Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Measure N topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Upland residents urge voters to approve Measure N, citing roads, public safety and oversight
Summary
Multiple residents and business owners addressed the council in favor of Measure N, a proposed 1% sales tax. Speakers emphasized road repairs, retail-theft reduction, and citizen oversight committees as reasons to approve the measure.
Dozens of Upland residents used the council's oral communications period to press support for Measure N, a proposed 1% local sales tax that backers say will fund road maintenance, public-safety efforts and other local services. Speakers included water-industry volunteer Katie Parker, business owner and retired deputy sheriff Susan Coniglio, longtime residents and public-safety advocates, and multiple community volunteers.
Several speakers tied Measure N to public safety and retail enforcement. "Passing Measure N would do more than just address retail crime, it would also provide crucial funding for infrastructure improvements like fixing our roads and upgrading our public facilities," said Susan Coniglio (speaker 14), a local event-venue owner and retired deputy sheriff. Other speakers emphasized fiscal stewardship and local oversight. Todd DeBronstein (speaker 8) used a neighborhood analogy to demonstrate local return: "A yes vote on Measure N gives me another $4 and 3 more cents that stays in the city," he said, adding that a citizens oversight committee will watch expenditures.
Supporters repeatedly argued that delaying repairs makes them more costly and that local control of revenue is important. Jim Flock (speaker 12) disputed claims that city employee compensation is excessively high and provided a comparative per-resident compensation analysis for nearby cities to argue Upland remains relatively efficient. Jason Anderson (speaker 13) and Matt Hall (speaker 15) urged voters to preserve Upland's police department and quality of life by supporting Measure N.
Why it matters: Measure N would change local revenue streams and—if approved by voters—would be administered under a citizens oversight committee that proponents say will ensure promised uses are respected. Opponents were not recorded during this portion of public comment; the council did not take formal action on the measure during the meeting.
The public comments combined personal experience, comparative cost data and public-safety arguments to make a case to voters in advance of the ballot measure.
