Los Angeles County Sales Tax, Measure R, 2008
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Measure R, a ballot measure also referred to as Traffic Relief. Rail Extensions. Reduce Foreign Oil Dependence.and proposed by the Los Angeles County Metro Transit Authority (MTA or "Metro") is a county-wide sales tax measure that appeared on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Los Angeles County, California.
Measure R was approved with 67.22% of the vote. It required a supermajority of 66.67% to pass.
Measure R increases the county sales tax from 8.25% to 8.75% (a half-cent increase) to fund transportation projects.
The vote to place the measure on the ballot, taken by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, was 9-2 with one abstention and one absent.
The new tax will last for 30 years and raise (and cost taxpayers) an estimated $40 billion for roadway and transit projects. According to the independent nonprofit Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), the average cost per person would be $25 per year.
How funds will be spent
Projects that are expected to be funded by the proceeds of the Measure R sales tax include:
- Synchronize traffic signals;
- Repair potholes;
- Extend light rail with airport connections, including Green Line service to LAX and South Bay Corridor, the Purple Line from Western/Wilshire to Westwood, Exposition Boulevard Light Rail Transit from Culver City to Santa Monica, the 24 mile Gold Line Foothill Extension to Claremont, develop a West Santa Ana branch transportation corridor, and a rapid transit option through the I-405/Sepulveda Pass;[1] [2]
- Accelerate completion of Canoga Corridor Orange Line to Chatsworth as well as completion of San Fernando Valley East North-South Rapidways;
- Link Local Rail lines through a Regional Connector (Long Beach/Pasadena, Culver City/East LA lines)
- Improve freeway traffic flow (5, 10, 14, 60, 101, 110, 138, 210, 405, 605, 710);
- Keep senior / student / disabled fares low;
Support
Measure R is supported by:
- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City of Los Angeles
- American Lung Association of California
- Coalition for Clean Air
- Coalition of Rapid Transit
- The Transit Coalition
- Friends 4 Expo Transit
- Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters
- Bruins for Traffic Relief [5]
Arguments in Favor
- "If Measure R fails, little gets built for 30 years" according to Mayor Villaraigosa.[6]
- "Measure R will create 210,000 new jobs as estimated by the nonprofit Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation."[7]
- Measure R would cost "just $25 per person each year. Compare that to what traffic congestion and poor roads cost us today."[8]
- Such action will put Los Angeles transport in a position to solicit federal funding, "as part of the next economic stimulus package (a la New Deal programs in the 1930s) is being given serious consideration" on the national scene, according to Southern California Transit Advocates, a Los Angeles-based public transportation advocacy and public policy review organization [9]
- The measure "would help prevent many illnesses related to air pollution, including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer" by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars, potentially benefiting residents throughout the county region.[10]
- "Until we offer people a viable alternative to their cars that also gets them off the road, we aren't doing enough to improve the quality of life of local residents."[11]
- "This isn't just about commutes. It's about productivity of workers, improving the business climate for employers..."[12]
- Measure R's public transport could increase pedestrian traffic going to/from subway stations, preserve walkable areas of the city, and re-invigorate neighborhoods. [13]
Opposition
Measure R is opposed by:
- The Glendora City Council is opposed, with Mayor Pro Tem Mark Kelly saying, "This is nothing more than a ploy to build a subway to the sea for the Mayor (Antonio Villaraigosa)."[14]
- The Culver City Chamber of Commerce,which says, "The Chamber feels this is the wrong time to impose such a tax on business and the public."[15]
- The cities of Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Duarte, Irwindale, La Puente, Monrovia, Pomona, San Dimas, South Pasadena, West Covina.[16],[17]
Arguments Opposing
- The measure is a special interest "subway to the sea" and does not equally benefit outlying areas which would receive lower amounts of funding for transportation projects
- A sales tax "is regressive because the rich and the poor have to pay the same amount" [18]
- It may increase racial tensions between classes which utilize the bus system, and a more white, affluent population which would benefit from rail[19]
- The proposition discriminates against buses, as bus funds could be raided to pay for rail projects. It may continue a trend of spending monies and subsidies on rail over buses, and subsidizing rail (per ride) in larger amounts than buses-- thus punishing the mainly poorer ridership of buses. [20][21]
- A sales tax is the wrong way to finance such a measure during a major economic recession
Name left off ballot argument
The name of Pomona City Councilman George Hunter was accidentally left off the official ballot argument against Measure R, resulting in an official apology from Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan.[22]
Controversy over taxpayer funds
On September 11, Los Angeles County transit removed material that appeared to promote Measure R from their website, after complaints by opponents, including county superivsor Don Knabe, that what was said on the government-owned website was an improper use of taxpayer funds to take a position on a ballot measure.
