Santa Monica 11.25% Sales Tax Tomorrow, Oct 1, Santa Monica's sales tax hits 11.25%, the highest in the region. That's a half-cent hike from Measure ER, passed by LA County voters in June. For a typical middle-income household spending around $20,000 a year on taxable goods, dining out, gas, clothes, household items, entertainment, that's about $2,250 a year in sales tax alone. Roughly $188 a month. And this comes on top of the city's own increases over the last 4 years. Water up 20%. Trash up 11% a year. Parking permits nearly doubled, while parking at the promenade has also increased. The city says it's for services. But when every bill, every meter, and every receipt goes up at once, families feel it. They deserve a council that asks whether we're getting value before we ask for more. Santa Monica residents deserve to know exactly where every dollar goes. No more blank checks. No more vague promises. We need real transparency, real audits, and real consequences when money is wasted. That's the accountability our city is missing. Affordability means keeping money in your pocket and letting you decide how to spend it. That's what I'm fighting for as your candidate for Santa Monica City Council. A Higher Standard for Santa Monica Derrick Townsend for Santa Monica City Council