Home › Opinion › Opinion
Howry: Ventura's 911 fee taxes citizens' patience
Ventura, blinded by arrogance, misses point of rage
Download this story as a podcast!
STORY TOOLS 
More from OpinionYou have to hand it to the Ventura City Council and City Manager Rick Cole. No matter what the citizens think or how opposed they might be to a 911 service fee, the council and Cole are standing firm that they know best. That's because, well, they're just smarter than the rest of us. Besides, this whole flap over the 911 fee is the media's fault, read The Star, because of "grabby, sensational" headlines and "misleading information."
Angered by opposition to the fee, expressed at Monday's council meeting, Councilman Carl Morehouse went on a tirade about all the whining and complaining from "naysayers." What really got Morehouse's goat was that the whiners and complainers either weren't offering any solutions or were expecting government to provide services without a realistic way to pay for them.
The apparent ignorance of the citizens so agitated poor Morehouse that, in a snit, he threatened to change his vote on the 911 fee and retaliate by raising fees in other areas. So there.
Let's get real here. As much as Cole and the six council members who support the fee (Councilman Neal Andrews has opposed it from the start) would like to shift the blame to The Star and an ignorant citizenry, they are wholly to blame for this fiasco. They tried to get cute, thanks to some clever lawyering by City Attorney Ariel Calonne, and turned an earnest effort to raise money to hire more police and firefighters into a controversy that has outraged residents and serves as a painful lesson to all local government officials on how not to deal with their constituencies.
It's all about arrogance. When the monthly fee on local cell and land-line phones to help pay for 911 service was first proposed, the council was aware similar fees in other California cities had been struck down by the courts because it was determined they are actually a tax and require a vote. Despite that, the council believed it could get around any legal challenge by inserting an opt-out provision that would allow phone users to forego the monthly fee if they agree to pay $50 any time they call 911 for a personal emergency.
The option is the loophole. It allows the city to argue the monthly fee ($1.49 per line capped at $4.47 for trunk lines) is elective and, therefore, residents aren't being forced to pay for a service not everyone uses. It would have been a pretty slick move, but residents saw through the ruse.
Besides the perception the council was behaving in an underhanded way, there are other concerns: the precedent it sets; the $50 fee for those who opt out might dissuade some from calling 911; the council has made exercising the option as difficult as possible.
In the face of protests, the council went to a tried-and-true method of deflecting the heat: It blamed the media. Cole and other council members accused The Star of sensationalizing the story and providing "misleading information." The "grabby" headline in question read, "Ventura to consider $50 fee for 911 calls." That's a grabber, all right. However, they didn't say the headline was wrong or ask for a correction. For the record, no one at City Hall has demanded a correction or clarification for the "misleading information," either.
If their belief they could pawn off the anger about the 911 fee on The Star with baseless accusations wasn't proof enough of their arrogance, the way they dealt with citizens who opposed the fee left little doubt. It was pure arrogance for the council to dismiss the opponents as uninformed. And having thus dismissed, as well as insulted, them, they rammed the fee through on a 6-1 vote.
What is truly the height of arrogance, though, is the council doesn't realize what all the anger is really about. No one faults it for trying to raise more money for police and firefighters. It's not even the amount of the opt-out fee, which the council will reconsider at a Feb. 25 meeting. What has caused the anger is that a fee is being imposed for a basic government service and the way it was imposed with a simple majority vote by the council.
Arrogance has long marked this City Hall regime. Their arrogance has antagonized and alienated a major portion of the business community; they have been patronizing and, at times, almost contemptuous of anyone who disagreed with their "enlightened" vision for the community. In their arrogance, they dismiss widespread concerns about how efficiently the city is run as ignorance.
Councilman Morehouse is angry because citizens criticize the council but offer no solutions. Excuse me? If citizens are responsible for solutions, what do we need a government for? Morehouse claims he was a reluctant candidate for re-election last fall and only ran at the urging of others. It is fair to say that if Mr. Morehouse no longer has the stomach to govern responsibly and respectfully, he should resign.
As for the other council members, they get a free pass of nearly a year before any of them faces another election. No doubt that made it easier for them to ignore the protests and force this fee on Venturans. It will be interesting to see whether residents remember the 911 fee at the next election, or whether some are unwilling to wait and seek more immediate remedies.
Whatever happens, the one thing the council and Mr. Cole won't be able to escape is, because of their arrogance, they are at odds with the majority of citizens in the city.
— Joe R. Howry is editor of The Star. He can be reached at 437-0200 or by e-mail at jhowry@VenturaCountyStar.com.
Posted by briz21 on February 10, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If it wasnt for the Star I never would have known about this issue. So thank you.
Posted by NothingButTheTruth on February 10, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
1. The City Council should only charge people who make "non-emergency" calls to 9-1-1; and businesses with faulty burglar alarms. That is only FAIR to citizens who use 9-1-1 LEGITIMATELY and businesses who maintain their alarm equipment. Anyone who has worked a 9-1-1 center can tell you the city would make plenty of money that way. Also, since MOST cell phone calls go to the CHP Dispatch, the CITY should pay them for each 9-1-1 TRANSFER... hey, it's only fair! I agree with Joe Howry, our councilmembers (except Neal Andrews), the City Manager & Department Heads are ALL arrogant. I'm tired of all those costly, fancy color brochures the city sends out bragging about what a great job they are doing... wasting taxpayers money blowing their own horns. I can judge for myself whether they are doing a good job and right now I AM NOT IMPRESSED!!!
Posted by schlederdecopan on February 10, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If this city council and city manager support the continual grave desecration of 7,000 of our first county pioneers (Cemetery Memorial Park(?) 3,000 and 3,850 beneath the Holy Cross School Building)....
