Comments on: California Cities Need A Predictable Fund For Transit Operations http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/13/california-cities-need-a-predictable-fund-for-transit-operations/ Covering San Francisco's livable streets movement Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Murphy http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/13/california-cities-need-a-predictable-fund-for-transit-operations/comment-page-1/#comment-4712 John Murphy Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:33:11 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1932#comment-4712 @Jeffrey Baker - As transit grows in popularity, the political capability of transit advocates to get other sources of funding increases because the pool of voters who prioritize that funding grows. In theory anyway. The problem being that each additional voice from a rider is very soft compared to the voices of those who benefit from the status quo. @Jeffrey Baker -

As transit grows in popularity, the political capability of transit advocates to get other sources of funding increases because the pool of voters who prioritize that funding grows. In theory anyway. The problem being that each additional voice from a rider is very soft compared to the voices of those who benefit from the status quo.

]]> By: marcos http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/13/california-cities-need-a-predictable-fund-for-transit-operations/comment-page-1/#comment-4711 marcos Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:25:02 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1932#comment-4711 I'd not look to the Human Rights Campaign nor California's same sex marriage advocates for lessons on how play politics to win. Not only can we not get married, but queers throughout the heartland do not enjoy housing and employment protection even though the polling numbers have shown broad support for those life-critical rights over the past 15 years. Hmm, why does that sound familiar, significant public support on your side, inability to move your agenda....hmmm.... -marc I’d not look to the Human Rights Campaign nor California’s same sex marriage advocates for lessons on how play politics to win.

Not only can we not get married, but queers throughout the heartland do not enjoy housing and employment protection even though the polling numbers have shown broad support for those life-critical rights over the past 15 years.

Hmm, why does that sound familiar, significant public support on your side, inability to move your agenda….hmmm….

-marc

]]> By: Michael Scheper http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/13/california-cities-need-a-predictable-fund-for-transit-operations/comment-page-1/#comment-4709 Michael Scheper Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:58:55 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1932#comment-4709 A couple of months ago, I took part in a Day of Action against Prop 8 in Sacramento. It was organised by the Human Rights Campaign and put us face-to-face with lawmakers. I'd love to see a similar Day of Action to support public transport in this state, and I'd happily take a day off to be part of it. Surely I'm not the only reader of this blog who feels that way! Hell, I'd jump at the chance to help organise it, if I can get help forom somebody a bit more experienced with this sort of thing. A couple of months ago, I took part in a Day of Action against Prop 8 in Sacramento. It was organised by the Human Rights Campaign and put us face-to-face with lawmakers.

I’d love to see a similar Day of Action to support public transport in this state, and I’d happily take a day off to be part of it. Surely I’m not the only reader of this blog who feels that way! Hell, I’d jump at the chance to help organise it, if I can get help forom somebody a bit more experienced with this sort of thing.

]]> By: marcos http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/13/california-cities-need-a-predictable-fund-for-transit-operations/comment-page-1/#comment-4707 marcos Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:50:12 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1932#comment-4707 I am curious how the Obama Administration arrives at the conclusion that funding transit operations is a local matter when climate change and emissions are not local matters and that dependence on foreign petroleum is not a local matter. The fact is that any solution is going to have to survive the political process, and that means identifying viable new sources of revenue or viable existing expenses that can be cut. They are not listening to us because we are not organizing numbers. There are captive audiences on transit vehicles that, if organized, could have transit advocacy compete with the labor unions for general fund attention. -marc I am curious how the Obama Administration arrives at the conclusion that funding transit operations is a local matter when climate change and emissions are not local matters and that dependence on foreign petroleum is not a local matter.

The fact is that any solution is going to have to survive the political process, and that means identifying viable new sources of revenue or viable existing expenses that can be cut.

They are not listening to us because we are not organizing numbers. There are captive audiences on transit vehicles that, if organized, could have transit advocacy compete with the labor unions for general fund attention.

-marc

]]> By: those dudes http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/13/california-cities-need-a-predictable-fund-for-transit-operations/comment-page-1/#comment-4705 those dudes Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:54:19 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1932#comment-4705 Unfortunately this post doesn't offer anything that regular streetsblog readers don't already know. Why not offer some suggested solutions that advocates could rally around? Unfortunately this post doesn’t offer anything that regular streetsblog readers don’t already know. Why not offer some suggested solutions that advocates could rally around?

]]> By: Jeffrey W. Baker http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/13/california-cities-need-a-predictable-fund-for-transit-operations/comment-page-1/#comment-4702 Jeffrey W. Baker Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:42:34 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1932#comment-4702 But would a gas tax be considered a stable source of transit funding? As transit grows in popularity it would naturally erode its own means of support. But would a gas tax be considered a stable source of transit funding? As transit grows in popularity it would naturally erode its own means of support.

]]> By: Seth Andrzejewski http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/13/california-cities-need-a-predictable-fund-for-transit-operations/comment-page-1/#comment-4698 Seth Andrzejewski Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:08:39 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1932#comment-4698 Raise the Gas tax now! We should not be getting away with paying $2.20 a gallon for gas. Demand is inelastic and gas constitutes a small percentage of overall auto transportation costs. Raise the Gas tax now! We should not be getting away with paying $2.20 a gallon for gas. Demand is inelastic and gas constitutes a small percentage of overall auto transportation costs.

]]>