At this time, our group is still discussing our stance on VTA’s Measure B – a 1/2-cent transportation sales tax proposal on the November 8 ballot. This discussion is taking place on our email list and our Facebook page.
To help you decide whether or not you should support or oppose Measure B, here is the full ballot text of Measure B, as VTA sent it to the County Registrar. In addition, here are the Attachments A thru D mentioning the proposed projects in the ballot measure.
Also, here are details on where your money on prior VTA transportation sales taxes went. This Mountain View Voice article from 2014 shows how nearly 80% of the $4.2 billion of your money from the last two ballot measures (2000 and 2008) went to the BART extension to Berryessa in San Jose. In addition, this Palo Alto Daily Post article from 2014 details how VTA’s spending of your money affected Caltrain and, to an extent, bus service throughout Santa Clara County, since 2000. For your reference, here’s the ballot text for 2000 Measure A and 2008 Measure B. For balance, here’s VTA’s “report card” of projects built with your tax money from 2000 Measure A. (A separate article on how your money was spent from 2000 Measure A is upcoming.)
The Mercury News has already endorsed Measure B. Here’s a counterpoint on why to vote against Measure B.
Based on the information given above, would you support or oppose Measure B? Our Measure B stance – and why that stance will be taken – will be announced this week.
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users
