Save Glendale Jobs: Fraternal Order of Police opposes Prop 499 – Daily Independent

From Save Glendale Jobs

Proposition 499, the Glendale ballot initiative backed by California labor activists, would threaten critical funding that police and fire departments depend on, putting the city’s public safety at risk.

The leader of the Glendale Fraternal Order of Police is warning Glendale voters of the dangerous consequences of the measure if it passes.

Proposition 499 would require the city of Glendale to hire and fund a new labor standards department at a new annual cost to taxpayers of nearly $1 million. The proposal does not provide a funding source to pay for these new costs, forcing city leaders to either cut existing essential services like public safety or raise taxes on residents.

Ann analysis of Applied Economics found that Glendale could be saddled with a loss of between “$1.4 million to $2.9 million in cumulative declines in sales tax collections over the next five years from lower hotel occupancy and corresponding reductions in visitor spending’ if Proposition 499 is passed.

Just like the new Labor Department’s unfunded mandate, the huge hit to city coffers that will result from reduced visitor spending will once again leave the city with only a bad choice: cut existing services or raise taxes.

Glendale FOP President Dave Goitia was briefed on Proposition 499 supporters last week attracting two members of the Los Angeles City Council to boost their tagging campaign including Nithya Ramanmember of the Democratic Socialists of America. DSAsaidRaman’s primary victory in March 2024 meant that the DSA could continue its fight to “defund the police,” among other goals.

Citing the enormous risk to public safety, the Glendale Fraternal Order of Police strongly opposes Proposition 499.

“What’s bad for Glendale’s economy and tourism sector is bad for Glendale’s public safety,” Goitia said. “As tourism plummets, so will the tax revenue on which public safety depends. Hiring a first responder is hard enough. Proposition 499 makes our job even harder. The California backers of this initiative may want to defund our police department, but they don’t have to live with the consequences – we do. Proposition 499 is dangerous and puts the lives of Glendale at risk. I urge everyone to vote no.