Started by Roseamber Sumner
Nov 7, 2025

Fact: Lopez passed the formation of a Parks and Recreation department by almost 57% of the vote.

Fact: Lopez declined to fund the levy amount for that district by almost 55%.

Fact: The volunteers who worked on getting these proposals on the ballot gave thousands of hours of their time and effort for two years in order to do it.

Fact: Voters who admittedly did not attend any informational meetings have stated that they are against raising property taxes for this endeavor.

Fair enough. People can vote however they like, that is part of our democratic system. Some people may never vote yes on raising property taxes. That is their prerogative.

I believe that people should not vote without doing their homework. Many of us, myself included, are probably guilty of voting for or against something or someone without reading up or asking questions or attending informational gatherings, though I usually choose not to vote at all if that is the case for me. But to try and convince others to vote yay or nay when due diligence has not been taken raises socially ethical questions for me.

I am feeling a great sense of loss and disappointment at the outcome of this local election.

Fact: if the tired folx who have worked so hard thus far to try and provide a strong network for Lopez's youth programs have it in them to try and rework the levy amount to present to the voters in April in a special election after two years of setting this up for this election, it would cost $40,000 for that special election to happen.

Highly unlikely that this will occur, don't you agree?

I am bummed and saddened. What are we thinking as a voting body that we would want a parks and recreation district but would refuse to fund it?

I am ashamed of us as a voting body at this time.

PLEA: if you vote, vote the way you feel and believe is right, we don't all agree of course, but please do your homework: find out the facts before you decide how to vote. Do not vote blindly. That's how this happened.

Comment by Chuenchom Greacen
Nov 10, 2025

Hi Rosie and Julienne,

I was curious about the cost of putting a new levy before the voters, too. So I looked up info on the county's website and found some sample costs from past elections.

The most relevant sample provided in the San J ... Read All

Comment by Julienne Battalia
Nov 10, 2025

I don't understand why it costs $40,000 to place anew measure on the ballot?
Can the county wave the fee for the new funding measure? It seems unjust for the school to have to pay this obscene amount.

Comment by Curt Bonelli
Nov 8, 2025

Rather than be ashamed perhaps you should be encouraged. I am. Why?

1. The property owners of Lopez perhaps realized that our property tax increases are not sustainable. What property tax rate do you consider to be confiscatory? At what rate ... Read All

Comment by Roseamber Sumner
Nov 8, 2025

Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Bill. I was not suggesting that all voters who voted against the levy for parks and rec had not done their homework, and I am sorry it came across as dismissive. I do know of some voters who voted no without going to any of the informational meetings. That said, going over some of the information and math presented o ... Read All

Comment by Bill Evans (Bill Evans Photography)
Nov 8, 2025

I found the formation of a Lopez Parks and Rec to be an inspiring and forward thinking idea. And the few folks I spoke with and the meetings I attended were excellent. That said, I find the suggestion that folks who didn’t vote for the levy “hadn’t done their homework” to be dismissive. Our community has a long history of folks who vote for and suppo ... Read All