Commentary: Rejecting gas-tax revenue should convince voters to recall Scott Peotter

As a Newport Beach taxpayer, I was outraged by Councilman Scott Peotter’s recent commentary in the Daily Pilot (“Newport Beach rejected gas tax revenue on principle and hope of repeal,” Aug. 24).

Our council representative, in protest of the gas tax, is willing to allow $480,000 in gas tax revenue — money generated by the taxes paid by Newport Beach residents — to be lost to other cities.

Peotter’s foolish protest of the gas tax does not reduce the tax by one penny, but it would deny the benefit of this revenue for the improvement of our streets and reduction of traffic impacts.

Just as outrageous was the mailer we recently received from Councilman Marshall “Duffy” Duffield threatening service cutbacks, including street paving, due to the cost of a recall election of Peotter.

Duffield and Peotter are willing to lose $480,000 in available street-improvement revenue, but threaten to reduce street improvements to pay for the $300,000 recall!

Remember, it was Peotter who strongly advocated a special election, and its attendant cost of $300,000, rather than vote for a rescission of the Museum House approvals. The hypocrisy of these two Newport Beach council persons is breathtaking.

Councilman Jeff Herdman recognized the folly of rejecting the gas tax revenue as a protest measure, and has decided to seek reconsideration on this decision. That is what responsible leadership looks like.

Peotter, in contrast, has weirdly called these street improvement revenues “blood money” and “free money.” No, Councilman Peotter, these revenues are not free; we will pay for them at the pump, and we expect you to spend it to improve our streets.

According to the Orange County Transportation Authority, ours would be the only city in California to affirmatively reject gas tax revenue due our city. That is a truly dubious distinction and an embarrassment. Like his embrace of high-rise development, this shows that Councilman Peotter is out of touch with the values of our community.

Peotter’s only defense to the ongoing recall campaign against him has been to misrepresent the cost of the special election, encourage voters to avoid this cost and to totally obfuscate and confuse the issue by calling it the “Bunny Tax.” The cost of the recall is neither a tax, nor does it have to do with the statues of bunnies in the Civic Center.

Peotter characterizes the $480,000 loss of gas tax revenue and $1.9 million in annual revenue each year after that as being insignificant sums but perversely complains about the cost of a recall. We cannot afford any more of Peotter’s irresponsible political games. Go to recallscottpeotter.com for more information.

KRISTIN M. CANO lives in Corona del Mar.