The lawsuit seeks to invalidate the December 2024 vote by the Long Beach City Council to allow a Long BeachMeasure Asales tax increase to begin in April 2025, two years before the voter-approved ballot scheduled date of October 2027.
The state sales tax cap that includes state and local taxes is 10.25%.
In 2020 Long Beach Measure A (LBMA) passed by 16 votes. LBMA and the LA County Measure H brought the sales tax in Long Beach to the then-legal limit of 10.25%.
In 2023, the state legislature passed Assembly Bill 1679 to specifically allow the County of Los Angeles to exceed the local agencies' portion of the sales tax cap by a 1/2 cent. The law was passed in anticipation of LA County passing a local sales tax increase dedicated to homeless services. The legislation only applied to LA County, allowing the county to increase its tax over the 10.25% limit by .25%.
In November 2024, voters approved Los Angeles County Measure A (LACMA) that repealed the previously approved Measure H homeless quarter-cent sales tax and replaced it with a new half-cent sales tax, a total of .25% higher. Unlike Measure H, the new LACMA is a permanent sales tax.
With this new LACMA voter-approved sales tax increase the LA County rate as allowed by the state legislature is 10.50%.
That sales tax rate includes the current LBMA sales tax of .75%.
The LBMA approved by the voters had a schedule to increase the sales tax to 1 cent in October 2027 when the old Measure H was due to end. That 2020 voter-approved schedule kept the sales tax under the long-time 10.25% state cap.
After the November 2024 passage of the LACMA, the Long Beach City Council in December 2024 on recommendation from the Long Beach City Attorney Dawn McIntosh voted to increase the local sales tax to the full 1% two years before the voter-approved date of October 2027. It is that vote, altering the voter-approved schedule that the LBRC lawsuit contends is illegal.
That two-year increase would amount to approximately $6,000,000 a quarter, or $48 million over the next two years.
The LBRC Press Release on its lawsuit states:
The City Attorney’s argument that the City was merely making a “technical” change to Measure A and that voters in 2020 really intended a higher tax rate, has no credibility. When voters approve a ballot measure increasing taxes, they are approving the text of an underlying ordinance which sets forth the proposed new rate (or rates) of taxation.
The lawsuit asserts that the move to increase the tax before the schedule approved by voters in Measure A violated the California Consitution's Proposition 218 amendment. That 1996 constitutional amendment required voter approval of any local government tax.
Based on Proposition 218, the LBRC lawsuit argues that the December City Council vote to start the full 1% local tax ( legally known as a TUT) before the ballot schedule approved by the voters is unconstitutional.
The lawsuit states:
This action was unconstitutional and illegal for two reasons:
a. City voters have not approved a 1% TUT [sales tax] rate during the period April 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027; they approved a ¾% TUT rate via 2020 Measure
A. Thus, the City’s action violates Proposition 218, which prohibits a local
agency from imposing, extending or increasing any tax without voter
approval. (See art. XIII C, § 1, subds. (b) & (d).)
b. This new tax rate will cause the total TUTs in the City to be 2.50% during the
period April 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027, which exceeds the 2% cap
established by section 7251.1. While the County was authorized to enact a TUT
that exceeds the 2% cap (on certain conditions), the City is not.
The LBRC lawsuit was filed on February 6, 2025, in the California Superior Court, Los Angeles. San Diego-based law firm Benink & Slavens, the premier legal experts on Proposition 216, are representing LBRC and the co-plaintiffs.
New Long Beach Sports
Basement announces first SnowFest
Sunday November 3, 2024 10:00 am
Long
Beach’s new 80,000-square-foot Sports Basement has announced its first Long
Beach SnowFest celebration.
The
Long Beach SnowFest will take place on Sunday, November 17th, 9 am- 4 pm at the Los Altos
Village store in the Los Altos Marketplace (South Center).
The timed-entry
tickets are free by RSVP on Everbrite (see link at the bottom of the post).
