10/01/2024
2024 Election Coverage
By David N. Young - September 30, 2024
On the Nov. 5 municipal ballot for the City of Los Alamitos, is a little know Ballot Measure known as “X”. I am encouraging a NO vote!
This was a last minute, poorly written by staff, item pushed at the last final opportunity to be added to the November 5 municipal ballot. There was No public opportunity for public discussion when it was taken up late at the August City Council Meeting. Despite debate in from of a nearly empty council chamber, the motion was approved 3-2 to appear on the ballot.
Five separate changes are sought in the City Charter seeking approval by a single yes/no vote. Despite the merits of the requested changes to the Charter, you can only vote once! While it is proposed to control the process for lobbyists for the City, it also seeks to limit campaign donations to Council candidates from $5,500 to $500. It also wants change of the current three terms to reset for current members adding three more terms due to the recent change in 2029 to Council Districts fro the prior city wide election of candidates.
This means in 2026 any candidate would be able to gain 3 new four year terms. Only one council member is completing 12 years; however the charter change will permit 24 straight years for that candidate, if elected.
The required council districting was purportedly to expand opportunities in cities. In Los Alamitos, since implementation, those advances have failed. Candidate competition has failed in two districts with only one candidate three times, only the minimum required candidates twice, and when on council member unfortunately passed away mid term, required recruitment and a two year appointment of an alternate.
This added Charter Amendment also requires an increase in election cost by 2/5ths. That additional cost was never reported to the public.
The City was taken to court as the current proposal fails to give voters the ability to individually vote on each Charter section change. That judicial request was rejected by the Judge. Voters are left one choice for all six amendments.
The pro or vote yes ballot statement was signed by a former from nearly a decade ago, and the President of the city police officers union, which just negotiated a multi year salary increase of 18 percent over the next five years.
As a signer to the Vote NO on measure “X”, proposal, this proposal needs to be rewritten where voters can consider each change separately and have a Public Hearing before it goes back to the voters for consideration. There is no rush and full understanding of each change should be given a hearing before the vote.
Dean Grose, retired council member.
“In God We Trust”
