For Artesians, Voting “Yes” on Measure M gives them more local control

By Andrew Perry, Local 1520 President

Measure M is Artesia’s way of addressing the raids on city funds from the State of California. It will help assure that money raised by this measure will stay with the city, and cannot be touched by the state government. In effect, it gives the people of Artesia local control of their city.
A savvy and responsible citizen might ask, “Okay, having local control sounds good, but how is this going to be paid for?”
The answer being proposed this election is to update the City’s business license fee. The current business license fee has been basically the same for about 20 years, and there are some problems that have arisen because of it not being up to date. All Measure M is going to do is update the business license fees to reflect modern needs.
Currently, some businesses are classified and pay the business license fee, but others do not. This is largely because of antiquated business classifications. Measure M will remove outdated business classifications and add modern ones. The result will be a more fair and inclusive fee for all businesses.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some large businesses have a gigantic impact on the city, but because of the outdated system they only pay a small amount back to the community. For example, some businesses pay $400 in business license fees but their day-to-day activities create millions of dollars of damage to surrounding roadways. Meanwhile, a small business with comparatively little impact pays the same or similar fee. This disparity in fees vs. the impact of the business is also taken into account with Measure M, and the solution is reasonable.
Cities and counties are the level of government where individual citizens have the most control. Local governments are important because they have the most impact on one’s day-to-day life. Local governments provide public safety (i.e. sheriffs and firefighters), fix streets, trim trees, enforce city codes that help maintain property value, and provide programs that benefit the people within their jurisdictions.
Cities are usually the only level of government that regularly balances their budgets. This practice of fiscal responsibility is becoming more difficult because of raids like what the State has already done. The State has taken away $1.5 million dollars from Artesia’s budget and redevelopment funds.
While Measure M is a small fix to a much bigger problem, it is an important start. It is a reasonable measure and only updates an antiquated system. Measure M is endorsed by local business leaders and law enforcement.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (newest model) with AI-powered Fire TV Search, Wi-Fi 6, stream over 1.5 million…

(63693)

$29.99 (as of April 19, 2025 06:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Apple iPhone 12 Mini, 64GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed)

(15585)

$177.50 (as of April 19, 2025 06:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Blink Video Doorbell (newest model) + Sync Module 2 | Two-year battery life, Two-way audio, HD video, motion and…

(162366)

$34.99 (as of April 19, 2025 06:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Watercolor Workbooks, Watercolor Paper, Beginner-Friendly Flowers Watercolor Workbooks, 12 Colors Watercolor Paint Set with Paint Brush, watercolor Book for Teens、Adults

(13)

$11.90 (as of April 18, 2025 17:20 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Dog Bark Deterrent Devices for Own or Neighbor's Dog Ultrasonic Dog Training Device Safe & Effective Portable Anti Barking Device for Dogs Indoor Outdoor Use Orange

(604)

$29.99 (as of April 18, 2025 17:20 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Drift Car Air Freshener - Wood Air Freshener - Car Odor Eliminator - Teak Scent Starter Kit

(8966)

$12.95 (as of April 19, 2025 06:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Rain-X 810165 Latitude 2-In-1 Water Repellent Wiper Blades, 22 Inch Windshield Wipers (Pack Of 2), Automotive…

(112525)

$34.99 (as of April 19, 2025 06:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

USANOOKS Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Grey - 12 Pcs (12.5"x12.5") - High Performance - 1200 Washes,…

(13670)

$8.98 (as of April 19, 2025 06:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Armor All Protectant, Glass and Cleaning Wipes, Wipes for Car Interior and Car Exterior, 30 Count Each (Pack of 3)

(15795)

$12.22 (as of April 19, 2025 06:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

ASOBRIS Laser-Level-with-Tripod, Green Cross Line Laser with Tripod Self-Leveling, Lazer Leveler Tool for Picture Hanging Construction Floor Tile Wall Home Renovation, Indoor Project, Battery Included

(174)

$39.99 (as of April 18, 2025 17:20 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)