The Dishonesty of Measure A
Nearly $50,000 in MBEF donations fund the Measure on the ballot; Newsome offers more school funding; Q&A this Monday; letter from a resident.
Is MBEF leadership tampering with donations?
Many Manhattan Beach residents generously donate to the MB Education Foundation (MBEF) every year “to make possible the academic and enrichment programs that otherwise would be unavailable to all of our students,” as stated on their website and marketing material. These donations are made in good faith by residents believing their money is going to the stated mission.
However, MBEF wrote a check for $49,999.00 to a political organization named “Committee to support MB Citizens for Schools” which is the citizen’s group that put the $1,095 parcel tax measure on the ballot. Hilary Mahan, Executive Director on the MBEF Endowment Team, is seen pictured below with the citizen’s group.
A payment by MBEF to support any political organization appears to be outside the stated purpose of MBEF and payment to a political organization with which the Executive Director of MBEF appears to be collaborating, is inappropriate.
In addition, many residents that make contributions to MBEF may, in fact, be against the measure MBEF is supporting. So, even if this payment and collaboration may not technically be a misappropriation of funds, residents against the $1,095 parcel tax may think it is a violation of trust and ethically indefensible.
To view the public records on Measure A on the City website, click link here and enter “Committee to support MB Citizens for Schools” in the search field. MBEF funding is listed on page 5. Also listed in the two documents is funding from various PTA groups.
The citizen’s group behind Measure A uses an unethical tactic to lobby MB seniors:
To increase the chances of Measure A passing, the citizen’s group looked for ways to garner a “yes” vote. They targeted MB seniors by providing them a personal tax exemption on the parcel tax and encouraging them to vote “yes” since they won’t be taxed.
A “yes” vote by a senior will levy an additional parcel tax on their neighbor, with an exemption for themselves. Giving one group of residents the power to impose a tax on another violates any sense of fairness and is inexcusable.
The very suggestion should incense every senior to stand up against the unfairness of this tactic and against being used and manipulated for their vote. The only way to stop this from happening is by proactively voting “NO” to show that this kind of tactic will not be tolerated in MB.
Not voting will not help stop the Measure from passing. This Measure only needs 50% + 1 of the votes to pass. That is not a high threshold, so every NO vote counts to defeat it.
The group was formed for the purpose of using the loophole that a citizen-led initiative can pass with a simple majority of 50% + 1 of the votes instead of the usual 67% of the votes if the School Board led the initiative. Using a citizen-led initiative is an unscrupulous way for a minority group of citizens to levy taxes on the entire community.
Other problems with the parcel tax initiated by the citizen’s group:
The additional tax of $1,095/parcel is nearly 5x the current tax of $225/parcel, it increases every year and lasts for 12 years.
The group did not attach a budget but only provided vague wording on where the additional tax will be spent.
They stated a citizen’s committee will provide oversight, which in itself raises skepticism.
Let’s also keep in mind that our school district is not in a financial crisis, as the proponents are saying.
The current parcel tax, which generates $2.5M/yr to the school district, continues for another two years and doesn't stop until the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
MBUSD has $9.8M in reserves, according to the 2021-22 Second Interim Budget Report, page 29.
MBEF's net assets as of June 30, 2021, were nearly $30M. Click the link here to view the MBEF financials, see page 3.
And Governor Newsome just announced a CA surplus of $97Billion and plans to distribute a bulk of that to schools. LA Times: read the article on more state funding here.
It’s clear that there is no urgency to pass an additional parcel tax on the MB residents at this time. The proponents have still not answered the question of why they went down this path of proposing such a massive tax hike and why now?
Residents who oppose Measure A love our schools, our students, our teachers, our sports and art programs, and want to see our district funded properly and managed by fiscally responsible leadership.
But as seen by the number of “No For Now on Measure A” yard signs, many want the current school board members voted out and replaced in the November election, and then task the new board to investigate all financial avenues, including MBEF and the recent news out of the Governor’s office, before contemplating a new parcel tax on the residents.
