Culver City Calls On Tripepi Smith Again for Ballot Measure Outreach and Education
On December 2, 2020, the City of Culver City officially certified the passage of Measure RE: a revision of the City’s real estate transfer tax. Measure RE passed by a vote of 51.89% Yes to 48.11% No. It will establish a progressive marginal tax rate with four brackets versus the current flat rate on all real estate transactions within the City limits. The Measure is projected to generate $6 million per year in additional General Fund revenues.
To effectively inform voters about the facts behind Measure RE, Culver City turned to Tripepi Smith. This was Culver City’s fourth time tapping the firm for ballot measure outreach and education–all four measures have been adopted by voters.
“It is always encouraging for us when a current client has a challenge and the first place they turn is to Tripepi Smith to ask ‘How can you help us?’,” said Tripepi Smith President Ryder Todd Smith. “Real estate transfer tax is not a simple, everyday concept. In the early stages, many people were equating ‘real estate transfer tax’ with ‘property tax,’ when that is very far from the reality. We knew it would be an uphill battle to educate the public on the facts about this measure, especially during a big presidential election year, so I appreciate the City investing in transparency and communication to reach the community.”
In order to communicate the proposed shift from a flat tax rate to a progressive tax structure, Tripepi Smith called on Art Director Kevin Bostwick. Kevin had previously leveraged his background in information design on the City’s education efforts for their Interim Rent Control Measures. He developed iconography and infographics that Tripepi Smith used throughout a variety of communication channels, including the standalone informational webpage at MeasureRE.org.
Tripepi Smith also had Senior Business Analyst Cameron Grimm develop an informational animated video to explain the tax, how Measure RE could change the current tax and how funds could be used:
“Tripepi Smith has a five-year history of working side-by-side with City staff on a range of programs, outreach activities and crisis situations. It is a strong partnership, and I am proud of the work we have done in the City to communicate with residents about an array of City Council-led initiatives,” said Tripepi Smith Director Jon Barilone. “Residents of Culver City trust the City to make good investments to maintain a quality of life and support facilities that simply make life better in the city for all. The more we can do to enhance transparency and remind residents of the progress the City is making, the more that trust grows.”
Tripepi Smith has a long-standing partnership with Culver City and is currently contracted to provide a variety of strategic communication support services for the City through June 2021. Culver City first engaged the firm in 2016 when Tripepi Smith conducted a communications assessment for the City and provided education/outreach services for Measure CW.
About Culver City
Culver City is a five-square-mile, urban community of 39,000 residents surrounded mostly by the City of Los Angeles but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. It is centrally located on the Westside near Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles International Airport. Culver City is particularly known for its well-run public school system, “small town” charm, growing high-tech and creative economies, and a dynamic downtown that is regionally known as a destination for restaurants, live theater, and art galleries.
About Tripepi Smith
Tripepi Smith is a California-based marketing, technology and public affairs firm that serves for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provides a competitive advantage to agencies seeking to leverage the internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith clients include: City of American Canyon, City of Culver City, City of Cupertino, City of Daly City, City of Duarte, City of El Cerrito, City of Indian Wells, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lakeport, City of Lake Forest, City of Napa, City of Paramount, City of Santa Cruz, City of Tracy, City of Vallejo, Cal Choice Energy Authority, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Rowland Water District, California Contract Cities Association, California City Management Foundation, Institute for Local Government, League of California Cities, Renne Public Law Group, Bob Hall & Associates and Climatec Energy Services.