HALFWAY TO CONCORD » cocotax

Proposition 98, affordable housing, and rent control

admin — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:18:30 +0000

If you can’t figure out why Proposition 98 includes the phasing out of rent control, See Kris Hunt’s article at SFGATE on Proposition 98 and Rent Control. Rent control is another form of governmental abuse of property rights. Proposition 98 opposes the use of eminent domain where private property (a house, a business, a farm or a place of worship) is taken and given to another private owner to redevelop. In the case of rent control, property rights are being abused because government is forcing the property owner to subsidize the rent of an individual renter.

Hunt says: “If the goal of rent control is to provide affordable housing, it should go to those who in need of economic aid, not just anyone who happens to be renting in a rent-controlled building. There are a variety of ways to provide needs-based housing subsidies, which would allow every taxpayer to help pay the cost, not just the owner of a rent-controlled property.

“Only four states have rent control laws and 35 ban rent control outright. Those numbers say a great deal about the problems with rent control. Proposition 98’s plan of phasing out rent control as tenants move is the best approach to solving very real inequities while supporting true reform of eminent domain law in California. Please vote yes on Proposition 98.”

Assemblyman Guy Houston to address CoCo Taxpayer breakfast meeting, Jan 25

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:38:48 +0000

Assemblyman Guy Houston (R-San Ramon; D-15), will address the January 25 breakfast meeting of the Contra Costa County Taxpayers Asociation, to be held at the Black Bear Diner in Walnut Creek from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.

Assemblyman Houston will talk about the Governor’s recent State of the State message and budget proposals as California faces a $14-billion current year budget deficit, as well as the State’s structural deficit where spending increase built into legislation far outstrip the State’s ability to pay.

Executive Director, Kris Hunt, will also discuss the Governor’s Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Commission Report just released. Meanwhile Contra Costa County has a $3 billion retiree health care liability that has yet to be adequately addressed. It is hoped that the Commission will offer some solid recommendations for dealing with both pensions and health care at the State and County levels.

The meeting is sponsored in part by Board Member Bill Baker (financial advisor, tax fighter, and former Congressman) and the firm of Baker, Welch and Mitsutome.

$15.00 Includes full breakfast and speaker. RSVP: Please make reservations by Thursday, January 24 by phone, e-mail or at www.cocotax.org. If you have questions, please call Kris Hunt at 925-228-5610 or e-mail her. Prepayment is greatly appreciated. Checks should be mailed to: P.O. Box 27, Martinez, CA 94553

Lisa Vorderbrueggen to address Coco Taxpayers luncheon, Nov 30

admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:27:05 +0000

Lisa Vorderbruggen will be the guest speaker for the upcoming luncheon of the Contra Costa County Taxpayers Association, to be held November 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Black Bear Diner, located on Treat near Bancroft. Vorderbrueggen is a political editor for the Contra Costa Times and popular moderator for political forums around the county. Lisa will share some insights as well as take questions from “grumpy old white men.” Cost is $20. Make reservations by 11/29 by phone (925) 228-5610, e-mail, or visit the website.

Contra Costa taxpayer groups release report cards for State reps

admin — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 23:42:37 +0000

The Contra Costa County Taxpayers published the report card grades for local state reprentatives based on their fiduciary duties to represent taxpayers. Here are the results:

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association (www.hjta.org) has released its Legislative Report Card for 2007: state lawmakers from our area were rated as follows:

- Senator Tom Torlakson = F
- Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier = F
- Assemblywoman Loni Hancock = F
- Assemblyman Guy Houston = A

The California Taxpayers Association (www.caltax.org), which has been around since 1926, recently issued its annual Cal-Tax Voting Record on the bills they considered most important. State lawmakers from our area took the same position advocation by CalTax in the following percentages:

- Senator Tom Torlakson = 0%
- Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier = 17%
- Assemblywoman Loni Hancock = 13%
- Assemblyman Guy Houston = 100%

The California Chamber ranked how these member voted for Chamber backed legislation

- Senator Tom Torlakson = 1 of 14
- Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier = 1 of 14
- Assemblywoman Loni Hancock = 3 of 14
- Assemblyman Guy Houston = 14 of 14

Supervisor Piepho to address Contra Costa County Taxpayers breakfast, Oct 26

admin — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:29:43 +0000

Contra Costa County Supervisor Mary Piepho (D-III), will address the upcoming breakfast meeting of the Contra Costa County Taxpayers Association, to be held Friday, October 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., at the Black Bear Diner located on Bancroft off Treat in Walnut Creek.

Piepho is Chair of the Board of Supervisors and a member of the Finance Committee and will speak about current County finances and other topics. The meeting will include discussion of the “Pension Prop 13″ initiative to control pension and health care costs of public employees.

Fee is $15 for choice of breakfast. Please RSVP by Thursday, 10/25. Call Kris Hunt at 925-228-5610 or e-mail Kris for questions or to make reservations. Send checks to P.O. Box 27, Martinez, CA 94553