Driving a hard bargain

Ican’t lie. The brightly colored Measure R pamphlet that arrived in my mailbox caught my eye — even if mainly because it wasn’t a credit card bill. I quickly delved into the brochure, initially nodding along with the Metro 5-Point Plan Project Index, which was spelled out for me in simple, albeit vague, terms. 

I was immediately swayed by the arguments, which reminded me that traffic sucks, that additional rail lines would be nice and that improving my quality of life would totally rule. I can also see the merits in improving our public transportation (especially after my disastrous experience trying to take a Metro bus to Dodger Stadium this summer). And I’ve got nothing against synchronizing traffic signals, fixing potholes and generally improving our road conditions.  

The controversial Measure R, which will be on the Nov. 4 ballot, sounded swell, with the promise of creating 210,000 new jobs and raising $40 billion for transportation improvements — all the while keeping fares low for seniors, students and the disabled — especially since it could all be achieved by raising our sales tax in LA County by just one-half cent from 8.25 percent to 8.75 percent. Or, as Metro.net claims, at a cost of roughly $25 per person each year, for the next 30 years. 

Wait, what? In the midst of arguably the worst economic climate since the 1930s, I’m being asked to shell out an additional $25 a year for the next 30 years? I could be investing that money in the stock market! (I kid, I kid, but I could be keeping it in a coffee can buried in my backyard.) 

Not surprisingly, after reading the arguments and rebuttals for and against Measure R, available at www.lavote.net, my initial delight in the candy-colored pamphlet was shrouded by a gray cloud of mistrust. The idea of spending another cent on anything but the bare essentials right now makes me positively nauseous. Granted, that may not be the soundest reason for opposing the measure, and I know that we have serious traffic problems. But as I’ve watched my IRA evanesce in recent months, I can’t ignore the fact that I don’t have an extra $25 bucks a year to spend on anything that won’t provide a noticeable improvement in my life. And an increase in sales tax is not going to benefit me in the slightest.

All the same, I wanted to know specifically why Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard had contributed to the rebuttal to the argument in favor of Measure R, as I assumed his opposition was based on more than just a queasy stomach.

“Measure R shortchanges Pasadena once again in relation with MTA by giving the appearance, but not the assurance, of benefits coming from the tax,” said Bogaard. In particular, he had two key objections to the measure: “MTA rushed the ballot measure together without any consultation with the San Gabriel Valley or with other outer regions in LA County who are contributing to the sales tax.”

Continuing, Bogaard stated, “We will contribute each year $20 million and get back $1.7 million.  The rest of the money will go to larger capital projects. That doesn’t necessarily imply unfairness, but the question is: Will capital projects be fairly beneficial to Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley?” 

He went on to explain that he found it troubling that the “discretion retained by MTA to reallocate funding means that the traditional preference of MTA to Los Angles [because of the composition of the MTA board] will result in failure to provide for real needs of our area.” 

Bogaard clearly doesn’t think that the amount that Pasadenans will contribute via the tax increase will make much of a positive impact on our lives, nor does he expect the controversial measure to pass.

“Proper political groundwork has not been laid to develop support, and the opposition in the San Gabriel Valley is widespread and strongly felt,” he added. “The current economic and financial situation in our nation will surely increase voters’ natural inclination to scrutinize new taxes very closely.”

Well, what do you know?  I’m one of those voters who actually did scrutinize these new taxes. And as bright and shiny as Measure R initially seemed, I have to trust my gut on this one. It’s telling me that although we definitely need transportation improvements, signing on to a 30-year tax increase, with no way of knowing when I’ll reap any of the benefits of coughing up my hard-earned money, is a pill I just can’t swallow.

Contact Jennifer Hadley at jmhadley624@yahoo.com.