BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
A campaign to increase Palo Alto’s sales tax to fund a land deal and renovations at the Cubberley Community Center has raised $120,206 from some of the more recognizable names in local politics.
All seven council members and five school board members have donated at least $100 to the “Yes on Measure J” campaign. Councilman Keith Reckdahl donated the most ($1,000), campaign finance forms show.
Former school board member Jennifer DiBrienza, who is leading the cam-paign, donated $10,000.
The campaign has also received donations from state Sen. Josh Becker ($500), Assemblyman Marc Berman ($2,500) and former Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian ($1,500).
Nonprofit donors include Avenidas ($10,000), TheatreWorks Silicon Valley ($5,000), Palo Alto Community Child Care ($4,500), HeartFit For Life ($5,000) and Friends of the Palo Alto Library ($1,000).
Opponents to Measure J haven’t done any fundraising. The ballot agreement against the sales tax was signed by former Mayor Lydia Kou.
The tax hike is expected to bring in $15.6 million per year, with no expira-tion. It needs majority approval to pass.
If voters also approve a sales tax increase for Bay Area transit agencies, then Palo Alto’s sales tax would be 10.75%.
The filings show that DiBrienza and her husband (different last name) have given about $22,000 to the Measure J campaign. There’s nothing wrong with that, but worth pointing out.
No amount of donating can remedy the flaws in Measure J. No sunset clause, no way to compel future Councils to use the money on Cubberley, and deliberately deceptive ballot language that, remarkably, highlights the current trust deficit with both City Hall and PAUSD.
“Nonprofit donors include Avenidas ($10,000), TheatreWorks Silicon Valley ($5,000), Palo Alto Community Child Care ($4,500), HeartFit For Life ($5,000) and Friends of the Palo Alto Library ($1,000).”
I have made donations to two of these nonprofits and I am opposed to Measure J. I was never consulted regarding these political donations and wonder how my tax deductible donation to a nonprofit was turned into a political one.
501(c)(3) non-profits can’t contribute to candidates or partisan activities, but they can contribute to campaigns for and make endorsements on ballot measures related to their mission. It’s considered a permissible form of lobbying. There are restrictions of course, but at these relatively small dollar levels, almost certainly ok. I doubt many poll their donors about contributions, though their board probably signs off on it.
Echoing Annette above. One also wonders why the Yes on J folks continue spending so much money on deceptive ads their canard attacking former mayor Lydia Kou for changing her mind to now oppose J when — to quote Dave Price’s editorial today — “The tax hadn’t been decided back then. At that time, they were talking about a bond measure.”
This type of nasty deception is why both local newspapers urge defeating Measure J and going back to the drawing board to work on a measure SUPPORTING Cubberley.
Measure J proponents KNOW that repeated polling showed declining support for their proposal which is WHY they were forced to switch from a bond measure for a special TAX dedicated to Cubberley which required 67% approval to a general ballot MEASURE only requiring a simple 50% majority thus giving PA a blank check to spend the money however they want IN PERPETUITY — the reason Kou and so many others oppose Measure J.
Obviously since there’s a huge difference between dedicated support for Cubberley vs a blank check with no sunset provision, Measure J proponents owe Kou an apology and all voters an explanation for their deception which further undermines trust in PA leadership and undercuts their commitment to reining in general spending.