The tolls for the seven Bay Area bridges, excluding the Golden Gate Bridge, are currently $7 and slated to go up to $8 in January 2025 as described by Regional Measure 3, approved by 55% of voters in 2018. This measure was ostensibly to pay for transportation improvements.
The pandemic-spurred work-from-home movement, along with efficiency and safety issues on our transit lines is causing our agencies to fret over their financial future. Lo and behold, a new state budget announcement includes $5.1 billion for transportation. Yet, that does not appear to be enough.
Enter state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and some other lawmakers from the area, including our own state Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, with their new proposal to raise bridge tolls even higher to help pay for budget shortfalls. The plan is raise the bridge tolls from $7 to $8.50 Jan. 1, then have it go up again in 2025 through the already approved RM3 to $9.50. Wiener’s proposal would also be adjusted for inflation, meaning it will go higher. It’s only for five years, but the chances of it being reversed is nil as lawmakers will work for a new permanent source of revenue.
How much is enough? Public transit is important, but the regular folks our lawmakers purport to serve will have to pay for this. It is a tax on the working class and, as they say, simply a bridge too far.
The effort to launch an independent oversight group of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office has received a new supporter. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California has endorsed the effort by Fixin’ San Mateo County to establish such a group since November 2021.
FxSMC wants to partner with Sheriff Christina Corpus, elected in November, to create civilian oversight and has the endorsement of 50 local elected officials, five city councils and 25 local organizations.
Jim Lawrence, FxSMC board chair, and former Foster City mayor, said in a press release, “We are very appreciative of the commitment by the ACLU-Northern California to support the effort for independent civilian oversight here. We look forward to working with the ACLU as well as the Board of Supervisors and Sheriff Christina Corpus to make oversight a reality.”
ACLU-Nor Cal has supported the establishment of civilian oversight of local sheriff departments, including working in collaboration with communities in Alameda and Sacramento counties, according to the release.
RethinkWaste and the city of Foster City have teamed up to hold a free electronic waste collection event for Foster City residents on Saturday, July 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the City Hall parking lot located at 610 Foster City Blvd.
Accepted items include camcorders, cellphones, chips and components, computers, computer monitors, connectors/cables, DVD players, fax machines, keyboards, lab equipment, fluorescent tubes/lamps (limit 5 tubes per residence), laptops, main frames, computer mice, optical drives, PC boards, printed circuit boards, printers, radios, scanners, servers, stereos, storage discs, tape and zip drives, televisions, UPS power supply units and VCRs.
No household appliances or hazardous waste.
For more information contact the South Bayside Waste Management Authority at (650) 802-3500 or info@rethinkwaste.org.
Christie Coats has joined the Port of Redwood City’s executive leadership team as director of operations.
Coats will have a wide range of responsibilities related to the port’s daily activities, including spearheading various capital improvement projects aimed at enhancing the port’s infrastructure and expanding its capabilities. She will also manage port security grant programs and FEMA initiatives, ensuring the safety and security of port personnel, operations and the surrounding community. Coats will also lead the cargo operations team with a focus on streamlining processes and optimizing efficiency to meet the increasing demands on the maritime industry.
Prior to joining the Port of Redwood City, Coats was the general manager for maritime and asset management for the Port of New Orleans where she served for six years. She also served as a real estate program manager for the Port of San Diego where she led several high-profile terminal negotiations and projects.
Coats began her role June 12.
James MacNiven, the “Wizard of Skyline” or the “Unofficial Mayor of Silicon Valley,” but best known as the founder and face of Buck’s Restaurant in Woodside, has been named the San Mateo County Historical Association’s History Maker for this year. Buck’s is internationally recognized as the place entrepreneurs meet venture capital. He has watched the birth of firms such as Hotmail, eBay, Netscape, PayPal and Tesla over discussions at Buck’s, according to the Historical Association.
This year’s History Makers Dinner will be at the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame Friday, Sept. 22. Go to historysmc.org/history-makers for more information.
Jon Mays is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Journal. He can be reached at jon@smdailyjournal.com. Follow Jon on Twitter @jonmays.
(11) comments
Jon, I believe the ACLU has been behind the Citizen's Oversight Board all along. They have one purpose - get the taxpayer to pay fees to their attorneys.
I agree to expect infrastructure to carry its own weight is delusional. Parks don't pay for themselves nor do roads and sidewalks and electric grids. There needs to be more realization that the general fund needs to be the source of upkeep for things like airports and water plants etc. especially when we need to green ourselves. Public transport must be subsidized so folks find it cheaper and convenient to not need cars as much. As a recovered New Yorker I found some of their tax ideas better than what we have here. Namely that real estate taxation has notherg to do with value but is indexed to construction costs in 1956 dollars used as a reference point. This was equitable as expensive neighborhoods got taxed the same as poorer ones as it covered services equally utilized. cars got taxed by weight not value. as roads were abused more by heavy vehicles. Of course income was taxed and property once improved also. Fees were imposed and gas was taxed and sales taxes were there as well. "Taxes are the price of civilization" said by someone or another. Google it. We could see how say China manages to pay for all their infrastructure so well. Look to Jorg Aadahl's homeland as well. That should get this crowd humming. Ha ha ha
Mike, You make good and constructive points. My take on this is they just made a deal (driven by the unions who will support Newsom in 24 or 28 when he runs) that doles out princely sums to backstop these systems. My gripe is it will give the unions fuel to go grab that money, which is the cause of great deal of the money need in the first place. I don't mind paying to support these systems, but I do mind paying those incredible salaries and benefits that never seem to stop their greedy upward charge. Rich (can't seem to make a name identify me).
If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet
"Taxman," George Harrison, 1966
So true Ray. First they make us pay for the infrastructure and then tax us to use it. As you mentioned below, we need a tax revolution. the Weiners/Wieners of the world have everything bass awkward. I still maintain he needs a shrink.
A shrink perhaps....or an exorcist.
Thanks for your letter, Mr. Mays. We all know that increased tolls do nothing to “help” the bridges. Instead, these increases will help pay for increased pensions and benefits as well as subsidizing alternate transportation options that would fail if they operated as normal businesses. If the tolls go high enough, people will begin avoiding the toll-taking side while taking advantage of the free-toll side. Wait. Did I plant the seed for two-way tolls? Sorry folks, especially those that would be hurt most by ever-increasing tolls, but you get the government you voted for. Of course, you can continue to use the toll bridges and when it comes time to pay the toll, claim hardship.
Jon, it occurs to me that both legislators are from this side of the Bay and their constituents probably do not use the bridges as much. We have not yet heard from East Bay legislators but a North Bay assemblyman has already voiced his opposition. With the zillions of dollars being discharged in the bottomless homeless pit, why not divert some funding and finance public transit? San Francisco alone spends close to $1Billion per year on Homeless Inc. so a fraction could be used to actually help out without having to hit up the taxpayers again.
Hello, Jon
Lots to think about in today's column. Thanks.
Forty-five years ago, California voters approved the People's Initiative to Limit Property Taxation otherwise known as "Prop 13" and also described as a taxpayer revolt. Maybe it's time for another taxpayer revolt.
Jon, I too applaud your comments regarding this most recent absurd edict from Scott Weiner. I can't understand why anyone outside of nutty SF (where he should have stayed) could support this measure. And of course, once these tolls go up they are never going down. Ray is right - we do need another Prop. 13, but this time, it needs to address the spending side, which Prop. 13 did not, and tackle all taxes, not just in the case of Prop. 13, property tax.
Thanks for the affirmation. Have a great weekend.
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