Pico Rivera shoppers, businesses feel sales tax hike

Herlinda Ramirez Colosimo has lived in the city all her life but recently has found herself shopping outside its borders.

[Luis Alvarado]

I do not think that residents need to see the official report to know that they have been taking for a ride.

There is one more issue which I think was not covered. When measure "P" was introduced to the residents, we were told it was to save very needed City Services. If we failed to come through our police department was going to suffer and draconian cuts would cripple our city. Next thing we know, we are getting a 30 million bond that has doomed us to a 30 year loan.

Now those same officials and the new candidate Camacho are also supporting measure TR. And once again they are using the same switch and bait. They are calling it a "Tax reduction". but the fine print will tell you that it is a Trojan Horse that will INCREASE OUR TAXES.

When question about it, they claimed they were not aware of the additional possible taxes. Can we really believe them again?

Please, visit my web page at luis4picorivera.com

If you feel that tax increases make you upset, Vote for Luis Alvarado on November 3, 2009.

I will fight to make our city lean, just like all of us are doing at our homes.

[Luis Alvarado]

One last thing I want to address. I agree that there has been progress in Pico Rivera. Yet, how can three people take credit for all the good changes but not the bad stuff.

First, we all still pay a hefty tax (not counting measure P). This is what the leadership was supposed to do all along. There are many fine people who work in the city. So, hats of to the city workers.

There are also other candidates whom said that they want to go back to fix the mess they created. That they are ready to go back and do it again. Yet there is not much good to show for their previous tenure. Please. let's start with capable, experienced and very honest new people.

Sometimes the largest risk in life is not taking the better risk out of fear of failure. I welcome you to visit my site and learn about my candidacy. And how I will bring good judgment and transparency to City Hall. Then decide whom is best for our city.

[Lockheed Avenue Guy]

When normal people have a reduction in their income or an increase in expenses, we do what’s called “tighten your belt”. When learn to live within our means. When our government doesn’t budget properly, they demand more money. That is like when a drunken sailor spends all his money, we give him more.

As a Whittier resident, I live closer to the Pico shopping center, but as a matter of principle, I have boycotted Pico and I tell everyone I know to do the same. I know its more gas and time, but I for one say NO to higher taxes! This is the only way to send a message to the incompetent city council. So here is my advice:

Home Depot – Washington & Lambert, Whittier
In & Out Burger – Telegraph & Painter, Whittier
Borders Books – Beach & Imperial, La Harbra
Walmart – Beach & Imperial, La Harbra
Target – Whittier Blvd/Whitwood Center, Whittier
Big 5 – Whittier & Painter, Whittier
Lowes – Puente Hills Mall, City of Industry
Marshalls or Ross – Montebello Blvd & Beverly, Montebello
Staples – Whittier & Painter, Whittier

And Fresh and Easy will be opening soon at Whittier & Painter.

See Pico it’s very easy to shop anywhere but Pico!

[Common sense]

How does Measure TR increase taxes? No new utility services will be added to what's already being taxed and the rate will go down to 4.5%. Where's the increase?

As for the bond, I guess people like Alvarado are satisfied with having the same run-down parks and puny little library for another 50 years. Maybe he's "new" but he has the same "old" ideas. Is good enough really good enough?

[CTIP_dot_org]

Common sense wrote:

How does Measure TR increase taxes? No new utility services will be added to what's already being taxed and the rate will go down to 4.5%. Where's the increase?
As for the bond, I guess people like Alvarado are satisfied with having the same run-down parks and puny little library for another 50 years. Maybe he's "new" but he has the same "old" ideas. Is good enough really good enough?

Measure TR does not increase taxes, but voting NO on measure TR could potentially earn you a refund and REDUCE your taxes by as much as 3.75%.
The city has unlawfully been collecting taxes from you for telecommunications related utilities (cell phone, internet, etc.) which were NOT part of the original Utility Tax.
The real reason they want you to vote on Measure TR is because by voting for Measure TR, you are authorizing them to REWRITE the Utility Tax. If they DO NOT rewrite the Utility Tax, they will have to STOP CHARGING YOU TAX on your cell phone, etc.
THAT IS WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE NO on Measure TR

[Scared]

Just In -

A new flyer is being distributed on Bulky IN HIS OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. Bulky is so scared of that flyer, he offered the man passing out the flyers $600 to STOP PASSING OUT THE FLYERS.

