A Hand for Stajich 

   To the editor:
   I normally read the LA Times which I was doing on January 29th when I encountered your columnist Steve Stajich in his "Counterpunch" column: "Face it, Eminem Is About Bottom Line." Because of the energy, clarity, and logic of his writing I am now at YOUR web site to enjoy YOUR publication, The Santa Monica Mirror. In addition, I have a better way to grapple with the "is it art and I just don't get it?" versus "is it a product that doesn't sell to my niche?" quandry. Thank you Steve Stajich. I'll be back to read more.
Liza White
Los Angeles

On the utility tax

   To the editor:
   On January 31st, a public meeting was held to discuss our current 10% city utility users tax. Mike Dennis, Director of Finances for the City of Santa Monica, presented us with a brief history of the tax and answered questions on how the city spends this tax revenue. This year, the utility users tax will generate approximately $24 million, (21.2%), of the city's $116,884,469 general fund budget. 
   If you live in, or own a business in Santa Monica you pay a 10% utility users tax on: electricity, gas, cable, telephone (including internet service, DSL, and cellular phones), water, and wastewater (sewage). As rate hikes are implemented on utilities, taxes also increase proportionally. A 5% increase in revenue, to over $25 million dollars, is projected for the year 2001-02.This past year, the average middle-class family spent between $400-600 last year on utility taxes. This year, as these rates increase, so will the dollar amount of what we pay in utility users taxes for basic services.
   Our city budget is around $360 million and will continue to grow. For every revenue loss, it is projected there are new sources to replace it. Commerce is flourishing in this city and produces sufficient tax revenues. Therefore, the increasing burden on the taxpayers to subsidize further government spending needs to be addressed. What was once an emergency measure to sustain city services has become, through a utility users tax, discretionary income of the council to disburse of at their whim. Although it is said that the public guides the council in decision making, there is very little influence that the public has on taxes and the rate of taxation. This must change.
   Like most who spoke at the meeting, I have many questions regarding the need to pay a 10% utility tax to the city in addition to the state and federal taxes I am already paying. Don't be fooled about where the money goes, it is the gravy. We are not in a recession in Santa Monica. I believe there are numerous options for revenues other than the 10% utility tax, we need only to look at them.
   The next meeting on the utility tax will be held at the Ken Edwards Center, 1527 Forth St., March 5th, 7-9 pm. If you would like to be contacted about the next meeting or have comments on this issue, email (donnablock@earthlink.net).
Donna Block
Santa Monica

Gender assumption?

   To the editor:
   I suspect the Mirror's caption on Dave Auch's front page photo, "Frosty the Hailman," may have made an unwarranted gender assumption.
   Could that have been a Hail Mary?
Kevin McKeown
Santa Monica

Thanks to Cummins

   To the editor:
   I'd like to thank Paul Cummins for his article on "tax cuts." I agree when he says, "with little hope of concurrence in Washington or the general media," but I, for one, feel the same as he. Don't cut taxes, put surplus into social, health and educational plans, increase sales tax on harmful items, cut defense spending (any organization that can't get by on $300 billion per year needs to be restructured), increase spending on environment, children, homelessness, health, etc. Also the health of other nation's peoples -- this is our best defense. And stop Star Wars, for goodness sake -- it doesn't work. This makes sense and will never happen, but I am a kindred soul.
Peter Davison
Santa Monica

Too many people

   To the editor:
   Re: Target. A "lack of space" or "too many cars" is not the issue. The issue is TOO MANY PEOPLE. Of course, it's always someone ELSE's offspring who are the problem, never one's own.
Melody Platt
Los Angeles

A clear understanding

   To the editor:
   The Editoral in the February 14-20 issue should be required reading for all decision makers regarding Target. This was a clear understanding of the real situation. I am a big fan of the Mirror and with continued clear thinking, on your part and mine, I will continue to be. 
Brad Meyers 
Long time Santa Monican