From: ladasky@netcom.com (John J. Ladasky II)
Subject: Re: Measure A Rebuttal Rebuttal
Date: Tue, 08 Sep 92 06:51:14 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Summary: support for Bill
Distribution: ba

bm@bike2work.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill Michel) writes:
[stuff deleted]
>Given cutbacks by Santa Clara County Transit, fare hikes 
>at Muni and AC Transit (despite high ridership figures for
>the latter two systems), what makes you so sure that merely 
>*building* these systems will entice people to get out 
>of their cars?

	Unfortunately, I don't think that this is the objective of
Measure A.  The objective of Measure A would appear to be to reduce
people's commuting frustrations in the quickest manner, not necessarily
the best manner.

>> Alan Hirsch can't post, but here's his response to Bill Michel's
>> piece on what is wrong with Santa Clara County Measure A:
>> 
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[more stuff deleted]
>> 
>> Yes, the plan was put together via politics--but that is the way
>> things happen in this county--and the democratic political process,
>> rough and tumble as it is, did come up with a pretty good plan.  I
>> was in there slugging and criticizing the T-2010 process, and made a
>> dramatic impact in priority shifting of the funding of CalTrain.
>> The plan reflected the needs of the various coalitions and
>> constituencies who's support is needed to get approval of a tax.
>> This is the essence of interest group liberalism and democracy.  
>> 
>> I would be interested to hear how else this priority setting could
>> be have been done other than the T2010 process that involved cities,
>> city staffs, SC Co. Board, SCCo. Transportation Commission, public
>> hearings and meetings over a 18 month period.
>
>What priority setting? I'm not aware of any *priorities* in Measure A,
>just a list of projects.
>

	The priority-setting decisions for T2010 would simply seem to 
have been, "do we want to fund project X, or not?"  I've collected a bunch
of information on Measure A, and I have to agree with Bill.  I only know
what they want to fund, not when they want to complete things.  I would
feel a lot more comfortable knowing that the rail projects would be com-
pleted before any competing highway projects.  Lastly, this year's Measure
A includes funds for projects that 1984's Measure A was unable to fund to
completion.  What if this happens again?  Which transit systems won't we
have?

[more deletions]
>> 
>> Bill's comments are all about process, not about specific projects.
>
>That's because measure A provides *so few* specifics to criticize.
>Again, prioritization, and scheduling concerns here.
>

	I can criticize a specific project - the widening of 101 to six
lanes between South SJ and Morgan Hill.  I used to live in South SJ and
commute to Mountain View.  The morning northbound traffic jams don't
start until Hellyer Avenue - if there's an accident, they might be back
a bit farther.  The 101 expansion has one purpose only: to promote growth
in South County.  I've heard it said that the expansion is needed "to 
accomodate traffic coming off of the 101/85 interchange."  Uh huh.

	I think that we really need to discuss the impact that Measure A
will have on growth in South County.  Caltrain has just opened service
to Gilroy.  I think that we should promote Caltrain before distracting
people with the more-familiar but less-efficient highway.

	I also recall that a light-rail extension down Santa Teresa Boule-
vard to the Coyote Valley research park (currently undeveloped) was proposed
at one point.  I don't remember seeing this project on the Measure A list.

>> Other than on highways, his are philosophical criticisms.

	I don't think that the issue of gas-tax funding vs. sales-tax
funding is a philosophical one.  I bike to work about three days out of
five.  Some benefit should accrue to me as a consequence of my reduced 
freeway use.

[still more deletions]
>> 
>> Mr. Michel wants to raise the gas tax instead of sales taxes for funds.
>> I agree.  That is the right tax to fund transit.  However to get the
>> same revenue as a half cent sales tax, you would need a 19-cent gas
>> tax--and 85% of the people oppose this, where only 30% oppose a sales
>
>According to the figures that the Manufacturer's group gathered in their
>polling the percentages on sales tax were closer to 54? % against, 
>46% for.
>
>This is where the question of political leadership comes in.
>The County Manufacturers Group, the Bay Area Economic Forum, the
>Bay Area Air Quality Management District, have *all* indicated
>that "Market Based Measures" are some of the *most* effective.
>
>Someone's got to take the lead on this. Selling it would be
>easier if it was part of a general tax-reform plan, say one
>that decreased property tax, and increased gas tax simlutaneously.
>
>If this tax measure goes through, the idea of a gas tax 
>can be safely ignored for 20 more years; besides how will
>people react to any gas tax proposal which would be proposed
>*on top* of a half-cent sales tax.

	This is a big problem with me as well.  The T2010 participants
seem to be more interested in appealing to peoples' lesser instincts
(sales tax) and getting the problem solved quickly, rather than trying
to educate the public about a gas tax.

	The original Measure A does not expire until 1994.  Is this
problem so urgent that we must pass the new Measure A right now?  Why
don't we come back next year with a priority list (with mass transit
projects at the top), contigency plans if funding should fall short, 
a reassessment of the South County projects, and perhaps a little some-
thing for cyclists?

>Bill Michel			
>bm@eng.sun.com		These views are my own, not Sun's.

-- 
== John J. Ladasky II ("ii") ========================= ladasky@netcom.COM ==
"Great composers do not borrow -	     "Talking about music is like
 they steal."  - John Ladasky	      ~ -     dancing about architecture."
(quote stolen from Stravinsky, who    o o     - Elvis Costello?  Laurie
 stole it from a statement made by     >        Anderson?  Frank Zappa?
 Pablo Picasso about painting, who    \_/    -------------------------------
 stole it from...)			     "Property is theft." - Groucho
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