bujji good girlProponents and opponents of Measure J, a Nov. 8 ballot initiative
seeking to raise Palm Springs' sales tax to help pay to revamp the
defunct Desert Fashion Plaza, appear to be preparing for war.
“It's
clearly a David versus Goliath scenario with Goliath as the one with
all the money and the most to gain by winning,” said Bond Shands on
Thursday.
Shands, a Palm Springs resident, plans to lead efforts to vote down Measure J via the group Palm Springs Taxpayers.
This group has put out a call to residents to attend its first formal meeting next week.
Its
members say they have watched this summer's growing momentum of
support for the Committee to Support Measure J — Citizens for
Revitalizing Downtown, another citizens' group.
Started
in June, Citizens for Revitalizing Downtown is advocating for the 1
percentage point sales tax hike, which officials say would generate $8
million annually for 25 years — $43 million of which would help pay the
city's portion of the mall's first phase.
It
has been rolling out sleek posters, fliers and donation envelopes to be
used for monetary contributions, and has already hosted a June 15
rally at the uptown restaurant Birba, and a second meeting on Aug. 25,
according to the group's Facebook page.
BuzzFactory
began marketing efforts for Citizens for Revitalizing Downtown and was
later joined by the Palm Springs marketing firm Burke Rix
Communications.
The
two firms split responsibilities as marketing and fundraising
consultants for the campaign, said BuzzFactory president Mark Anderson.
Exactly who he