SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019 

VOLUME 13 NO.17

SIERRA MADRE POST 3208 HONORS FORMER 
SMPD CHIEF JOE ORTIZ

Sierra Madre VFW 3208 present former SMPD Chief Joe Ortiz with a placque in honor of 
his outstanding service to the citizens of Sierra Madre. Pictured members of VFW Post 
3208 along with chief Ortiz. Ortiz left his post in Sierra Madre to become Police Chief of 
San Marino. (See related story on page 5). Photo and caption courtesy VFW 3208

SIERRA MADRE CITIZENS PROPOSE 
A BALLOT INITIATIVE TO INCREASE 
SALES TAX BY 0.75% TO KEEP 
REVENUE IN SIERRA MADRE FOR 
THE BENEFIT OF ITS RESIDENTS.



Sierra Madreans Gary Hood, Pat and De Alcorn and David Williams are circulating a petition to place 
an initiative on the ballot which would raise the sales tax in Sierra Madre by 0.75%, following a trend 
by other LA County cities. The idea is to reach the state-mandated 2% cap and keep the revenue in 
Sierra Madre before another district imposes a sales tax increase and forecloses Sierra Madre’s ability 
to benefit from the taxes paid by its residents.

The State mandated limit for districts (County, Cities and other Districts) is 2%, but two exemptions 
have been issued by the state for the County Metro Transportation Authority (Measure M) and County 
Traffic Improvement (Measure R). Currently 1.25% of the non-exempted 2% cap is consumed by 
other LA County measures, leaving only 0.75% headroom for sales tax increases.

 Why do this now? Other County tax increases are under consideration, and the South Coast Air 
Quality Management District is proposing a 0.5% increase. If we don’t act soon, we’ll pay the tax 
anyway and won’t receive any revenue or benefit. If we pass the 0.75% increase, we ensure that the 
revenue stays in Sierra Madre, so we can continue to invest in the things that our residents value 
highly, such as parks, streets, sidewalks, library and police fire and paramedic services.

 Twelve LA County cities have raised sales taxes in 2018, and Glendora and Arcadia are doing so in 
2019, and Duarte, Monrovia, San Gabriel among others are considering the same.

 Raising taxes is never a pleasant endeavor. But what’s worse, is paying the tax and not getting the 
revenue!

 Please email if you would like to sign the petition or help to gather signatures

 Gary Hood garythehood@gmail.com

Pat Alcorn lacabriole@aol.com

De Alcorn lacabriole@roadrunner.com

David Williams dav.w.williams@gmail.com


SIERRA MADRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 
AWARDS GRANTS TO CIVIC AND LOCAL 
ORGANIZATIONS

The Sierra Madre Community Foundation 
(SMCF) recently awarded grants that will 
provide valuable and needed funding for 
several local organizations, City of Sierra 
Madre activities, and high-visibility projects. 
Since January 2019, the SMCF has approved 
grants totaling over $6,400.

Local organizations receiving SMCF grants so 
far this year include the Creative Arts Group 
–ImaginArt Program for 4th grade students
from Sierra Madre Elementary School, the 
Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery Memorial Wall, and this summer’s 2019 Sierra Madre Shakespeare 
Festival.

The SMCF regularly supports the City of Sierra Madre programs and activities and, since January 
2019, has approved the following grant awards: City of Sierra Madre - Huck Finn Derby and 
Campout, City of Sierra Madre - Mount Wilson Train Race Kids’ Fun Run, and the Sierra Madre 
Public Library Bookmark Contest.

 “We are pleased to support local organizations,” said Edward Garcia, Community Foundation 
President. “Through the generous giving of local residents, combined with the oversight by our 
local volunteer board, the Sierra Madre Community Foundation helps keep Sierra Madre a unique 
community and valued treasure.”

Last year, the Sierra Madre Community Foundation awarded more than $11,000 in grants to the 
City of Sierra Madre and various organizations and schools to support local programs and activities, 
including Alverno Heights Academy, City of Sierra Madre – Halloween Happenings, City of Sierra 
Madre – Huck Finn Derby & Campout, City of Sierra Madre – Mount Wilson Trail Race Kids Fun 
Run, Creative Arts Group, The Gooden School, 2018 Shakespeare Festival, and the 4th of July Fun 
Run. 

