for Seniors group?
I know for me, it would be the library. I imagine if I were still on the Council, our contract with Oakland for use of the library would be on the chopping block. For me as a resident, that will hurt the most. I go to the Piedmont Branch probably once a week. I love the library. Please vote yes.
I hope everyone will vote yes on Measure Y.
Patty White
Piedmont
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