Makes me want to scream and kick County Comissioners in the shins. I got suckered to vote for the transit tax back in 2002 because i was blinded by the promise of shiny new trains and a true network of public transportation.
He is absolutely right. We cannot condone government action of this ilk. The tax was sold on false pretences, period. By the way, the Commission rejected Commissioner Gimenez's proposed changes to the CITT that would have given the board more independence, and would have required supermajority votes in order to fund projects outside of the work plan approved in 2002. The vote was 6-6, so, it died. Anyone know who voted no on it? Then the Commission is going to wonder why the people don't trust them. Amazing!
I think that Carlos is digging himself into a deep hole with this. It smacks of grandstanding. I wonder who is going to pony up the dough for a petition drive.
Repealing the tax would have a devastating effect on an already crippled system. Tough call on this one.
I'm pretty outraged at the whole bait and switch on the transit tax, but I'm not ready to repeal it at a time like this because it may hurt our ability to compete for federal stimulus dollars. Unfortunately, by refusing to give up a little power today, the board has basically given Gimenez all the ammo he needs to get the petition drive started.
It's pretty interesting. Carlos Gimenez serves a district with the wealthiest demographics-- the people who least depend on public transportation. No wonder he's not concerned with taking away the transit tax.
I'm not a lawyer but I would think there has to be legal grounds to sue the pants off each county commissioner - or jail them, even better! - for not following thru with what the voters passed re the 1/2 cent tax for new rail? If they need more money to run transit, they should raise the fares, make cutbacks etc...just like any other business would.
Looks like Joe Martinez has his folks working the blogs. Gimenez is doing the right thing, and the only thing. The County Commission, as a body, and the Administration have all proven that they could not be trusted. The idea that bus routes would be eliminated, and that the current system cannot be maintained with general funds is just a figment of imagination. You see, the County would prefer not to have to become more efficient across the board. Repealing the transit tax would force the County to live within its means. They have a 7.8 billion annual operating budget. They have secured almost 1 billion over the last 8 years on the PTP. So, really, that is just a 300 million dollar infusion per year, approximately, or about 6% of the budget. You cannot tell me the County cannot find ways to save 6%, and keep service levels at or near the current. To think otherwise is to demonstrate a complete and total lack of understanding how inefficient our County government really is.
By the way, Joe's Boys out there, please take down that ridiculous "Joe Martinez for U.S. Senate blog". It makes you look very dumb. I mean, are you kidding me, Joe Martinez a U.S. Senator... Please!!
11 comments:
Makes me want to scream and kick County Comissioners in the shins. I got suckered to vote for the transit tax back in 2002 because i was blinded by the promise of shiny new trains and a true network of public transportation.
He is absolutely right. We cannot condone government action of this ilk. The tax was sold on false pretences, period. By the way, the Commission rejected Commissioner Gimenez's proposed changes to the CITT that would have given the board more independence, and would have required supermajority votes in order to fund projects outside of the work plan approved in 2002. The vote was 6-6, so, it died. Anyone know who voted no on it? Then the Commission is going to wonder why the people don't trust them. Amazing!
I think that Carlos is digging himself into a deep hole with this. It smacks of grandstanding. I wonder who is going to pony up the dough for a petition drive.
Repealing the tax would have a devastating effect on an already crippled system. Tough call on this one.
Carlos is setting himself up for Mayor, I like him. However he may dig a whole too deep for him to get out of
I'm pretty outraged at the whole bait and switch on the transit tax, but I'm not ready to repeal it at a time like this because it may hurt our ability to compete for federal stimulus dollars. Unfortunately, by refusing to give up a little power today, the board has basically given Gimenez all the ammo he needs to get the petition drive started.
It's pretty interesting. Carlos Gimenez serves a district with the wealthiest demographics-- the people who least depend on public transportation. No wonder he's not concerned with taking away the transit tax.
I'm not a lawyer but I would think there has to be legal grounds to sue the pants off each county commissioner - or jail them, even better! - for not following thru with what the voters passed re the 1/2 cent tax for new rail? If they need more money to run transit, they should raise the fares, make cutbacks etc...just like any other business would.
Looks like Joe Martinez has his folks working the blogs. Gimenez is doing the right thing, and the only thing. The County Commission, as a body, and the Administration have all proven that they could not be trusted. The idea that bus routes would be eliminated, and that the current system cannot be maintained with general funds is just a figment of imagination. You see, the County would prefer not to have to become more efficient across the board. Repealing the transit tax would force the County to live within its means. They have a 7.8 billion annual operating budget. They have secured almost 1 billion over the last 8 years on the PTP. So, really, that is just a 300 million dollar infusion per year, approximately, or about 6% of the budget. You cannot tell me the County cannot find ways to save 6%, and keep service levels at or near the current. To think otherwise is to demonstrate a complete and total lack of understanding how inefficient our County government really is.
By the way, Joe's Boys out there, please take down that ridiculous "Joe Martinez for U.S. Senate blog". It makes you look very dumb. I mean, are you kidding me, Joe Martinez a U.S. Senator... Please!!
Sorry, that should be 150 million per year... and even less in terms of percentage of current operating budget..
So what if he is setting himself up to be Mayor? Who could be better suited for the job? Not that weasel with the Napoleon Complex, Martinez.
LOL!!! Little Joe Napolean Martinez Dynamite... That should be his nickname!
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