With Whom Did Mayor Garcia Meet (29 People) At Two "Breakfast Briefings" Listed On Campaign Filing For Tax Hike Ballot Measure?

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(April 26, 2016, 10:40 a.m.) -- Mayor Robert Garcia held two "breakfast briefings" in April attended by 29 persons, listing the costs as paid and accrued expenses on a campaign filing for the political campaign committee formed to support the June ballot measure that would raise LB's sales tax to 10% (while it's 9% in Lakewood/Signal Hill and 8% in most OC cities) and let current and future City Councils spend its revenue for any general fund items they wish.

The campaign committee's treasurer, Mark Taylor, tells LBREPORT.com via email that "the Committee & Mayor Garcia hosted two informational breakfasts in support of Measures A&B." LBREPORT.com followed up by asking if -- in the interest of transparency -- the campaign committee would release the names of those who attended the meetings; a response is pending.

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Public record filings indicate the "Mayor Garcia, Foster and O'Neill Committee to Support Measures A & B to Protect Police & Fire And Repair Infrastructure in Long Beach" is an officeholder controlled committee with Mayor Garcia as its listed officeholder.

LBREPORT.com is interested in learning if the persons with whom the Mayor met regarding the sales tax hike political campaign have any business dealings with the City of Long Beach. The committee's initial financial contributions ($170,000+ in cash and in-kind donations) came from LB's police and firefighter unions, scheduled to negotiate new contracts with the city following the June election on the sales tax increase.

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