Assemblymember Diane Papan should be applauded for standing up for San Mateo County in her Aug. 4 guest perspective. It appears likely that San Mateo County taxpayers will be asked to tax themselves to the tune of $600 million in the proposed 2026 regional transit measure. Assemblymember Papan raises an eminently fair point: since the lion’s share of these funds will be used to help BART and Muni — agencies that primarily serve other counties — San Mateo County should be able to exert some influence and ensure serious accountability regarding the expenditure of these funds. San Mateo County has no seats on the BART board and Muni is wholly controlled by San Francisco policymakers. BART, particularly, has a history of questionable financial oversight and it is not at all irrational for San Mateo County to ask for the ability to ensure that this does not become a case of “throwing good money after bad.”
There is a contentious history between BART and San Mateo County (as well documented recently in the Daily Journal,) there is a history of San Mateo County subsidizing transit services for other counties, and there is a history of broken promises to San Mateo County. I hope that state Sen. Scott Weiner will consider Assemblymember Papan’s proposal seriously as it could go a long way toward healing some of the rifts created by decisions of the past.
Charles Stone
Belmont
The letter writer is the former mayor of Belmont and former SamTrans Board chair.
Ah, the bat signal being acknowledged resulting in a former San Mateo County transportation representative submitting a letter espousing the same talking points. Mr. Stone, what happens if the authors of Senate Bill 63 tell San Mateo to pound sand, so to speak? What’s Plan B? Take a gamble and tell folks to not vote for the proposed regional sales tax and definitely miss out on a “sure” percentage of money while voting on an individual measure? Regardless, I’d recommend everyone vote NO on any tax measure until transportation agencies practice fiscal management.
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(1) comment
Ah, the bat signal being acknowledged resulting in a former San Mateo County transportation representative submitting a letter espousing the same talking points. Mr. Stone, what happens if the authors of Senate Bill 63 tell San Mateo to pound sand, so to speak? What’s Plan B? Take a gamble and tell folks to not vote for the proposed regional sales tax and definitely miss out on a “sure” percentage of money while voting on an individual measure? Regardless, I’d recommend everyone vote NO on any tax measure until transportation agencies practice fiscal management.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.