Councilmember Kevin McKeown
				Leadership includes listening and learning. This website is interactive. Please let me know what YOU think on this issue. Just click to send me an email: localbiz@mckeown.net.
		FLASH: In May 2005, I argued successfully for ending the City tax on small businesses, under $40K gross. This relief should encourage small home businesses and a more sustainable lifestyle. People working at home don't commute and pollute, and they tend to shop and dine close to home. Everyone benefits from fewer cars on the road, going from home to work and back. Local businesses and restaurants thrive on neighborhood customers who no longer spend their money out of town, near distant jobs. In what other ways can we get residents and local businesses working together more effectively for a better, liveable Santa Monica? I believe in consensus, which means communication. Decisions that effect both residents and businesses should be made with everyone involved. Businesses are neighbors too. There's no excuse to be made for the few rogues who abuse their relationships with residents... but we need to open doors rather than lock out local business in discussions about parking, noise and impacts on our neighborhoods. Let's try cooperation first. I think it's truly shortsighted for the Chamber of Commerce to have sued the city over allocating parking for local residents.
		1%...Did you know that we taxpayers get a penny back on every dollar spent in Santa Monica, because our City gets a sales tax rebate? At my urging, our City Council has adopted a renewed policy favoring local businesses for City bids... by that one per cent. It makes no sense for City Hall to buy from out-of-town vendors if the prices are competitive locally. Let's support our local economy and save that penny on our tax dollar.
			As of April 2000 Santa Monica's new sign ordinance took full effect. A limited number of exemptions were made for signs like the one at the top of the Santa Monica Pier. Thanks to all the businesses that are cooperating!

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