SQUID FRY 11.24.16: Cheats and Balances…

CHEATS AND BALANCES… Squid was recently driving Squid’s old jalopy through King City. Ah, justice. While Squid saw a few police officers out, all of cops involved in the small city’s infamous towing scheme were nowhere to be seen, as they’ve all been fired and punished, so Squid had no need to fear getting pulled over for Squid’s nervous tendency to wait too long at stop signs, or the jalopy’s illegal amount of window tint.

Squid half expected to see some nice new cars since King City officials settled a class action lawsuit with more than 200 victims of a cop-led towing scheme for $1.2 million. But then Squid remembered, per that agreement, each victim would get an estimate $3,900 from the city – barely enough for even an operational junk car. Prosecutors are now trying to pin former cop and towing scheme ringleader Bobby Carrillo for the $1.2 million. That would be Bobby Carrillo, the same former cop who got out of jail early because he was having a rough time serving his time there, and who declared Chapter 13 bankruptcy last year. That’s a major detail prosecutors seeking to force him to pay $1.2 million apparently weren’t aware of. If prosecutors get their way during a restitution hearing scheduled for Jan. 20, 2017, they’ll just have to get in line behind the mortgage companies.

DEATH AND TAXES… Squid’s been filled with anxiety since Election Day, as the primary qualification for being appointed to President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet seems to be whether or not one is among the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

In our new America, it appears women’s and minority rights could be set back years, environmental regulations will go poof and the stupid-rich will get another tax break. Some people interpret this narrative as making America great again.

Locally, however, there is a proposed tax hike for the rich.

Sort of: On Dec. 6. Sand City City Council will consider whether to boost its hotel room tax from 8 percent to 12 percent.

As for the sort of part: Though there are two fancy resorts developers hoping to build on Sand City’s shore, presently, there aren’t actually any hotel rooms in Sand City to collect taxes on.

The best part is, the city passed the 8-percent tax in 1982. The city’s public notice about the proposed tax hike states that the 12-percent tax rate “could generate revenues of up to $2.5 million annually.”

Squid’s not sure if either of the proposed luxury hotels will ever get built, but Squid can only admire Sand City’s aspirational chutzpah.

Because as we enter our national nightmare, hopeful dreams are more important than ever.