Sierra Madre Community Foundation (SMCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization singularly 
devoted to Sierra Madre. The SMCF solicits donations to enable it to support and enhance the 
Sierra Madre community by making direct grants, both large and small, to civic and local 
organizations that might otherwise be overlooked. In addition, the SMCF assists other Sierra 
Madre community groups in the collection and distribution of their funds that enables ongoing 
program support and continued operations.

If you would like to assist the Sierra Madre Community Foundation as it continues to support 
Sierra Madre activities and programs, please send your tax-deductible donation to: Sierra 
Madre Community Foundation - P.O. Box 716, Sierra Madre, CA 91025. Checks can be made 
payable to “Sierra Madre Community Foundation.”

To apply for a grant, visit sierramadrefoundation.org. 

cid:image001.jpg@01D47CD9.FE4306E0
NOTICE OF INTENT TO CIRCULATE PETITION

To the City Clerk:

Notice is hereby given by the persons whose names appear hereon of their intention to circulate a 
petition within the City of Sierra Madre for the purpose of imposing a 0.75% General Transactions 
and Use Tax in the City of Sierra Madre. The proposed petition is attached. 

We respectfully request the City Attorney to prepare a ballot title and summary of the proposed 
petition. 

The reason for this initiative is that there remains 0.75% of sales, transaction, and use tax that could, 
and inevitably will, be levied against the City of Sierra Madre. To ensure that the revenues from this 
additional tax are allocated to the General Fund of the City of Sierra Madre, rather than the County of 
Los Angeles, State of California, or other agency, we hereby intend to circulate this petition. 

________________________

Patricia Alcorn

741 E. Grandview Ave. 

Sierra Madre, CA 91024

________________________

John Capoccia

91 W. Highland Ave. 

Sierra Madre, CA 91024

________________________

John Harabedian

531 Foothill Ave. 

Sierra Madre, CA 91024

________________________

Gary Hood

465 Baldwin Ave. 

Sierra Madre, CA 91024

Impartial Analysis by the Sierra Madre City Attorney
Measure S

“PROPOSED MEASURE IMPOSING A .75% CITY OF SIERRA 
MADRE GENERAL TRANSACTION AND USE TAX” 

Measure S would adopt a local transactions and use tax in the City of Sierra Madre at the rate of three 
quarters of one cent for every dollar spent (or .75%). This kind of tax is often called a “sales tax.” The 
proceeds of this tax would be used to provide funding for general fund obligations including support 
for public safety (police and fire services and equipment); paramedic emergency response; police 
services such as neighborhood patrols, gang, drug and crime prevention; street maintenance; park 
maintenance; community service programs for seniors and youth; and library services. 

The proposed .75% sales tax would be in addition to existing sales tax, and it would be levied on the 
sale or use of tangible personal property sold at retail. Existing sales tax is levied by the state or the 
County of Los Angeles and Sierra Madre presently receives only about 34% of the sales tax collected 
from its retail sales. It is estimated that the proposed.75% local sales tax will raise approximately 
$225,000 annually from retail sales of goods sold to travelers and visitors to the City of Sierra Madre, 
as well as to residents; 100% of the proposed .75% local sales tax would remain in Sierra Madre. 
Retailers collect the tax at the time of sale and remit the funds to the California Department of Tax 
and Fee Administration, which administers the tax. The tax does not apply to goods or services which 
are not already subject to state sales tax. 

Measure S is a general tax and requires a simple majority voter approval (50% plus 1 vote). If 
approved, the tax will remain in effect until amended or repealed by the voters.

A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the .75 percent local transactions and use tax. 

A “no” vote is a vote against authorizing the local transaction and use tax.

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Ordinance or Measure S. If you desire a copy of the 
proposed ordinance, please call the Sierra Madre Assistant City Clerk at (626) 836-6756 and a copy 
will be mailed to you at no cost.

Date: April 24, 2019 
By: 

Teresa L. Highsmith
Sierra Madre City Attorney


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com