GOP dropbox scam warrants arrests Prop. 15 would hurt small businesses

Re: “War of words continues over GOP drop boxes” (Page A1, Oct. 17):

The law seems clear on this matter and the GOP is in blatant violation of the law. Why is the secretary of state not having the people involved arrested?

Instead, he is giving them time to rectify the problem. This is like the police giving a bank robber time to return the money rather than arresting them. Why does one situation, involving money, require prompt action whereas the other, involving the integrity of our vote and the cornerstone of our democracy, does not?

If even California doesn’t take vote tampering and suppression seriously, why should the president and his enablers, the GOP leadership?

— Jon Barrilleaux, Oakland

Yes, let’s pass Proposition 15, let’s tax the big bad landlord, make them pay their fair share. It sounds great until it’s not. You see, land and property owners of commercial real estate do not pay the property tax on commercial property. The tenants pay, the small business owners pay. If passed, Proposition 15 may put the few remaining small businesses out of business.

Also, there is no accountability or reform in the language that the tax increase will ever see the classroom as the proponents would like you to believe. But it’s more than that: If passed, how long do you think it will be before the state wants to raise your residential property taxes? Not long.

Join me and thousands of small business owners across the state by voting no on Proposition 15.

— Rocco Biale, Walnut Creek