Sales Tax Loss Is Cause for Alarm

The Feb. 14 issue of The Times contained a follow-up story on the closing of the Pete Ellis dealerships. The article further stated that the Chrysler people were hopeful of reopening part of the business that was formerly operated by Mr. Ellis.

Mayor Robert A. Philipp of South Gate stated that he wasn’t going to panic. I don’t know what it would take to make the mayor excited, if losing $600,000 of taxpayers’ money does not bother him. From the taxpayers I have talked to, many are alarmed at this great loss. I am sure that if it were Mayor Philipp’s own money, he would be less calm than he seems to be about this terrible loss.

Other City Council members have made statements indicating a blase attitude about the loss to the taxpayers. Councilman Larry Leonard’s statement that a revenue shortage has existed for a number of years seems to be a cop-out. Certainly, his attempt to blame his predecessors is totally incorrect.

JOHN F. SHEEHY

South Gate

Sheehy served on the South Gate City Council from 1974 to 1978 and from 1984 to 1988.