April 12, 2019 (Los Angeles) By: Christopher Nikhil Bowen– The Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTORS® was outraged to hear that many members of the Los Angeles County Business Federation (better known as BizFed) were told if they join in the diverse coalition opposing a parcel tax to fund the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), they won’t do business in the City of Los Angeles for the next four years. 

The REALTOR® Association is leading the charge with BizFed to oppose a 16 cent per square foot parcel tax within LAUSD (which equates to $160 on a 1,000 square foot property). With substantial funding pledged to oppose Measure EE, the REALTORS® are ready to fight for homeownership, especially for the middle class.

BH/GLAAR Government Affairs Director James Ward Litz stated, “As REALTORS®, we know that good schools make a good market. We believe that LAUSD must make the educational reforms necessary to improve the graduation rate, provide cutting edge technology to students, and lower administration/retirement costs. There is no reform in EE. Only increased taxes to fill a budget deficit.”

The President of the Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTORS® Marco Rufo was also displeased. “I have young children of my own. Of course we support our local schools. The misinformation and intimidation campaign City Hall and their allies are waging to accomplish their goal of funding schools is downright rotten.”

Middle class families can barely afford homes in Los Angeles County as it is. Los Angeles can’t continue piling parcel taxes on, or homeownership will become a privilege that only millionaires and billionaires can afford. “We’ve had it. Enough is enough” said Rufo. “We stand up unapologetically for homeownership and private property rights, even if that means we are threatened by City Hall. However, we shouldn’t have to be subjected to this type of bullying.”

BH/GLAAR is marshalling significant resources to oppose this ill-thought-out ballot measure because there are no safeguards to ensure these dollars will go to funding more teachers or nurses. In fact, it is abundantly clear that the language of this measure crafted by the Los Angeles School Board was left intentionally vague so the dollars can go to less politically popular programs.

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Valley Industry and Commerce Association, Southland Regional Association of Realtors, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers’ Association, and a host of others oppose Measure EE.

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The BH/GLAAR represents over 10,000 REALTOR® and AFFILIATE Members in the cities of Beverly Hills, Culver City, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

For more information on the Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTORS®, please visit www.bhglaar.com or www.bhglaar.com/facebook.