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Pacifica residents voice split views on sales‑tax measure — fairness, oversight and services dominate public comment
Summary
During the public‑comment period dozens of residents urged both support and rejection: union representatives and some residents backed the measure as necessary to preserve services; others warned the tax is regressive, pressed for a sunset and stronger oversight, and blamed past council decisions for revenue declines.
Pacifica’s public comment session featured a broad range of views on the proposed 1¢ transactions‑and‑use tax. Supporters described the measure as a necessary step to maintain core services; opponents cited regressivity and asked for a sunset or tighter spending earmarks.
Pete Shoemaker, who described work with Strong Towns, urged the council to place the measure on the ballot and argued the problem is structural rather than the result of managerial failure. "I am a 100% in for this. I will support the tax measure. I will lead a campaign," Shoemaker said during remote public comment. Teamsters representative Mark Leach also addressed the council, saying organized labor would support and help the campaign.
By contrast, several speakers said they feared the sales tax would disproportionately burden lower‑income households. Councilmember Espinosa raised the same equity concerns during deliberations and cited household income statistics in the city. Commenters also questioned whether council had adequately protected prior transient‑occupancy tax revenue and whether recent regulatory changes (short‑term rental rules) contributed to revenue erosion.
Common requests from commenters included: inserting a sunset into the measure; setting stronger limits on general‑fund use or creating a dedicated fund; and establishing an independent oversight committee with teeth. Several speakers urged the council to place the question on the ballot anyway so that voters can decide.
What to watch: those civic‑organization endorsements (labor pledges were explicit) and vocal opposition in certain neighborhoods will be factors for campaign messaging in the weeks before Nov. 3 if council filings proceed as scheduled.
