Culver City Starbucks Event Marks Final Push for ‘Yes’ on Measure Y

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The following commentary was submitted by supporters of Measure Y

Saturday marked the last official “Yes on Measure Y” event, as dozens of supporters gathered at the downtown Starbucks to discuss Measure Y and to pick up additional signs, fliers and door hangers.  Due to the tremendous support for Measure Y, fliers and signs have become a hot commodity

Councilmember Micheal O’Leary joked that a previous Yes on Measure Y even, “was the first time that I can remember having the Culver City Chamber of Commerce and the Culver City Democratic Club in complete agreement, as both agree that we should all vote Yes on Measure Y.” 

Measure Y has also been endorsed and is supported by every member of the City Council, every member of the Culver City Board of Education, over a dozen former mayors and former members of the Board of Education, the Culver City Education Foundation, the Culver City Senior Citizens Association, The Culver City Firefighters Association, the Culver City Fire Management Group, the Culver City Police Management Group, the Culver City Employees Association, and numerous neighborhood associations, including the Culver Crest and Blair Hills neighborhood associations.

In the argument for Measure Y, council members explained that they are proud to live and work in Culver City and to enjoy high quality services and programs that provide an exceptional quality of life. However, since the 2008 recession, Culver City has lost $4.5 million in state funding, an additional $6 million in local revenues, plus millions annually through Sacramento's elimination of redevelopment agencies. 

The City has taken unprecedented measures to deal with this crisis: reducing the City workforce by nearly 18 percent and reducing the operating budget deficit through a combination of departmental cuts, retirements and health care concessions. In addition, all Culver City labor unions agreed to pay their full share of pension costs and to cap health care expenses, reducing the City's costs for pensions and health benefits, now and into the future. Yet, even with all these cuts and concessions, more is needed.

If passed, Measure Y will maintain essential Culver City services such as 911 emergency responses, paramedics, police and fire protection, as well as funding for sidewalk and street repairs, parks, senior and after-school programs.

Editor's note: Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity.

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