Thread started by trekkie at 01.10.08 - 6:04 pm

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7927647

a .5% sales tax increase in L.A. County to 8.75% could raise $4.5 billion for transit projects in 6.5 years.

yay or nay?

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Yay, if they hire someone from LA bike culture to admin the money.



toweliesbong
01.10.08 - 6:11 pm

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Nay if they pull the same old money burning bureaucratic cronyism bullshit that they always do.



toweliesbong
01.10.08 - 6:13 pm

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You know, i'd be for it if it truly went to the Metro. But i fear that money has been misappropriated time and time again, that i'm hesitant. Its like the non - profit world where only a % of the money it receives from donations goes towards the people who benefit from it. The balance goes to overhead, payroll,etc. I'm suspect that too much money has been wasted and not spent wisely thus far.

And if Tony Villar is behind it, there must be a photo-op happening near by.



stevo4
01.10.08 - 6:17 pm

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i hear ya stevo - but on the other hand, i also feel that our transit system (and entire city's transportation crisis) is in such dire need right now that any action taken to raise any funds would be a good thing. obviously i'm oversimplifying - there would have to be real plans, real audits, watchdog groups to make sure everything is being done right, etc.

if we want (and we definitely need) things like the subway to the sea, they'll have to get the funding somehow. maybe ultimately increasing the sales tax might not be the right answer, but at least Metro is exploring their options and not just doing nothing.




trekkie
01.10.08 - 6:33 pm

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I totally agree Trekkie.



stevo4
01.10.08 - 6:52 pm

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Nay.
Sales taxes hit the poor and the middle class more than the rich.





marino
01.10.08 - 7:08 pm

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I'm wondering how things would go if the public transit system became "semi-privatized".
Different companies make bids to provide services, public gets a taste of each service, whichever company strives to be the most effective at getting public around wins.
Don't know if anyone ever expressed that one before, but I decided to throw it in there to feel important.



bentstrider
01.10.08 - 10:35 pm

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