The No on B argument
Below is the initial ballot argument that we submitted to the registrar’s office on August 13. The sentences that our opponents took us to court on are clickable links in the post below. If you click on the links you’ll see an explanation of the documents that we submitted to blow their claims apart. I think you’ll agree, they had a really weak case. This was more about political intimidation than anything else. But I’m happy to share with you how laughable, disingenuous, and over-the-top their claims were.
ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE B
VTA continues to promise what they can’t deliver.
In 2000, the ballot argument promised us a ½ percent tax “… pays operating costs for BART, rail, and buses for decades without additional taxes.” Voters passed the $6-billion tax.
Today, VTA wants a $2-billion tax increase–for those same operating costs.
In 2000, they promised light rail for East San Jose, more Caltrain service, and an airport people mover.
Today, all of those projects have been delayed. Others have been cut entirely.
In 2000, they promised “Traffic Relief Now.”
Today, VTA won’t even tell us which projects will be built, or when.
In 2000, they promised expanded bus service.
Instead, VTA cut service and raised fares.Annual transit ridership fell by 17 million trips.
Now they’re promising us a train to Fremont–if only we’ll pass another tax. Can we trust them?
Santa Clara County’s Civil Grand Jury called it “over-promising of projects to voters.”
They’re doing it again:
In 2000, VTA said they had enough money.
In 2006, VTA said a ¼ percent tax was enough.
This spring, VTA’s consultant said it wasn’t.
Today, VTA wants a 1/8 percent tax.
They don’t know what they need. Expect more tax increases.
We need results.
If VTA were serious about combating climate change, they wouldn’t starve the transit systems we have, to fund the transit we might get… someday.
We deserve a transit agency focused on effectively delivering transit.
VTA spends more to operate one bus for one hour than nearly every other transit agency. For the same money, we could get more transit:
Tell VTA you want real change. Learn more at www.NoVTAtax.com
Vote NO on Measure B.
Karen Maki, Executive Committee Chair, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
Yoriko Kishimoto, VTA Board Member; Member and Former Mayor, Palo Alto City Council
John McLemore, Former VTA board member; Former Vice-Chair, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Greg Perry, Former VTA board member; Former Mountain View City Councilmember
Pete Constant, San Jose City Councilmember
See also,
[...] services to pay for service to Fremont from San Jose. Much more info at No VTA Tax, especially this page. See also VTA Riders Union, 295Bus, and The Bay Rail Alliance. Those who actually use public [...]