Just
in time for the holidays and snow season, the event will include reps from over
50 snow industry brands with chances to win some of the newest seasonal snow
gear.
SnowFest will also feature “Beer
for Good” which will feature tastings from breweries for a donation.The Long Beach Boys and Girls Club will
receive 100% of the donation proceeds.
During the SnowFest event, Basementeers
will receive 20% off regular prices.
Also during SnowFest, Basementeers will also get 2-for-1 Palisades Tahoe lift ticket purchase
vouchers for every $100 purchase amount (up
to three vouchers).
A
comprehensive range of sports equipment, from cycling and skiing to yoga and
team sports.
A
wide variety of apparel and footwear for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
The
largest rental fleet on the West Coast, including rental gear for skiing,
snowboarding, camping, mountain
biking,
tennis, pickleball (five in-store pickleball courts), and more
Full-service
bike shop and ski shop, tennis stringing, ski boot fitting, pack fitting, and
gait analysis.
A free
40,000-square-foot, bookable community space
Fundraising
support for local schools and nonprofits through the Basementeer program
In
addition to providing top-quality products and services, Sports Basement is
committed to sustainability and community engagement. The Long Beach store will
continue the company's efforts to reduce its environmental impact by
implementing eco-friendly practices and supporting local initiatives.
Councilman Daryl Supernaw
deserves reelection to a final term
The Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods enthusiastically endorses our popular and effective District 4 Councilman Daryl Supernaw for reelection.
Councilman Supernaw's thank you to LB Post readers for selecting him as the Top Civil Servant
Councilman
Supernaw has proven himself to be an outstanding honest representative for our neighborhoods, District 4, and Long Beach.
His commitments to fostering economic growth, enhancing public safety, working on homeless issues, and his famous focus on constituent services alone would be
worthy of a reelecting Supernaw to a final third term.
Supernaw
worked to acquire “project vouchers” for the new 76-unit residential building at the corner of PCH and Loma. The
$41 million project was built to provide single apartments
for previously unhoused, low-income residents. Without the vouchers, the project would not have been feasible.
Supernaw’s
office is the only council office that acts as a clearing house for homeless
issues in its own district. Supernaw encourages residents to contact his office
regarding the Fourth District homeless population to coordinate available
services.
After
the Animal Service Center was added to District 4, Supernaw successfully
proposed an amendment to the 2024 Long Beach City Budget for funds to
eliminate the backlog of current and former shelter animals needing spay or
neutering. The
backlog was eliminated this summer. . Supernaw's office also paid for new industrial-grade washing machines to wash blankets and towels needed in caring for the animals.
To read how Supernaw's opponent is trying to take credit for Supernaw's Animal Shelter support CLICK ON:
After
the sacred Indigenous Peoples site of Puvungna at CSULB was added to District 4, Supernaw has
proposed and is working
to have the city create a Native American Commission. Once
instituted, Long Beach will be one of the few municipalities with dedicated
Native American representation within a city government.
After
the rest of El Dorado Park was added to District 4, Supernaw worked with city
staff to jump-start the long-stalled upgrades to the El Dorado Duck
Pond. The pond re-opened this spring.
Supernaw
addresses local neighborhood concerns with public and private projects ensuring residents' questions are answered
and residential input is considered. Examples include Supernaw hosting meetings
about the new CSULB dorms on Atherton; Sports Basement taking over the Los
Altos Sears: and working with neighborhoods regarding city-proposed street
makeovers.
Supernaw’s
office is renowned for both its service to residents and its fiscal
efficiency. Unlike other council offices, Supernaw does not hire local political party insiders but instead hires competent professionals. With a productive and lean
professional staff, Supernaw’s average yearly office budget operation savings is
46%. Those funds are then invested back into District 4 sidewalks, street
repairs, and community events.
Committed
to full representation and communication, Supernaw’s seasoned professional staff includes the longest-serving council office chief-of-staff. The efficient staff is Long Beach's most competent city council staff.