The city manager is so scared he is personally trying to beautify the city by going on resident's property to retrieve the flyers. What a buddy!!

Way to go CHUCKLES! The neighbor has some papers on his porch. Go and pick those up as well!!!

A police report was taken, so you can check it out for yourself!!!!

I wonder if he using the city car and taxpayer gas to drive around and pick up flyers. That's where your Measure P funds went!

[HotDogOnAStick]

I'm glad this independent study is being released to let the residents know the obvious that we are going out of the city to purchase items. Something Beilke and Co. insisted would not happen. How they could insist that, I dont know.

I have to agree with what Mr. Alvarado posted here. How could these 3 (4 with gallegos-smith) take all the credit for everything positive in the city including items that were already in process from previous administrations yet always try and shift blame for negatives to the other 2 council persons? Kudos to the residents and city employees for making improvements to the city.
As far as measure TR goes. Beilke is saying lets give the residents a tax break. Everyone likes tax breaks right? Yet in the same breath he says "If we do not approve Measure TR we will be losing money." How does NOT approving a tax cut make they city lose money? Well the language in the measure is also going to be rewritten to allow the city to place a user tax on cellphones etc. The city already taxes landlines illegally and is in danger of a lawsuit. This measure corrects that language and adds in the cellphones so the city can tax the residents even more so.

Please no more scare tactics, bait and switch tactics, and NO more snake oil sales men and carpetbaggers.

NO BEILKE NO CAMACHO NO MORE PROBLEMS!

[born and raised in pico]

I lived in pico my whole live and since they raised the sales tax I go to Whittier,Montebello to do all my shopping.

[Rob]

Lockheed Avenue Guy wrote:

When normal people have a reduction in their income or an increase in expenses, we do what’s called “tighten your belt”. When learn to live within our means. When our government doesn’t budget properly, they demand more money. That is like when a drunken sailor spends all his money, we give him more.
As a Whittier resident, I live closer to the Pico shopping center, but as a matter of principle, I have boycotted Pico and I tell everyone I know to do the same. I know its more gas and time, but I for one say NO to higher taxes! This is the only way to send a message to the incompetent city council. So here is my advice:
Home Depot – Washington & Lambert, Whittier
In & Out Burger – Telegraph & Painter, Whittier
Borders Books – Beach & Imperial, La Harbra
Walmart – Beach & Imperial, La Harbra
Target – Whittier Blvd/Whitwood Center, Whittier
Big 5 – Whittier & Painter, Whittier
Lowes – Puente Hills Mall, City of Industry
Marshalls or Ross – Montebello Blvd & Beverly, Montebello
Staples – Whittier & Painter, Whittier
And Fresh and Easy will be opening soon at Whittier & Painter.
See Pico it’s very easy to shop anywhere but Pico!

Telegraph and painter actually puts the In N Out in Santa Fe Springs.
The southern most boundary for Whittier is mostly Lambert but in one place it reaches down to Mulberry. But it does not go all the way to Telegraph.

[Observer]

Neighboring retailers are ok with PR taxes.

This is not rocket science, raise taxes people spend less.

The folks who feed at the public trough are happy until less money available .

[pico loco]

The vote to raise taxes came from the retarded seniors at the senior center. I know because everytime I was there they played that crap all day long on the cable channel that told them of closing the senior center and the city would go broke. This was done in spanish and english and most senors just don't care and are brain dead anyhow. Thats How Rita-Jo gets her votes by visiting seniors at a rest home she works at. I wish the citizens of Pico would wake up someday

[Jessica]

I live in Whittier but it's the same distance to get to Pico Rivera from my house. I used to shop in Pico Rivera but forget about it. I shop in Whittier now.

[City Watch Dog]

It was a great day in Pico Rivera today. Looks like Beilke and his soon to lose his 175,000 annual salary City Manager are running scared! Running behind the walk men picking up delivered TRUE information on our beloved Ron. Two police reports taken. God is on our side. 8 days and counting. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!