The county-funded Metropolitan Transportation Authority had also purchased radio ads urging listeners to visit their website to read arguments in favor of Measure R, fueling complaints over improper allocation of tax payer funds.
Newspaper endorsements
Editorial boards in favor
The Los Angeles Times asks its readers to consider a "yes" vote despite opposition from outlying areas of the county, saying, "A well-designed transportation network relieves bottlenecks in places where demand is greatest, and such high-density corridors aren't evenly distributed on the map. The projects to be funded by Measure R have been well chosen to maximize efficiency and thus give taxpayers the best bang for their bucks regardless of where they live."[25]
The Daily News Los Angeles supports the measure, saying, "We've reached the point where the leaks in Los Angeles County's transportation system can no longer be ignored." [26]
Editorial boards opposed
The Long Beach Press Telegram opposes the measure, citing that its residents should not have to pay for "billions earmarked for West Los Angeles projects." [27]
The Pasadena Star News opposes the measure on similar grounds, arguing "inequitable funding" as reason for a "No" vote. [28]
Antelope Valley Press opposes the measure as a "boondoggle in the basin" that would do little to help its "far flung" residents, and would raise taxes during economic downturn. [29]
See also
- Los Angeles City ballot measures
- Los Angeles County ballot measures
- California 2008 local ballot measures
External links
Basic information
- Metro: Measure R information site
- Measure R on Smart Voter
- Many drivers don't see east-west divide over Measure R
- Los Angeles Times Bottleneck Blog: Measure R
- Officials await transit funds
Supporting
- Los Angeles Times Editorial (Yes on Measure R)
- "Yes on Measure R" Facebook Group
- Yes on Measure R, official support website
- More reasons for vote for Measure R
- A mostly quiet campaign so far for Measure R
- Los Angeles Business Journal, "Measure R an important step in easing area transit issues"
- Independent blog supporting Measure R
Opposing
- Long Beach Press-Telegram Editorial (No on Measure R)
- Vote No on the 6: MTA's Racist Sales Tax
- The MTA's Sales tax boondoggle
- San Gabriel Valley Tribune Officials oppose Measure R, Oct 30, 2008
- Pasadena Weekly A 30 Year Ride
References
- ↑ http://www.metro.net/measurer/rail_expansion.html
- ↑ Los Angeles Times Say no to traffic: Vote 'yes' for Measure R and Proposition 1A, Nov 2, 2008
- ↑ County Sales Tax Rises To Fund Transit Projects, July 24, 2008
- ↑ Expenditure plan, Text of R
- ↑ The Daily Bruin, "Students take to the streets for public transit"
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "If Measure R fails, little gets build for 30 years Villaraigosa says", October 20, 2008
- ↑ Yes on Measure "R" LA
- ↑ Yes on Measure "R" LA
- ↑ Daily News Los Angeles: "Transit Advocates Weigh In on Measure R," October 27, 2008
- ↑ Yes on Measure R: A lifeline for commuters
- ↑ Los Angeles Times Say no to traffic: Vote 'yes' for Measure R and Proposition 1A, Nov 2, 2008
- ↑ Los Angeles Times Say no to traffic: Vote 'yes' for Measure R and Proposition 1A, Nov 2, 2008
- ↑ http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-measurer30-2008oct30,0,1077450.story
- ↑ San Gabriel Valley Tribune, "Glendora City Council opposes Measure R", October 14, 2008
- ↑ Los Angeles Times blog, "More opposition to Measure R emerges"
- ↑ List of cities and Baldwin Park resolution opposing R
- ↑ Los Angeles Times bottleneck blog, "San Gabriel Valley versus Measure R"
- ↑ No on the Six
- ↑ Los Angeles Times The MTA's Sales-Tax Boondoggle, July 31, 2008
- ↑ Los Angeles Times The MTA's Sales-Tax Boondoggle, July 31, 2008
- ↑ Los Angeles Times Bottleneck Blog Rail wins over busses, May 7, 2007
- ↑ Santa Clara Valley Non-Profit News Center, "County Registrar Apologizes to Pomona Councilman for Ballot Argument Omission", October 10, 2008
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "L.A. County transit agency removes Measure R material from website", September 12, 2008
- ↑ Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, "MTA removes online message", September 11, 2008
- ↑ Los Angeles Times: "Yes on Measure R; It's a tough time to seek a tax hike, but Measure R is worth it," October 9, 2008
- ↑ Daily News"Measure R Flawed but Needed"
- ↑ Long Beach Press-Telegram Editorial (No on Measure R)
- ↑ Pasadena Star News Measure R snubs region, October 25, 2008
- ↑ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/bottleneck/2008/10/antelope-valley.html