In
addition to his famous weekly newsletter and monthly community meetings,
Supernaw is a regular featured guest at neighborhood, HOA, and other community
meetings.
Councilman
Supernaw’s honesty, approachable demeanor, willingness to listen to and respond
to constituents, and his ability to collaborate with colleagues have made him an
effective and respected leader.
Yes! Supernaw
deserves re-election to a final third term.
From LB4D News:
City of Los Angeles Political Machine attacks Supernaw with negative political mail
Former Los Angeles County labor union leader Ron Herrera has formed a Political Action Committee (PAC) in Long Beach to support Herlinda Chico’s campaign to unseat Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw.
City of Long Beach form 410 (click to enlarge)
A close-up of form 410 that has Ron Herrera as the Principal officer of PAC
Herrera is remembered for his part in the October 2022 Los Angeles City Council Racism Scandal. The scandal became national news. It ultimately led to Herrera's resignation from the presidency of his union as well as the resignation of Los Angeles City Councilmember and City Council President Nury Martinez. Three other Los Angeles City Council members were caught up in the scandal.
In September 2024, Herrera turned his attention to Long Beach.
Herrera filed paperwork in Long Beach to form a PAC called “Neighbors for a Safer CD 4 to Support Herlinda Chico 2024”. The Herrera PAC mailed out two political mailers last week to support Chico. The Herrera's mailers targeted two different political demographics in the Fourth District.
Herrera’s PAC has six contributors. The four contributors that contributed $5,000 each all have Los Angeles addresses listed on the campaign paperwork.
In addition to the Los Angeles donors, Long Beach District 7 Councilman Roberto Uranga gave $1,000 to the Herrera PAC. Uranga and his wife are close personal friends of Chico.
Long Beach City College and Long Beach Unified’s connection to Herrera PAC
Cordoba Corporation and JT Construction of Los Angeles both contributed $5,000 each to the Herrera PAC to support Herlinda Chico’s campaign.
Cordoba Corporation's $5,000 contribution to Herrera's OAC (click to enlarge)
What is the connection of Los Angeles engineering company Cordoba Corporation to the Long Beach District 4 City Council race?
The answer is Long Beach City College and its Board Trustee Herlinda Chico. Herlinda Chico was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2020.
LBCC website about Cordoba being the Bond Management Team
Taxpayer Bonds are big business, and this year, the LBCC Trustees placed another almost billion-dollar bond titled Measure AC on the November 2024 ballot.
Chico ran for the Long Beach City College Board after first being defeated by Supernaw in 2015. Since being elected to the LBCC Board, Chico politicized her trustee position on the Board for her political career (see links below).
Despite the backing of both the Long Beach Political Machine and now the Los Angeles Political Machine, Chico has tried to cast herself to voters as “NOT A POLITICIAN” like in this ad:
Los Angeles’ JT Construction also gave $5,000 to the Herrera PAC.
JT Construction's $5,000 contribution to Herrera's PAC (click to enlarge)
What is this Los Angeles company's connection to Long Beach?
Long Beach City College is in Kerr’s District 5 council district.
The Herrera scandals with the Los Angeles City Council
The Herrera Racism Scandal that led to his Los Angeles downfall began with a backroom deal meeting at Herrera’s headquarters. The meeting included powerful LA City Council members and Herrera over controlling the Los Angeles City Council redistricting process.
The Los Angeles scandal became a national story when audio of the meeting was released that included numerous racial and homophobic comments and slurs.
Herrera was forced to resign after the audio was released.
After Herrera’s resignation, his union demanded the resignations of the Los Angeles City Council members involved with Herrera noting the wide range of racist remarks made by the meeting participants:
“Racism in any form has no place in the House of Labor. It is unconscionable that those elected to fight for our communities of color would engage in repulsive and vile anti-Black, anti-LGBTQ, anti-Asian and anti-Oaxacan remarks that pit our working communities against each other. These sentiments will not be tolerated by our organization or those who we represent .“
An audio of the secret Herrera 2021 meeting was released online and to the Los Angeles Times. During the meeting's discussions, racial and disparaging remarks were made about the black adopted son (at the time 8 years old) of white City Councilman Mike Bonin and his husband Sean Arian.
