When I moved to King City 50 years ago to teach, my first impression was, “What a beautiful little town with tree-lined streets, a hospital, Recreation Department and swimming pools.” Half a century later, I still believe King City is the jewel of the Salinas Valley. To keep it that way, it is imperative to pass Measure P on Nov. 3.
Measure P will increase our local sales tax by a half-cent to 1.5 cents per dollar. This matches the standard rate in nearly every neighboring city across Monterey County. I already pay this amount when shopping in Salinas or on the Peninsula.
As recently as 2014, King City held the unfortunate distinction of having California’s highest per capita murder rate and being its second most financially distressed city. Nobody wants to return to those conditions. However, our city struggles to fund basic services due to a small tax base and a lower rate than our neighbors.
Measure P represents a critical investment across four key areas:
First, it expands gang prevention programs and hires additional officers. As a retired educator, my greatest joy is seeing “my kids” grown up. Conversely, the saddest moments of my life have been losing former students to gang violence. The city’s prevention efforts have kept us safer, but without this revenue, our police department’s hands are tied.
Second, it provides our volunteer fire department with resources for equipment and training.
Third, it funds crucial street repairs. Our aging roads damage vehicles and pose safety risks. Measure P will prioritize fixing potholes and cracked sidewalks, continuing the progress we’ve seen on Division Street and Broadway.
Lastly, it ensures long-term financial stability to maintain municipal staffing levels against rising costs.
Please join me in protecting our community by voting “Yes” on Measure P.
Debby Norman
King City
