West Hollywood: Maximizing City Revenue

Local governments, including the one that runs the city of West Hollywood, are trying to provide the most and best services with the least amount of revenue. The city of West Hollywood could use more revenue to benefit the community. But the question is how can revenue collected by the city be increased with the least amount of pain to the residents?

One way to raise a little money might be the sale of commercial time on the West Hollywood cable television broadcasts. We must consider that even KCET public broadcasting sells brief commercial spots to “corporate donors.” This would support our own business community while raising money to, if nothing else, pay for the West Hollywood broadcasts.

Another way to raise money while making many residents of West Hollywood happy at the same time would be to fine businesses that pass out flyers indiscriminately to apartments, condominiums and houses where “no soliciting” signs are clearly posted. The fines would bring in a small amount of revenue, litter would probably decrease and a lot of people would not miss the usually unwelcome literature.

MICHAEL L. STEMPEL

West Hollywood