The meeting hosted by Herrera included Los Angeles City Councilmember and City Council President Nury Martinez and Los Angeles City Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon.
Bonin became a topic in the meeting. Herrera, Martinez, and De Leon all make racial comments. The scandal made national headlines and rocked the Los Angeles Political Machine.CNN reported:
"Much of the conversation focused on maps proposed by the city’s redistricting commission and the councilmembers’ frustration with them, as well as the need to “ensure that heavily Latino districts did not lose economic assets” in the once-in-a-decade process, according to the Times.
The councilmembers then discussed Councilmember Mike Bonin, a White man. In clips of the leaked audio posted by the Times, Martinez is heard recounting a conversation and says “Bonin thinks he’s f**king Black.”
According to the Times, Martinez says Bonin appeared with his son on a float in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade and he “handled his young Black son as though he were an accessory.” The boy is 8 years old, according to a Facebook post by his father.
The Times reported that Martinez also said of Bonin’s child, “Parece changuito,” or “He’s like a monkey.”
“They’re
raising him like a little White kid,” Martinez said in the audio released by
The Times."
"I
was like, this kid needs a beatdown. Let me take him around the corner and then
I’ll bring him back.”
While
the Martinez comments toward Bonin and Arian's son took center stage in the
scandal's first reporting, the distraught parents released a statement that
included Herrera and De Leon’s statements in the meeting. The statement stated
that as parents they are “equally angry and disgusted by the ugly
racist comments about our son from Kevin de León and Ron Herrera, who should
also resign their posts, and by the tacit acceptance of those remarks from Gil
Cedillo.”
Following
Herrera’s resignation, Martinez resigned, first as City Council President, then
from the City Council.
Cedillo
who had just a few months left in office after a June election lossrefused
to resign.
De
Leon also refused to resign causing a firestorm of protests for months at Los
Angeles City Council meetings.
A second audio recording of Herrera and former Los Angeles City Council member Mitch O’Farrell and a union staffer surfaced shortly after the racist audio. The second audio revealed a Herrera plotto keep O’Farrell in office by paying off progressive non-profits and local Democratic clubs to endorse O’Farrell’s re-election over his progressive challenger. O'Farrell ended up losing the race.
Los Angeles DA candidate John
McKinney hosts community meeting at District 4 Pizza
Deputy District Attorney John McKinney will
be hosting a neighborhood meet and great at District 4 Pizza on Saturday
December 2, 2023 from Noon to 2 pm.
McKinney is running to replace his boss embattled
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon.
One of the DA offices most successful
prosecutors who has tried and won every one of the almost 40 murder cases. On
his website he states:
"In all, I have tried nearly 40 murder
cases. I gave a small piece of myself to each one. Every killer I prosecuted
was convicted. Every victim’s humanity was affirmed in the courtroom."
In his 25-year career as a prosecutor in
the Los Angeles County DA’s Office includes
·Victim
Impact Program
·Juvenile
Court
·Hardcore
Gang Division
·Major
Crimes Division
For
more information on his positions and campaign CLICK on
LACAN UPDATE Sports Basement coming to Los Altos Center vacant Sears building
Friday 10/27/23 9:45 pm
The Bay Area regional sporting goods retailerSports Basementwill be moving into the Los Altos Marketcenter's (aka Los Altos Center South) vacant Sears building. The huge retail building includes three stories and a basement.
Los Altos Village neighborhood has been abuzz about workers working inside the long vacant Sears space for the last several weeks. In his popular weekly newsletter, Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw wrote in the Friday October 27, 2023 edition that he "will be meeting with the building owner and the new tenant next Tuesday to get all the details."