[PR Lifer]

City Watch Dog wrote:

It was a great day in Pico Rivera today. Looks like Beilke and his soon to lose his 175,000 annual salary City Manager are running scared! Running behind the walk men picking up delivered TRUE information on our beloved Ron. Two police reports taken. God is on our side. 8 days and counting. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!

Do you have any information on this flyer? i didn't receive one and I would like to join in on the festivities.

[Common sense]

CTIP_dot_org wrote:

<quoted text>
Measure TR does not increase taxes, but voting NO on measure TR could potentially earn you a refund and REDUCE your taxes by as much as 3.75%.
The city has unlawfully been collecting taxes from you for telecommunications related utilities (cell phone, internet, etc.) which were NOT part of the original Utility Tax.
The real reason they want you to vote on Measure TR is because by voting for Measure TR, you are authorizing them to REWRITE the Utility Tax. If they DO NOT rewrite the Utility Tax, they will have to STOP CHARGING YOU TAX on your cell phone, etc.
THAT IS WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE NO on Measure TR

Everything is a frigging conspiracy with you guys! The original intent of the ordinance was that telephones, cell phones, etc. would be subject to the tax. It's your "friends" at the telephone industry that decided to push the issue of challenging the wording of all utility tax ordinances, not just Pico Rivera's. Rewriting the ordinance does not change the original intent, it merely updates the wording to reflect today. All you whiners want to keep Pico Rivera in the gutter so the homies can start "re-painting" the city again.

[Common sense]

pico loco wrote:

The vote to raise taxes came from the retarded seniors at the senior center. I know because everytime I was there they played that crap all day long on the cable channel that told them of closing the senior center and the city would go broke. This was done in spanish and english and most senors just don't care and are brain dead anyhow. Thats How Rita-Jo gets her votes by visiting seniors at a rest home she works at. I wish the citizens of Pico would wake up someday

Retarded? Really? Wow, that's cold. And why are they any more brain dead than you?

[Jim]

I live in Whittier and shop in La Habra or elsewhere to beat the tax increase in LA county and will never be caught buying anything in Pico. 10 percent sales tax is too rich for my blood. I'll burn the extra gas or pay shipping from out of state before I'll pay the tax. It is the principle of the thing.

[bewildered]

Read up on city politics before you post, redevelopment debt is here because of past councilmemebers, carlos garcia, pete ramirez,armenta, bee proo, if you choose to point fingers make sure they are pointing the right way, this council Beilke and Archuleta and Salcido are working to better are community which they have and measure p was voted on by the smart people of pico rivera no one was scared into it, they are intelligent people, regardless of what you think, surronding cities wish they had a healthy budget such as ours, so please, pay for you political mailers don't get free political speeches on this post, better yet, hit the penny saver like your friend armenta.

Luis Alvarado wrote:

One last thing I want to address. I agree that there has been progress in Pico Rivera. Yet, how can three people take credit for all the good changes but not the bad stuff.
First, we all still pay a hefty tax (not counting measure ****). This is what the leadership was supposed to do all along. There are many fine people who work in the city. So, hats of to the city workers.
There are also other candidates whom said that they want to go back to fix the mess they created. That they are ready to go back and do it again. Yet there is not much good to show for their previous tenure. Please. let's start with capable, experienced and very honest new people.
Sometimes the largest risk in life is not taking the better risk out of fear of failure. I welcome you to visit my site and learn about my candidacy. And how I will bring good judgment and transparency to City Hall. Then decide whom is best for our city.

[jaime]

then you must have alot of meoney to burn, you sound very smart

Jim wrote:

I live in Whittier and shop in La Habra or elsewhere to beat the tax increase in LA county and will never be caught buying anything in Pico. 10 percent sales tax is too rich for my blood. I'll burn the extra gas or pay shipping from out of state before I'll pay the tax. It is the principle of the thing.

[J Cruz]

Jim wrote:

I live in Whittier and shop in La Habra or elsewhere to beat the tax increase in LA county and will never be caught buying anything in Pico. 10 percent sales tax is too rich for my blood. I'll burn the extra gas or pay shipping from out of state before I'll pay the tax. It is the principle of the thing.

Murga and Armenta will be crying like b8thces when Beilke wins. LMAOx10 Too loser who deserve eachother.