Measure F loses but supporters not
giving up on bettering public safety

November 07, 2014
Santa Paula News

After a hard-fought race supporters of Measure F were disappointed that the 1 percent sales tax to boost public safety and fix roads couldn't meet the 66 percent minimum voter approval required, but backers vow to continue work to improve the safety of the city.

After a hard-fought race supporters of Measure F were disappointed that the 1 percent sales tax to boost public safety and fix roads couldn't meet the 66 percent minimum voter approval required, but backers vow to continue work to improve the safety of the city.

At one point, when the initial tally was released, it looked as if Measure F was headed to victory... but the later results showed the initiative - which would have provided an estimated $1.6 million for specified uses - was not to be.

Yes votes totaled 2,177 (57.87 percent) and no votes 1,585 (42.13 percent).

The measure would have generated an annual $800,000 for Santa Paula Police and $400,000 each for Santa Paula Fire and road maintenance needs.

If successful the measure, introduced by Vice Mayor Jim Tovias, would have added 1 percent to Santa Paula's present 7.5 percent sales tax and at 8.5 percent made the city's tax the highest in Ventura County. Measure F had a 12-year sunset clause.

Although a majority of voters approved the tax increase there were those that cited various reasons for not supporting it ranging from believing the special revenue should be devoted exclusively to public safety and wariness on City Hall accountability to just not supporting taxes in general.

It wasn't for a lack of trying: Measure F supporters were out every weekend and many weeknights walking neighborhoods asking voters for support and held rallies at busy intersections.

Financial support was primarily given by Limoneira Co. which acted as a third party checkbook for campaign expenses; as of the last finance filing period the company reported donating about $25,000 of the approximately $31,000 raised for the campaign.

The cost per "yes" vote was about $14.23.

Chief Police Steve McLean, who off hours was a Measure F spokesman, said he accepts the results of the election and thanked those involved "who put their heart and soul into trying to pass Measure F."

The measure was crafted to provide new personnel and equipment to the SPPD and SPFD; although not stated in the measure there was also hope the additional revenue would help bring parity to public safety salaries, the lowest in Ventura County.

"As your chief," noted McLean's statement, "I do not have the luxury of having a pity party. There is too much work to do and too many criminals to take to jail."

The SPPD experienced staffing reductions caused by unfilled vacancies going from a high of 34-sworn officers in 2007 to 20 as of July 2013.  And with the loss of officers came a jump in crime and gang activity.

The homicides included a woman that was killed by a stray bullet fired during a March gang altercation near her High Street home.

Ronda McKaig approached the council about the rise of crime in the city - 9 homicides in an 18-month period starting May 2013, a number greater than the previous nine years combined - and was a Measure F campaign leader.

"We are disappointed that Measure F did not receive enough votes even though almost 60 percent of the town voted for it.

"But," said McKaig, "there's always a silver lining. The campaign united members of our community and we now have a critical mass of citizens ready to step up and work to resolve our public safety issues."

And a new City Council with the election of Jenny Crosswhite, Ginger Gherardi and John Procter, who defeated incumbents Ralph Fernandez and Bob Gonzales and will fill the seat of Mayor Rick Cook, who declined to run for reelection.

Said McKaig, "We have three new council members that bring experience, vision and collaborative process to the table, and whose campaign platforms indicated that they were committed to improving public safety. "I am optimistic that the new city council will make it a top priority to secure funding so that our police and fire departments are adequately staffed and paid fairly. I am also hopeful the city council and other leaders in our community will create opportunities to get citizens involved in making changes that improve public safety."

In the meantime, said McLean, "The Santa Paula Police Department will continue to do the best we can with what we have."





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