Why should they give a damn about the living 100,000?
This council will never be culpable for anything. Their hair is parfect and their new songs are groovy.
Run the bums out of the county!!!
www.restorestmarys.org
Posted by fpecar4525 on February 10, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Recall Them All:
Morehouse
Weir
Fulton
Support a new beginning!
Posted by lrgvanman on February 10, 2008 at 6:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems many of the local governments have alot in common as they all know how to be corrupt and above the law. Seems they are for themselves at times instead of for the people who they represent.
Posted by jjc55777 on February 10, 2008 at 10:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Reading these comments and editorial has made my stomach turn. Is there any one in Ventura who is a statesman any more? First off let’s think back to when P6 was on the chopping block. Over 63% of the city voted in favor of raising sales tax to hire additional police and fire fighters. Since P6 did not past the 2/3 it needed… city council and city departments heard an out cry from the schools, business owners, property owners and most important residents that we needed to find a way to hire more police and fire fighters. Council and City staff has been working over the past year to find a way to do this for us in a timely manor and at a cost effective way to the tax payer. City staff gave council many options to fund additional public safety but all would kill tax payers’ pockets and take another year to two years to get approved. This fee is the most economical and fastest way to add much needed public safety for our town. I am not only a resident but a Downtown business owner. When downtown lost beat 5 over a year ago...it was tragic. We have lost more tax revenue to our general fund than many of you can phantom. I know I personally had taken a hit of over 80-100k in business because of people feeling unsafe on our streets with out a police presence. We have to understand that this fee of $1.49 a month can not even buy us a cup of coffee any more. Think of what we are complaining about! Safer streets, schools and a fire department that can respond in time to save our life or even one of our family or friends life. Come on folks get the facts right. The City staff and council did their home work. Read the city's web site and check out the other options that the council had to choose from. The council even went a step further and added an opt out option...If this fee is going to hurt you financially so bad then opt out or if you have multiple phone lines opt out and pay when you need to call 911.This will also free up the lines so crank callers don’t call and ask what time is it!We also have to remember we are the ones who voted this council in because obviously the majority of the city trusted them all to be in office. Yes it is scary that our government can now add fees with out a vote...but we have the right to vote in who we trust will do a great job for us. It is like when your parent made a decision that you did not agree with to protect you and you hated your parents for it...but now you look back and understand the whole picture and thank them. GROW UP VENTURA! Read the facts not the headlines, we are in a need for more police and fire fighters and we do not have any tax dollars to do so, we should applauded or City staff and council for being creative and finding a fast and economical solution to this problem! I would hate to see the Headlines read “Ventura Has the Highest Crime rate in the County”…we are on the way my citizens!
Posted by live_for_purpose on February 10, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a tax--pure and simple!
Posted by bugmenot on February 10, 2008 at 11:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Over 63% of the city voted in favor of raising sales tax to hire additional police and fire fighters. Since P6 did not past the 2/3 it needed..."
Sounds like the government needs to govern a bit. Maybe a re-vote shortly thereafter and there would be a different outcome.
There are certain ways to do things. In the small picture we would have a couple well needed LEO and firefighters, but in the big picture our city government just found out it can do whatever it feels it pleases. Since we like children analogies, remember when you as a child would push your mother and father as far as you could to find out your boundaries. Our city government just found their boundary.
Posted by thsomerville on February 11, 2008 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fabulous editorial. This articulates my feelings about the 911 "tax" perfectly. Many in the community continue to discuss this issue and agree with exactly what you're arguing. Most have said they'd have gladly paid the extra $1.49 if it hadn't been inflicted upon us in such a sneaky, underhanded, and, frankly, dangerous way.
Posted by leebikes on February 11, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So Council wins the battle but will loose the war at re-election. I no longer trust any of the Council members that voted for this de facto tax and I plan to vote against each of them when they are up for election again. It doesn't matter id it's next year's election of the election after that....I will not forget the heights of stupidity and arrogance they are capable of. Big thanks to the Star for contnuing to maintain the visibility of this issue.
Posted by THX1138 on February 11, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said Howry...
@jjc: I don't know about you, but my property tax went up last year and everyone with a phone is already taxed for 911 service.
It seems the city hasn't given essential services top priority for some time now. And, as a result the police/fire services hasn't kept up with the growth of the city.
I'd still like to know what cuts has the city made in regard to non-essential programs to potentially avoid a [so-called] fee[?!].
Posted by jjc55777 on February 11, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Property taxes increased because of the housing market. One option was to increase property taxes more…that would kill you and me. You can actually request for your property tax to be re appraised and lower your property tax at the County assessor’s office or download the form from the county’s web site.As for the 911 tax that doesn't even pay for the 911 service we have, ask the state! What cuts can we do? We have a sagging and out dated infrastructure and our tax revenue is the lowest in the county. Council makes a whopping $600 a month and city staff is under staffed as it is. Our city staff is paid over 30% less than other comparable cities and the cars the city drives are on bio diesel fuel. What City staff and council have done wrong is they stopped development that could have kept our general fund plump and bountiful. We should be pressuring the council and City staff to bring more business to Ventura. Our planning division is so under staffed and out of sink that it takes over four years to get a building plans approved, some over 20 years! We have missed the housing boom...so big business is all that is left for us to capitalize on. Wouldn’t it be great to have a company in town that can support the cost of living in this town? We need high paying jobs in this town and a company that can create tax revenue for us. We should pick our battles and this fee is not one of them.
Posted by spokenit on February 12, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have one question, that I hope some one can answer. Why do we have 911 dispatchers that are paid to answer the call? Why do we now have to pay for 911? No one said why just that we need to. If its about putting more cops on the streets,, thats bulls*** and we know it!
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.