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Re: Supervisor Arnold on SMART vs. NCRA -Who is Telling the Truth?
Author: TROLL HUNTER
Date: 08-24-2008 - 09:16
Bit,
Use Google, and put in the names of some of these leading anti rail folks, and you get some pretty good stuff on who they're affiliated with. Some really strange political "bedfellows" among the leading Marin "train haters".
Remember, some "professed" environmental "public" advocacy groups are themselves nothing but corporate funded "fronts", so you have to dig and find out what they've done and who funds them. Anyone can form a 501 3 c non profit "educational" group and accept contributions to "educate" the public on issues. This has turned out to be a very effective corporate "non political" lobbying and PR strategy.
Most folks in Marin do get it, and want an effective regional rail system, and better local transit. So you don't need a Sonoma only strategy? The long term needs are there, and Marin folks will support this. A very large majority will definitely support
SMART in Marin County.
The Legislature's and Governor's stupidy in increasing the sales tax "temporarily" to "fix" the states budget boondoggle will, however, likely kill all transportation sales taxes at the ballot. This includes LA's ineptly promoted increase in sales tax for more transit. It will also likely kill Santa Barbara Counties attempt to extend their current transportation sales tax. So, if this happens, Marin and Sonoma will not likely have the two thirds vote needed to pass, either.
The revised Prop 1 A, using bonds to pay for high speed rail, will pass, if it is on the ballot, since to put ourselves into general obligation taxpayer debt we need only a simple majority? But, to pay off the debt we need a two thirds vote????
California already has billions in unissued voter approved state general obligation transportation bonds, now, because we have no general fund monies to pay off the debt and interest? Worse, The "voter protected" gas tax monies you pay for roads and transit will be "borrowed" (stolen?) again this year to "fix" the state budget? They've already stolen and not repaid $5.3 billion from roads and transit, without repaying it.
People ask why the rest of the country thinks we're a little crazy in California???? It's not just the water in Novato that seems to make some people crazy, it's the water in Sacramento, too.
Use Google, and put in the names of some of these leading anti rail folks, and you get some pretty good stuff on who they're affiliated with. Some really strange political "bedfellows" among the leading Marin "train haters".
Remember, some "professed" environmental "public" advocacy groups are themselves nothing but corporate funded "fronts", so you have to dig and find out what they've done and who funds them. Anyone can form a 501 3 c non profit "educational" group and accept contributions to "educate" the public on issues. This has turned out to be a very effective corporate "non political" lobbying and PR strategy.
Most folks in Marin do get it, and want an effective regional rail system, and better local transit. So you don't need a Sonoma only strategy? The long term needs are there, and Marin folks will support this. A very large majority will definitely support
SMART in Marin County.
The Legislature's and Governor's stupidy in increasing the sales tax "temporarily" to "fix" the states budget boondoggle will, however, likely kill all transportation sales taxes at the ballot. This includes LA's ineptly promoted increase in sales tax for more transit. It will also likely kill Santa Barbara Counties attempt to extend their current transportation sales tax. So, if this happens, Marin and Sonoma will not likely have the two thirds vote needed to pass, either.
The revised Prop 1 A, using bonds to pay for high speed rail, will pass, if it is on the ballot, since to put ourselves into general obligation taxpayer debt we need only a simple majority? But, to pay off the debt we need a two thirds vote????
California already has billions in unissued voter approved state general obligation transportation bonds, now, because we have no general fund monies to pay off the debt and interest? Worse, The "voter protected" gas tax monies you pay for roads and transit will be "borrowed" (stolen?) again this year to "fix" the state budget? They've already stolen and not repaid $5.3 billion from roads and transit, without repaying it.
People ask why the rest of the country thinks we're a little crazy in California???? It's not just the water in Novato that seems to make some people crazy, it's the water in Sacramento, too.