No for now is a prudent decision.
To receive a yard sign, contact WeTheParentsMB@gmail.com. They are simply a network of like-minded MB parents and taxpayers acting on their rights to assemble and participate in the political process and to oppose bad policies that affect us all.
They are not a formal organization and have no formal leadership, officers, or financial accounts like MB Citizens for Schools which you can see in the public records put up nearly $100,000 to get Measure A on the ballot.
WeTheParentsMB is local politics at its most basic level.
Most of them want and are entitled to confidentiality, especially in these times of doxing by the local opposition, which a few have already suffered at the hands of MBUSD. The School District’s Law firm, at public expense, sent “Cease and Desist” letters to the homes of three citizens for speaking up at public forums in opposition to School District’s policies. A clear violation of citizen rights.
Some of the proponents of Measure A have resorted to bully tactics: signs have been stolen from yards, a parent was viciously verbally confronted in public, and some residents fear for their businesses if they are doxed or dare to display a sign.
It could be that some of the larger, uninvolved investors in Measure A and some supporters are unaware of the facts surrounding the inception of Measure A, or are unaware of the bullying tactics being used to intimidate their opposition. If they did become aware, perhaps the truth would prevail and they would change their vote.
Freedom of speech by a resident flying high.
Your ballot will come in the mail and the measure reads as follows:
Parcel Tax Q & A hosted by The Easy Reader
Where: Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach
Day/Date: Monday, May 16, 2022
Time: Doors open at 7:00, event begins at 7:30. They expect a large crowd. Come early.
Participants: Each side will have 2-3 residents answering questions on Measure “A.”
Attend, bring a friend who is undecided, and bring your questions and comments!
MB Residents Speak…
Dear Residents,
As a parent of a child attending Mira Costa, I am disheartened to know that my 2020 and 2021 MBEF donations and PTSA membership fees were not dedicated to the classroom education of my child. In fact, finding that my contribution helped promote Yes on Measure A is infuriating. Funding this campaign is not why I’ve donated.
I won’t bear the burden of the parcel tax because I live in Hermosa Beach. We don’t have a high school, but attend Mira Costa, per agreement. I totally understand why property owners and tenants in Manhattan Beach might feel that’s not fair. Those residents may feel that the financial burden to educate their children is all on them. This is not the case. MBEF is, or was, the perfect way for me to contribute and hopefully help with the costs of my child’s education. Now, I do not ever plan to donate to them again. Even if what they have done is not illegal, it is certainly unethical and I cannot in good conscience be part of that. This is very upsetting to me personally because this was a way for me to feel like a vested parent with the school.
You see, since I don’t live in Manhattan Beach, I get little say in school governance. I can’t vote in MBUSD School Board elections, even though they directly affect my family. I can’t run for a position on the Board to make course corrections on issues like curriculum or focus. All I can do is donate and hope for the best.
This system is broken and needs to change. The only thing left for me to do is to support others to push for a return to academic excellence, and to help fight to place candidates that are better suited to serve on our School Board. In my opinion, when MBEF or PTSA diverts funds that should go to help pay for my child’s education to a political campaign, and I can’t even vote on the Measure, it is unbelievably stifling.
I ask you all to keep talking to your neighbors. Talk to everyone that has a vote on this upcoming June ballot and educate as many people as you can, because you are not just speaking for yourself. You are speaking for MBUSD parents like me that have no vote on Measure A this June. You are speaking for community members that have homes in Manhattan Beach, but can’t vote because it is not their primary residence. You are my voice.
Keep fighting! Keep pushing against this hypocrisy, weed out the entrenched city leadership and place trustworthy, honest morally, and ethically-guided candidates on the School Board and on the City Council.
Frustrated and Concerned MBUSD Parent
Residents want to hear from other residents! Write an email and send it to: MBStrong2021@gmail.com.
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