California State Senator Bob Hertzberg comments on my column. 

My recent RantZ regarding Senator Bob Hertzberg ELIMINATING the Posse Comitatus law in California drew a quick and defensive response from the Senator. The legal requirement compelling a person to assist a police officer during an arrest when ordered by the officer, prompted the Senator to reply to my concerns. I was informed personally by the Senator and his staff that a person can still assist a police officer when the officer is confronted with a violent or uncooperative suspect. What is removed is the legal requirement that compels a citizen to assist an officer. So, in other words, a person can still assist and officer if they wish to do so. If they choose to ignore the officer and walk away, there is no violation of law for the person, as there was in the past. 

You and the HUNGRY CALIFORNIA TAX agenda

The State of California is working on increasing a host of taxes that will impact all of us in the near future. Plans are underway to modify Proposition 13 to make it easier to increase property taxes for commercial property. Proposition 13 was passed in 1978 by California voters and championed by a man named Howard Jarvis. Prop 13 currently limits the increase on all residential and commercial property to 2% per year. There is a move in Sacramento to split the residential and commercial property tax into separate categories. If changes are made, the end result will be increased commercial property tax. It will be a real burden to most retail stores and all commercial properties. I believe that if the Property 13 tax structure changes, many people will suffer including all of us who purchase goods and services from retail stores. 

Next is the move to float additional taxes for schools in Los Angeles and throughout California. Since the Los Angeles Unified School District failed to gain enough votes to pass Measure EE, they are at it again. With the failure of Measure EE, the school district is pleading poverty and claims that they will not be able to pay the bills including teacher’s salaries and benefits in the near future. I know that teachers are not appreciated by some in our society. However, teachers truly deserve our appreciation and financial support for the work they do in trying to educate the youth of our city. What the LAUSD needs to do is restructure the bloated administration structure to reduce costs and put the funds where they are needed most and that is with the local schools and teachers. 

The State of California is working on floating a school funding tax for schools throughout the state. The funds will be used for a variety of school projects and improvements in structures. The end result will be additional taxes for each of us to pay. 

In addition to the proposed new and additional taxes, the 2/3 majority of voters currently needed to pass tax increases will be reduced to a 50% majority to pass the measures, if the wishes of our Sacramento Legislators and Governor are realized. 

When the FBI comes calling with search warrants, things must not be in order! 

The FBI has visited Los Angeles City Hall and other city facilities in recent months. Why would the FBI come calling with armed agents serving search warrants at various government buildings? It does not take much imagination to figure out that something must be wrong in the political offices of the City of the Angels. Has the Devil invaded the Los Angeles political structure with possible corruption and illegal activity that warrant the Feds to visit Los Angeles City facilities including the office of the Los Angeles City Attorney? Only time will tell what information caused the Feds to obtain probable cause to initiate the move on Los Angeles City Government. 

When we examine the current operations of Los Angeles City Government, we find that there is a checks and balance built into some departments and operations. For example the LAPD has the Civilian Police Commission and the Inspector General to make sure operations are run in a legal and proper fashion. The City Attorney is the legal authority for the city and answers to the voters. There is no direct check and balance on the Officer of the City Attorney. The City Council and the City Controller are independent and also answer to the voters. The Department of Water and Power has a civilian commission and rate payer advocate to oversee certain operations. So, when the DWP recently came under scrutiny the Mayor appointed an Inspector General to become the watchdog for the department that is currently under investigation. 

What does the Inspector General do first. Establish facilities and a staff and all the other administrative operations that will be necessary to carry out the duties of an Inspector General. That will cost additional dollars that we will all pay for it in our DWP bills. I just happened to receive my DWP bill in the mail today. It is a total of $532.05 for the two months. I live alone and don’t waste water or power. With the additional costs to operate the DWP, I can imagine that my next bill will be higher to pay for all the new expenses the DWP will have to pay in the ongoing investigations that will take months to complete. 

As we can see, the City of Los Angeles is not only a city with an out of control homeless population with rats and other vermin running around, but a City Hall filled with some possible Corrupt and illegal activity. Time will tell if we can clean up the city and City Hall……