Fullerton, Westminster Recall Efforts

* It is time to hear from the many Fullerton citizens who stand behind their elected city members who are being threatened with recall for voting for a 2% utility tax.

Fullerton is considered one of the most fiscally responsible cities in the state. Unlike surrounding cities, Fullerton leaders since Proposition 13 have worked diligently to avoid additional taxes.

Let’s compare the utility taxes of our neighboring cities before we condemn those who are trying to keep responsible government in Fullerton and the standards we all enjoy:

Buena Park, 2%; Huntington Beach, 5%; Irvine, 1.5%; La Habra, 6%; Los Alamitos, 6%; Placentia, 3%; Santa Ana, 5%; Seal Beach, 11%; Stanton, 6% and Westminster, 5%.

Fullerton’s 2% utility tax is not out of line.

Fullerton voters should consider the following facts:

1. Recalling the three council members (Molly) McClanahan, (A.B.) Catlin, and (Don) Bankhead will not repeal the utility user tax.

2. The total cost to Fullerton taxpayers for the recall process, including a special election, will be around a quarter of a million dollars.

3. Recall should only be used for malfeasance or dereliction of duty, which no one has alleged against these people.

4. Our regular election process is a better way to express dissatisfaction with those we elected by an overwhelming margin.

Even if you signed the recall petitions, please re-examine the facts before voting for recall of these fiscally responsible council members and the city clerk who was only carrying out her assigned duties.

CHARLES AND PEG LINDAHL

Fullerton

* The Westminster City Council members have egg on their faces and are desperate to draw attention away from themselves, and are attacking the firefighters of this city.

They are making claims of overtime fraud allegedly perpetrated by the firefighters union.

Yet, an audit found that the firefighters were not paid more than owed under terms of their contract with the city, which was approved over two years ago.

How can the firefighters be blamed for wrongdoing if they were following their contractual agreement?

This City Council has continuously been telling the public one thing while doing something different.

First, they removed six firefighters and a firetruck from service while saying they were not cutting services. I guess they can’t do simple math, either.

Second, not acknowledging 14,000 signatures of residents who asked that they reconsider this decision was a big political faux pas.

Third, they made statements saying they were not going to refit the existing paramedic vans to make them medical transport vehicles. Instead they purchased two new ambulances for nearly a quarter of a million dollars and hired 16 new EMTs, not paramedics, to man these vehicles. This circus and these smear tactics have got to end.

Term limits should begin in our own back yards. Mayor Charles V. Smith has become far too comfortable in his high-backed chair. Tony Lam, Charmayne Bohman and Craig Schweisinger also need to be sent packing.

We need new leadership in this community, and the current recall campaign in progress will begin that process.

ARLENE BLUME

Westminster