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By Rellis Smith

Pumping the Economy

Posted 12:03 p.m., January 30, 2008

January 30, 2008

Pumping the Economy

I e-mailed the Ivory Tower, (Ventura City Hall) and asked how much of our tax money is paid to the Ventura Visitor and Convention Bureau each year. The reason I asked is because the other day when I went into the Bureau building on the corner of Santa Clara and California street to see how their new digs were looking. I happened to notice a lot of hats, T-shirts and other items on sale for visitors to take home with them as a reminder of their time in Ventura.

As I looked a bit closer I noticed all the items has tags on them saying they were manufactured in China. Now I know for a fact you can easily purchase all of these items from American manufacturer’s. It would seem appropriate for an American Visitor and Convention Bureau that is touting their American city to visitors to at least use American made products.

This is the answer I received from the Ivory Tower.

Hello Mr. Smith,

The City of Ventura pays the Visitor and Convention Bureau 20% of reported Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) receipts for the prior calendar year. For FY 2007-08, the City is expected to pay the Bureau $751,107.

If you have any other question, just let me know.

Sandra Repede

Budget Supervisor

Now that’s damn close to $1,000,000/yr. For this amount of money on an annual basis even if they had to pay a couple of pennies more for the American products you would think they would have enough patriotism to our country to purchase American made products. Not only that but think of the adverse effect on our economy when they purchase products made in China or any other country for that matter.

BE AMERICAN - BUY U.S. FORGET THE REST!

Rellis Smith

rellis39@sbcglobal.net