So much is said today, it is hard to know what is true, what is misleading and what is just plain false. This site is provided to allow the residents of Palos Verdes to make informed decisions.
FACTCHECKPV only attempts to verify verifiable facts, and does not comment on intention, or generalized candidate claims, including education and prior companies worked for.
FACTCHECKPV.ORG has four designations for the stories and rumors it investigates.
FACTCHECKPV has not investigated this statement yet.Corroborating Data has been found that supports the claim.Conflicting data has been found for portions of the statement.Conflicting Data has been found for the entire statement.
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JADU’s are optional. They do provide credit towards the the Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) which is the state-mandated process to identify the total number of housing units (by affordability level) that each jurisdiction must accommodate in its Housing Element.
Important JADU Facts
JADU’s must include an already existing bedroom.
The owner of the resident must reside in the primary unit or JADU.
The size of the JADU must not exceed 500 square feet.
The JADU cannot be sold independently of the primary unit.
The JADU shall have a separate exterior access door from the primary unit, with an interior entry door connecting the JADU to the primary unit.
“The state Supreme Court last Thursday struck down one of the biggest efforts yet to force California public employees into 401(k) plans, giving unions another win in their effort to protect defined benefit retirement plans from elected leaders who want to rein in pension costs.
The court sought to write a narrow decision, finding that former San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders failed to meet with unions while he campaigned heavily for a 2012 ballot measure that promised to put most new city employees in a 401(k)-style plan instead of a pension fund.
It was the second significant pension lawsuit that favored unions this year. In January, an appeals court held that government agencies must consider the financial harm they’re causing to public employees if they want to adjust pension benefits.”
At the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum, Michael Kemps clarified that he grew up in Rancho Palos Verdes, and not Palos Verdes Estates.
At the PVRRG Forum Michael Kemps states “I just love this city I grew up in.”
FACTCHECK REASONING: It is not a requirement to have grown up in Palos Verdes Estates to run for city council. However the statement of “this city” is on its face is false. Michael Kemps did not grow up in Palos Verdes Estates. He grew up in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Michael attended Rolling Hills High School, not Palos Verdes High School and graduated in 1989. His family home is in Rancho Palos Verdes and was purchased in 1974.
ROLLING HILLS HIGH SCHOOL DELPHIAN 1989
He was not registered to vote in PVE for the 2016 election, nor did he vote on
11/08/2016 general election 3496 11/03/2015 local and municipal 967 11/08/2011 local & municipal consolidated elections 755
Michael Kemps mailer states “We had four years of spending increases that diminished our reserves”
FACTCHECK REASONING: Expenses have decreased since 2014
2014 City Expenses were $11,111,320. 2015 City Expenses were $12,359,793 2016 City Expenses were $13,184,895 2017 City Expenses were $12,370,898 2018 City Expenses were $7,519,827
FACT CHECK REASONING: The Reserve (General Fund) has increased.
June 2014 PVE general fund balance was $9,822,486 (source 2014 CAFR) In June 2018 PVE general fund balance was $10,255,152 (source 2018 CAFR)
Michael Kemps mailer states “Incumbents increased spending, causing increased pension costs”
FACT CHECK REASONING: New staff was hired to fill the vacancies caused by attrition and dismissals. New hires must pay the “employee” portion of their pensions – which was not required of previous employees. This results in the city decreasing pension costs.
Michael Kemps Mailer states ” Pension Costs are growing faster than our revenue.”
Michael Kemps Mailer states “The City uses Debt to fund pensions at 7.35 percent interest”
FACTCHECKS REASONING: There is no evidence the city has borrowed money to fund pensions. The 7.35 percent is the discount rate also known as the assumed rate of return, set by CALPERS and is not the interest the City pays. In actuality a higher discount rate is beneficial to the city.
Michael Kemps Mailer states “Incumbents increased spending by 23% – $4.5 million”
FACTCHECK REASONING: Incumbents took office in 2015. For 2015-2016 City Expenditures were $12,359,793. In 2018 City Expenditures were $7,519,827. This is a 39% decrease – $4.8 million.
Michael Kemps Mailer states “Incumbents depleted our savings by $6.4M to pay for the deficits”
FACTCHECK REASONING: Reserves have actually increased since 2014. Expenditures were made out of special reserves that had been previously earmarked for those projects. $6.4 Million was spent on capital improvements and infrastructure repairs.
A banker is an employee of a bank or financial institution who services the financial needs of clients.
FACTCHECK Reasoning: The term banker is typically associated with an individual that provides financial guidance to customers. A relationship manager handles relationships with customers and is not necessarily involved in the financial aspects of the customers business.
Kevin McCarthy – Law Enforcement Executive
Kevin McCarthy is Commander of the Detective Services Group – LAPD.
