Plan Puts Measure M on the Ballot
Letter to the editor

The council vote was 4-1 for a resolution to place on the November ballot the Renewed Measure M Investment Plan. This was not an endorsement of Measure M but an opportunity to ensure that the public could vote up or down on Measure M in November.

Councilman John Paul Ledesma, after stating that he disagrees with certain elements of the plan, was the lone dissenting vote. My question for him, should the voters get the opportunity to vote on tax issues or should they just trust J.P. to keep tax issues from making the ballot?

This reminds me of J.P. regarding the on-again off-again gymnasium item, where he was able at the stroke of midnight to remove his advertised agenda item, and the public was left hanging at the chamber's podium not to be heard from again. I say this is not the way to treat the voters. They have a way of being heard, and it is called the ballot box.

Bill Barker
Mission Viejo

Editors Note: Thanks for your letter. While I respectfully disagree, we welcome opposing views.

A rebuttal to this letter and Monte Ward of OCTA’s responses to last week’s Measure M article will appear in the June 3, 2006 Buzz.