Central Los Angeles : These Shop Owners Want More Taxes

In Downtown Los Angeles, some business owners can’t wait to pay more taxes.

Shop owners in the Little Tokyo and Central City East business areas hope to form special tax assessment districts to fight urban crime and try to boost sales.

If the two campaigns are successful, Downtown will be home to four such districts, which would allow the annual collection of a special tax on businesses or property owners.

The money, managed by district representatives, could be used for various improvements, including increased security, maintenance, landscaping and marketing.

“It’s true taxation with full representation,” said Bill Watanabe, head of the Little Tokyo committee proposing the district. Watanabe estimates that the tax would cost business owners about $125 a year.

In Central City East, a light industrial and manufacturing area east of Downtown, backers of the tax plan are gathering signatures from property owners. They must sign up a majority of area property owners before the proposal goes to the Los Angeles City Council for approval.

“A lot of people feel what they are paying for in their property taxes aren’t getting them the services they need,” said Tracey Lovejoy, director of the Central City East Assn., which is leading the drive for a district.