In The News

Cities Cheer Selma’s Vote for Safety Tax

The Fresno Bee

By Eddie Jimenez [Excerpted article]
November 11, 2007

Ida Wolf, 87, is helped onto an early firetruck by Selma police officer Mark Clifton, right, and Selma Fire Prevention officer Sid Chacon, left. Officer Dan Barcellos picked up Wolf and Wanda Wittenberg, sitting in the back of the truck, at their homes as a service to get the voters to the polls at Valley Life Community Church. (MARK CROSSE / THE FRESNO BEE)

Resounding voter support for Selma's public safety tax last week is an encouraging sign, say city officials in… towns that will put similar measures before their residents in February.

The final election count showed 86.4% of voters Tuesday approved the half-cent sales tax increase to fund additional police services — mostly to fight rising gang and drug crime — and fire services.

Such wide margins of victory for local tax measures are unusual in Fresno County, said Victor Salazar, Fresno County clerk….

Statewide on last Tuesday's ballots, there were 63 initiatives seeking approval of taxes, fees or bond measures, according to CaliforniaCityFinance.com, a Web site that compiles data on local governments. According to the site, Selma's safety tax plan passed by the highest percentage. An Emeryville utility user tax measure in Alameda County was close behind at 86.1%.

Selma's measure was among 27 statewide initiatives that required two-thirds approval, of which 14 passed, according to unofficial counts….

Selma leaders say the landslide win Tuesday was the result of a three-year effort that began with a group of citizens concerned over increasing crime.

Nine residents met once a month for nine months studying police and fire services and needs, said Stanley Louie, a family physician who was the committee's chairman.

The committee reported its findings to the City Council, which eventually hired a consultant and decided to put the public safety tax plan before the voters.

Louie said 46 volunteers made calls to registered voters in the nine weeks leading up to the election. Those calls indicated 82.8% of voters favored the tax increase, he said.

The election confirmed that "our neighbors wanted to improve public safety," Louie said.
Police and fire department employees also volunteered when they were off duty to campaign for the measure.

Louie said the grass-roots campaign effort and personal contacts made a difference….
Police Chief Tom Whiteside agreed, saying the phone calls and going door to door persuaded residents.

"You've got to spend lots and lots of time talking to voters," Whiteside said.

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