LB4D Newsspoke with the onsite workers and confirmed that the new tenant will be Sports Basement. The Long Beach location will be Sports Basement’s thirteenth location, the second in Southern California.
The new Los Altos Marketplace Sports Basement is expected to open in the Spring of 2024.
Founded in 1998 with its first store in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco, the company has grown to twelve stores. Eleven Sports Basement’s stores are in the Bay Area. Last year it opened its first Southern California store in Fountain Valley.
Sports Basement is unique in the sporting goods industry because it embraces numerous retail strategies for a one stop shopping experience.Building on a corporate culture of “community” and “fun,” stores are in repurposed buildings and are unique to that local community.
Its massive stores in repurposed buildings sell in-line major brands, close-outs, and discontinued items as well as used goods (marketed as “pre-loved). The stores have a discount warehouse feel that reflect its “best brands at basement prices” company moto.
photo courtesy of Sports Basement
Like Trader Joe’s, Sports Basement custom builds most of its display shelves, racks, and signage.It has its own metal and wood shop.
Sports Basement also rents sports and event equipment. Unlike REI and the long defunct Sports Authority and Sports Chalet’s rental focus on mainly skiing and camping equipment rentals, Sports Basement has numerous categories of “outdoor”equipment rentals.Rentals include a wide variety of sports equipment (from skies to pickleball) and sports clothing, plus travel (think car accessories and luggage) and a selection of outdoor event items as single rentals or whole everything-you-need packages.
The store also offers state-of the-art bike and snow shops offering tuning services.
Online shopping for all store merchandise and rentals with in-store pickup available.
Shoppers will find lounge areas throughout the store and a free-of-charge Community Space to hold group meetings or birthday parties. Using that space, stores offer speaker events, fitness classes, movie nights, fundraisers. Each store’s community space has a different name and theme like “The Dairy” in the retailers San Francisco’s Presidio store.Depending on the location, the Community Spaces range in occupancy from 50- 300 people. The Sports Basement website explains:
Sports Basement is a hub for local clubs, non-profits, and corporate partners. Our stores, in all their reclaimed glory, transform into whatever our community needs them to be. We serve as meeting halls, call centers, movie theaters, art galleries, yoga studios...we could even be a wedding venue if you want. And you can reserve any of our community spaces at select stores, for free, by clicking the buttons below - it's as simple as that because being a part of our communities should be the easiest thing in the world.
The Dairy Community Space photo courtesy of Sports Basement
Fostering a sense of community, Sports Basement supports sports participants group meet-ups for in-person and virtual events:
Join us at your local store for a run group, ride group, or a fitness class. Looking for more? Check out our full list of in-person and virtual events below.
Sports Basement’s loyalty program has a one-time $25 lifetime membership buy-in cost.Called the “Basementeer’s” program, it offers 10% discounts on all purchases and 10% of the purchase price to the customer’s choice of school or charity. When the Fountain Valley store opened, memberships in the Basementeer’s program was offered for free.
The Los Altos Center was part of the original Lloyd Whaley built Los Altos Village planned community.
Buildings within the Los Altos Marketplace have different property owners with the Sears building being one of them. Originally a Walkers Department Store when the center opened in 1955, it was rebranded a Broadway Department store after Walkers was bought by Broadway Department stores a year later. A third story was added to the building in 1964. In the 1990’s, the then Los Altos Center was redeveloped as a Redevelopment Agency project. At that time Sears bought the Los Altos Broadway property and again remodeled it.
Redevloped store mix from the 1990's photo from LB4D News
After rival Kmart Corporation bought Sears in 2005, a slow decline began with the ultimate demise of both retailers after declaring bankruptcy in 2018. The ensuing bankruptcy left only11 Searsopen today.
This month in Burbank, the local Sears re-opened in its former Burbank Town Center space as the 12th retail space. Unfortunately, according to the reviews, the “new” Sears looks like a close-out bankrupt clearance store. The other three California Sears are located in Whitter, Stockton, and Concord.
