Council support for Measure Y was not unanimous-

There you go again, Measure Y proponents. Continuing to misinform and mislead Piedmont voters. At the outset, there was the completely false claim in your ballot argument in the Voter Information Pamphlet that, “The City Council unanimously supports renewal of the existing Municipal Services Tax . . . “. Even when the proponents acknowledged their material misstatement, when there was time to correct the submission, they chose not to do so. To let the statement stand is an egregious, misleading act.  > Click to read more…

The League of Women Voters of California recommends Yes or No votes on five measures on the November 6 statewide ballot –

YES on Prop 30: Proposition 30 begins to move California toward financial stability and adequate funding for all the services we want from our government; we can’t continue to cut vital public services such as schools and public safety.

NO on Prop 31: Proposition 31 is based on good intentions and has some pieces that, taken alone, the League could support. However, Proposition 31 has several significant flaws and raises questions about whether or not the provisions allow local governments to suspend state environmental requirements.

NO on Prop 32: This measure is not the campaign finance reform measure its proponents say it is. Proposition 32 promises “political reform” but is actually designed by special interests to help themselves and harm their opponents. It unfairly targets one set of large campaign donors while giving other donors unlimited power.

YES on Prop 34: The SAFE California Act will replace the death penalty in California with a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Convicted killers will stay in prison for the rest of their lives, eliminating the possibility of executing an innocent person in California. It will save over $100 million every year— because the court and incarceration costs are so much higher for prisoners at risk for a death penalty.

YES on Prop 40: One last step to lock in independent redistricting for California. The League strongly urges a “YES” vote on this referendum on the state Senate maps drawn by the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The question on a referendum is not intuitive; it asks if you want to retain the new law, or in this case, the maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission.  Vote YES to affirm the maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission.

NEUTRAL on Prop 38 & Prop 39: Adequate revenue to provide for the public good is critically needed. The League supports Prop 30 on this ballot as the best way to provide some relief from the endless cutting of vital government services. We see some merit in Propositions 38 and 39, but have taken a neutral position on them because of their earmarking of revenues.

For more detailed information on the recommendations, go to www.lwvc.org and click on Ballot Recommendations.  The League has not studied the issues in Propositions 33, 35, 36 and 37, and therefore has no recommendations.

Editors’ Note:  The opinions expressed are those of the League of Women Voters of California.  The Piedmont Civic Association does not support or oppose ballot measures or candidates.

Good News from STAR Test Results –

Message from Jeanne Donovan, Principal Piedmont Middle School

We have great news to report regarding the STAR results for the 2011-12 school year at Piedmont Middle School:

PMS’s Academic Performance Index score (API) from last spring’s STAR testing increased from a score of 943 to 966, a 23-point gain. The API is a single number that ranges from 200 to 1000, and reflects a school’s performance level based on the results of statewide testing. Its purpose is to measure the academic performance and growth of schools. PMS also met all Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) criteria including participation rate, percent proficient, and API score.

I attribute our success in the STAR results to many factors.  Our teachers have embraced a more collaborative teacher evaluation system, and are taking advantage of common planning time to share strategies and learn from each other’s successes.  Throughout the school there is an increased focus on collaboration within and between departments, in order to improve student learning.

Teachers are also using our data management program, Data Director, to look closely at the specific data within content clusters of the STAR test.  Looking closely at these data helps teachers develop, refine, and restructure their teaching in order to address specific areas of need.

The extremely generous contributions of parents are also a huge factor in our success.  Given the uncertainties of funding from the State, it is the parent contributions that allow us to continue to improve our excellent program.  Donations to the Giving Campaign, the School Support Tax, the Piedmont Education Foundation, and ongoing parent support of state funding initiatives are all vital to the strength of our program.  Adding to this are the countless hours and amazing dedication of our parent volunteers.  It is this partnership between parents, school and administration that leads to success.

Please keep in mind that STAR is only one indicator of either our school’s or any individual student’s annual academic progress. Teachers also look at other forms of assessment, such as common assessments, formative assessments, and benchmark assessments.  As seriously as we take grades and test scores, it is of equal importance to our staff to stay focused on the healthy emotional, physical, and social development of our students.

Editors’ Note:  The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association.

From a Member of Piedmont League of Women Voters Undergrounding Task Force –

Voting no on Measure Y is not about opposition to taxes or antagonism towards city government, nor is it about ingratitude for all the benefits of living in Piedmont.  I believe it’s about “tough love” — setting limits for the sake of preventing unconstructive, ultimately self- destructive behavior.  It’s sending a clear message of the need for restraint, redirection and problem solving, rather than simply reacting.   The Task Force for the Piedmont Hills Undergrounding District, which I served on, spent many hours researching and identifying the factors that contributed to this project’s $2 million dollar financial fiasco. Among these were inadequate or absent  risk management policies, insufficient oversight, lack of transparency in decision making, and lack of planning and appropriate systemic procedures for dealing with the potential problems associated with major construction projects.  If one reviews the time line of events building to that significant cost to the city and the taxpayers, one sees a sequence of “just this one time” attitudes–  repeated reactivity,  rather than thoughtful problem solving in a devolving situation, a situation which might have been avoided or minimized by planning and anticipation, and by specifying limits clearly.

> Click to read more…

 Tax Helps Pay for Many Special Elements in Piedmont –

Since the passage of Proposition 13 in 1980, the residents of Piedmont have realized that for our community to have the things that we as a community value, we needed a City Services Tax.  Our city has had such a tax since 1980, and we have continuously renewed it for the past thirty-two years.  The tax is up for renewal this year and is on our ballot as MEASURE Y.  It will be at the end of your ballot and is not an increase over the past four years.  I urge you to vote YES ON MEASURE Y.  > Click to read more…

Cuts Would Affect City’s Quality of Life-

Dear Editor,

I am working with Piedmont friends and neighbors to inform voters why it is important to renew the existing parcel tax with no increase in order to maintain existing services.

Parcel tax revenues help pay for Piedmont’s police, fire, paramedics, park maintenance, street and sidewalk maintenance and other city services and amenities.  > Click to read more…

The PCA website is currently experiencing a problem with receiving letters and information.  Until the problem is resolved, we ask that contributors send all submissions to editors@piedmontcivic.org.  Please include your name and Piedmont address. (Addresses are not published.)

PCA welcomes all points of view and information on civic matters.

Thank you for your interest and participation.

Piedmont Civic Association

Editorial Board

Resident urges voters and Council to demand projections –

Measure Y proponents on the City Council have been quick to make gloomy prophecies about what will happen if Measure Y is defeated. But none of the Council’s self-described “numbers guys” have ever backed-up these prophecies up with real fiscal projections.  > Click to read more…

Municipal Tax Review Committee member responds to recent statements by Mayor John Chiang.

The several million dollars wasted by the City of Piedmont on the Piedmont Hills undergrounding debacle and city costs for the “gift” of Blair Park have consumed revenues equal to most of the $6 million collected by Piedmont’s parcel tax in 2009-2013. Yet Mayor John Chiang tells us that renewing the parcel tax (Measure Y on the November ballot) is essential “to maintain the excellent city services which assure the safety of our citizens and keep Piedmont an attractive place to live.”  > Click to read more…