Proposition D on the November ballot would add a half-cent sales tax increase, raising $103 million annually, but the city could not tap the money unless it moves on certain reforms.

Councilman Carl DeMaio also opposes the sales tax increase because taxpayers can’t afford it, especially those who are GLBT’s and live in council districts that have the lowest income earners. Councilman Todd Gloria supports the increase because he fears without it police and fire services will be cut in District Three, where many GLBT’s live.

Carl contends the city has other places to cut before harming public safety. Both he and Councilman Kevin Faulconer (who represents nearby Mission Hills) support reforming public employee pensions, and implementing a voter-approved measure that would privatize certain city services to save money for taxpayers. Public employee labor unions oppose both options and support D.

The S.D. County Taxpayers Association voted to oppose Prop. D because, in part, the group does not trust the City Council to make reforms.

DeMaio has support in Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling on same-sex marriage, where Walker found that the stereotype of being gay and rich is simply wrong. He cited to a study by Randy Albeda, entitled “Poverty in the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community.” The study, prepared by the Williams Institute, states on page 1:

“A popular stereotype paints lesbians and gay men as an affluent elite… [T]he misleading myth of affluence steers policymakers, community organizations, service providers, and the media away from fully understanding poverty among LGBT people.”

The study tells the truth: gays and lesbians are generally not better off than straight folks. Actually, those who are GLBT generally make much less, largely because of job, housing and other forms of discrimination, including marital status bias.

Walker points to studies showing “marriage” as an “economic” institution, where married couples are able to pool incomes and generate greater wealth and take advantage of hundreds of other money-saving benefits.

The Williams Institute, located at UCLA School of Law, studies the economics of sexual orientation discrimination. For many being openly gay or lesbian, especially early in life, can mean a lifetime in poverty.

The cycle of poverty often begins in youth. “Outta the closet” as a teen can mean “outta the family,” and onto the streets. No surprise that runaway shelters are often filled gay and lesbian teens. They are often throwaways or runaways, forced out of their homes and end up in juvenile dependency or delinquency court and then placed in foster care or juvenile facilities. Many don’t make it to college, let alone finish high school. Drug abuse, HIV, crime and homelessness can be a way of life.

Gays and lesbians in San Diego are not living in critical mass in La Jolla. Rather the areas of highest concentration include City Heights and North Park, areas with multi-family housing. They are affordable.

The reality is that the “gay community” is not a rich community. The most successful businesses that cater to the GLBT community know the “price point” for San Diegans is not very high. High end clubs don’t survive.

That’s why taxes have a disproportionate burden on the GLBT community. Sales taxes are the worst. They are regressive (not progressive like income taxes). Thus, those who make the least pay a disproportionate share.

To be fair, none of this is lost on Councilman Todd Gloria. He grew up in City Heights and has spent his career working for people in poverty. Todd needs no lecture from anyone about the economics of his district. Todd’s support for the tax increase is conditioned upon the city council completing several reforms. But opponents of the tax increase don’t trust the city council.

Todd needs to unite with DeMaio and Faulconer and push for meaningful reforms before seeking a tax increase, if ever. My fear for Todd is that if he supports a tax increase and fails to deliver on pension reform, he may have labor support for his re-election, but he may not have support in his district.