Increasing Taxes for Crime Prevention, Clean Water

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Measure A:
Measure A on the LA County ballot would raise the sales tax to 8.75%, the highest level allowed in California. Right now, only Alameda County in the Bay Area has reached that peak. Sheriff Lee Baca and LAPD Chief William Bratton claim that will provide 5000 new officers, and they promise a crime reduction of 50 percent. The measure, which faces no organized opposition, needs a two-thirds approval to pass. Jeff Rabin, who covers LA County government for the Los Angeles Times says the pledge of increased public safety, emergency response and crime prevention is a big promise to fulfill.

Proposition O:
The City of LA is required by law to clean up its storm drains and stop polluting Santa Monica Bay. Proposition O on November's ballot would raise property taxes to do the job. Like Measure A, the proposition faces no organized opposition, but needs a two-thirds yes vote to pass. Mary Nichols, former secretary of resources under Governor Davis, says Prop O demonstrates a proactive response to problem solving.

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Measure A: Public Safety, Emergency Response and Crime Prevention

Rabin's article on Measure A

Proposition O: Clean Water, Ocean, River, Beach, Bay Storm Water Cleanup Measure

UCLA IOE's 2004 Southern California Environmental Report Card

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton