Dear Community Members-
In past elections it has been tempting to say that if I do not vote, what difference does it make? But there is really no truth to this in our local elections, in particular this one. So many key positions have been filled by persons who won by at most a hundred or less votes. So many levies have passed or failed just because of a small margin. Orthodox Jewish Community members, we are just that margin in tomorrow’s November 5th election!
On the ballot is Issue 81 which asks the taxpayer to approve the issue of a huge bond at over $150 million to remodel the aging Heights High School and to do some work on middle schools. This would add almost $400 yearly to each $100k of home value. If this passes, further levies are planned as the entire CH-UH School District seeks to revamp elementary campuses. In my opinion, a Jewish community member who sends his kids to private school should not just instinctively say NO to any increases in support to the public schools, saying who cares my kids are not in the public schools? We still have a responsibility to our community to support its schools, government, and infrastructure. But this does not mean that we have to agree to such a huge burdensome tax increase. Who has an extra $400 or more per year?
So please take the time to rearrange a carpool, leave work a little early to do whatever you can to make the difference. Call your neighbor, your chevrusa, whomever and ask them if they are going to vote and tell them that the community needs their vote. Our greater community cannot afford this tax burden at this time.
YOU ARE THE DIFFERENCE!!
Signed,
Akiva Feinstein
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