Proposition 13’s Legacy

My commendations for publishing Grant Brimhall’s poignant column, “Prop. 13’s Legacy: Powerful Medicine and a Bitter Aftertaste,” May 31.

Before retiring, Mr. Brimhall, Thousand Oaks city manager for 20 years, was accused of walking too closely with developers. After reading Mr. Brimhall’s column, his alleged alliance with developers may be more understandable in the light of Proposition 13.

Prior to the passage of Proposition 13, property taxes provided communities with the necessary funding to subsidize community services including schools. This funding dried up following the passage of Prop. 13 and city officials have searched desperately to other sources for revenues.

It is most strange that voters will fight to the death for the preservation of Proposition 13 and yet bemoan the deplorable decline in city services, especially our schools. Prior to the passage of Proposition 13, California had the finest school system in the nation. This school system spawned many defense industries, which provided the backbone for our state’s economy. Following the passage of Proposition 13, the state’s educational system has fallen to the bottom of the nation’s educational ladder.

Since it seems next to impossible to revoke Proposition 13, the next best step would be to follow our governor’s lead and revise the two-thirds majority to a simple majority for the passage of tax measures.

Mr. Brimhall raises the question at the conclusion of his column: “Do I really want to live in the kind of community that I’m willing to pay for?”

I do.

SAMUEL M. ROSEN, Newbury Park