Voters to Decide Livermore's Election Cycle

Ruth McKernan July 25, 2012 at 09:24 am

Because our city elections are held on odd years the issues that directly effect OUR community like BART station locations and Mayor & City Council member races are not lost in the muddle of State and National issues. I think it would be a mistake to change the election cycle, even if it does save some money. The city council already proved in the last election cycle that it was willing to waste money to try to push BART into our downtown. If our local election issues, at that time, had to compete with the current state elections issues, like raising our taxes or selecting a president. Those issues would never have recieved the coverage they did recieve.

TrueRealist July 25, 2012 at 09:28 pm

Would the council and mayor still be pushing the change if it meant losing a year on their current term instead of extending it?

Roger V. Tranfaglia July 26, 2012 at 12:22 pm

I say leave the election cycle as is!!!!!!!!!!!

JoAnne July 27, 2012 at 07:39 pm

The mayor proposed saving between 200.000-300,000 by not having off year elections, but he has continued to support the regional theater that will obligate Livermore to 90 million. Penny wise and pound foolish!
And while we are voting...how efficient to finally put the regional theater on the ballot and let voters decide whether they are in favor of the city funds being obligated to the regional theater?! It is time that the council allow the citizens of Livermore to use their collective wisdom and make a decision about using city funds for the regional theater.

John Harrington July 27, 2012 at 10:45 pm

Keep it on off-years. That way we can focus on Livermore issues. The people advocating this change want to hide city things in national/state issues. And yes, like JoAnne and most other people in Livermore (I suspect), deep six the regional theater. We have more pressing needs than to cater to a tiny, tiny group that wants to go listen to Bach concerts. Let's not be like Stockton and go belly up.

Ruth McKernan July 28, 2012 at 11:24 pm

The nice thing about having the election on the off year...as John pointed out the focus can be on the less intense and more cordial manor. Livermore made some big decissions in the last election about BART station locations and the citizens should be allowed to make the same decisions on the Regional Theater. If the election is moved to the same election cycle as the presidential and state wide elections, the information will be over run by bigger issues.

Ruth McKernan July 28, 2012 at 11:30 pm

Considering it was an off year for elections 14,000 people came out to vote for a very small ballot. That is a large turnout, primarily because the subject matters were very important. Livermore voters are very engaged and informed. Now 14,000 may not seem like very many but other towns in the area had less then a 2,000 turn out to vote.

TrueRealist July 29, 2012 at 01:32 pm

At what point will thre be an open discussion on the regional theatre? This needs to be a measure on a ballot seeing how it's going to cost taxpayers 90+ million. Can we get a discussion on patch regarding this? The only article about the theatre doesn't allow comments.

Ruth McKernan July 30, 2012 at 01:56 am

I absolutely agree there should be an open forum or townhall meeting to discuss the validity of a Regional Theater but the proponants are rather slippery and dodgy when it comes to this dicussion. As stated above it is actually a very small group of people. The last thing they want is for this to be on the ballot where I believe it would fail misserably.

JoAnne July 31, 2012 at 02:55 pm

There have been cities that have passed bond measures for regional theaters, most recently Austin Texas in 2010, because the voters believed that the theater added value to their community. In city's with theaters like Sarasota, FL (cited by LVPAC's study) which are now facing a 1% tax increase to service the bonds, how angry citizens who were never allowed a voice in the decision must be to assume financial responsibility. Our money, our vote!

Livermore resident August 1, 2012 at 02:07 am

Laureen Turner, what is your view on this?
No, it is too complex for us to understand.

Grandma7 August 29, 2012 at 12:17 pm

JoAnne
Please come to the meeting, tonight. 7PM Round Table by Trader Joes.

Laureen Turner October 8, 2012 at 03:52 pm

Livermore resident, my view on the off year election cycle is uncertain to be honest which is why I wanted it put to the voters. The opportunity to save a large amount of money is certainly attractive. However, I would hate to see local issues get lost in issues of a national election. Additionally, as to wether or not to extend terms, I spoke out for putting this to the voters. This is why we have two issues on the ballot. Yes it makes it more confusion, but I want the voters to have a choice.
As far as the regional theater, the current council has yet to make any action on the issue. As the RDA unwinds, the issue may come before the council. I wish the timing had been right to put it to the voters this November but at this present time, there are no decisions for the council to make on this matter. If the matter comes before the council, I stand where I did throughout the election. I personally feel the theater will be an asset to Livermore and will solidify our economy. HOWEVER, I do not support the tax payer paying for it without their consent. I apologize for not getting to you soon, I have not been reading Patch with the regularity I used to do to a career change. If you have any burning questions for me, feel free to email me directly leturner@cityoflivermore.net

JoAnne October 8, 2012 at 04:38 pm

It is disappointing that an issue that can save the city $250,000 in 2018 is being pushed as a budget saver that will enhance parks, etc. But an agreement made 11 years ago in different economic times and with a financial structure, the RDA, that no longer exist continues to be supported by the council and mayor even though this expense is 90 million and has additional cost with traffic impact, etc.
Personal feelings about the theater are not what are needed, but a critical evaluation of the city's current economic situation, recognition of changing in funding, and letting the citizens of Livermore vote their "feelings" about this expense.

Livermore resident October 8, 2012 at 09:49 pm

Thanks for your answer. So you are saying that we have two choices to make in November? One: to decide whether we switch odd to even (or reverse) the Livermore elections? Two: whether the current terms should be extended? I must miss-understand the second point, as I do not see how you can get point one to pass without extending the current terms.

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