No One Seeks To Write Arguments Against City Hall-Sought Oil Tax Increase

A paid public communication by Livable California

UPDATE from Livable California On Nine Bad Housing Bills Two bad bills -- AB 1279 (opposed by City of LB) and AB 3107 -- are now dead (a victory, pulled by their author.)
On Aug. 6 three other bad bills were approved by the State Senate Housing Committee: AB 725, AB 2345 (lets developers override city standards on height, open space, parking, setbacks, side yards and other careful planning) and AB 3040 (lets cities "upzone" single-family areas to fourplexes)
On Aug. 11, SB 1120 (co-authored by state Senator Lena Gonzalez, it would crush single-family zoning, allowing 4 market-rate homes where a one home now stands) and SB 902 will be heard in the Ass'y Local Gov't Committee. SB 902 lets city councils toss out voter-approved protection of lands.
SB 1085, SB 995 remain problematic.
Reach us at: contact@livableca.org

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(Aug. 11, 2020, 12:15 p.m.) -- No one, including LB oil producers who'd be directly impacted, submitted forms to write a ballot argument opposed to City Hall's desired increase in LB's oil production tax. City staff estimates the measure would produce roughly $1.6 million annually in General Fund ("blank check") revenue for City Hall spending.

Those indicating they wish to submit an argument in support (and were chosen by Mayor Garcia to do so) were Chris Chavez (lead argument writer), Dr. Elisa Nicholas, Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr., Lian Cheun and Elayne Carbajal.

As separately reported by LBREPORT.com, in late July lawyers for the State Lands Commission (SLC = Lt. Governor, State Controller, Governor's Dir. of Finance),warned that the City's proposed tax measure -- and its existing oil production tax -- "as applied to the Long Beach Tidelands, run afoul of the State constitution, legislative grants, and the City’s obligations as trustee the People of California." SLC lawyers said Commission staff was prepared to work with the City to try and resolve these issues and urged the Council not to put the proposed oil tax increase on the ballot. After Deputy City Attorney Rich Anthony said publicly the City believes it has grounds to defend its position. and amendments to the proposed tax text reduce the amount of the City's potential exposure, the Council voted to put the proposed measure on the ballot.

An inquiry by LBREPORT.com to the State Lands Commission seeking any update on their stance is pending. LBREPORT.com will update this story as we learn more.

The City Clerk's office says the cost of the special citywide election along is a little over a million dollars.

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Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.

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