Open Letter to City Manager

Dear Yasmin Beers:
I would like to compliment you on the presentation you made at [the Aug. 2] MSP meeting. You did an excellent job. I understand why and how we view this measure [regarding a sales tax increase] differently. My view is how this sales tax increase will affect Glendale businesses. As I said earlier, I am not in favor of anything that takes money out of people’s pockets that could be spent in Glendale thus creating new taxes. $.75 per $100 does not sound like a concerned amount. But, when it amounts to $30,000,000 that is a large amount to take out of the spending public’s pockets. That amount could bring Glendale 1% additional revenue of $300,000. But I know you don’t have the time to create $30,000,000.

You made the statement that 10-15 years from now the retirement dollar demand will be controllable. I wonder in that many years what brick ‘n’ mortar retail will be left. Then there will be the problem of a sizeable loss of revenue and unemployment because of the loss of businesses. And then there will be many vacant buildings but less traffic in Glendale. That is also assuming that the city or state is not in bankruptcy … all because no one wants to deal with the problem of unfundable retirement commitments of the past. You have a very difficult job!

I was a little upset at your comment of “if you are still the city manager.” If I had your position, I would most likely do anything and everything to keep the city afloat. But I know that is not the best solution for the people of Glendale.

It concerns me that since [the year] 2000 approximately $863,000,000 has been taken from reserves of GWP & the Glendale emergency fund to pay CALPERS for retirement benefits. And the State of California is in debt 1.3 trillion dollars, which is over $100,000 per household. It is not the responsible thing for government to do nothing about.

Ken Grayson, owner
Grayson’s Tune Town
Montrose Merchant