It came as no surprise that a structural steel beam had cracked at the new $2.2 billion Transbay Terminal in San Francisco (“Crack in beam shuts down San Francisco’s new $2B terminal” in the Sept. 26 edition). Normally, I would have laughed at the incompetence if only we were not all unknowingly tied to this financial albatross. How did we get stuck for the hundreds of millions of dollars for this overpriced bus station? We got stuck with the bill because of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
The MTC is a regional unelected group of bureaucrats, mostly local politicians who pull the strings on a piggy bank you fund every time you cross a bridge. That piggy bank is called the Bay Area Toll Authority. The MTC has given the Transbay Terminal over $500 million thus far and is on the hook for much more. You are also funding the legal fees to defend the authority that operates the new terminal due to litigation brought on by attorneys for the infamous Millennium Towers. Yes, you are paying the private attorneys who represent the beleaguered Transbay Authority who are defending themselves against the building next door which is literally sinking.
Wait, it gets worse. Now a judge recently ruled that the fees for the attorneys representing the Millennium Towers need to be paid by the Transbay Authority as well, in other words, the taxpayer. This ruling by the judge opens up what I predict will be the ultimate taxpayer liability for the extensive repairs needed for the sinking, privately owned Millennium Towers, plus of course, all attorney fees.
What's the problem? In a few years the MTC will ask us to increase bridge tolls (again) and the coffers will be refilled. Life is good when you own a money machine.
Yes, and don't forget about the wasted billions (unless you're a union worker working on this lifetime job) on the high (but not that high) speed rail. And the billion dollar partial Bay Bridge replacement. And the wasted millions with our idiot AG Becerra suing everything under the sun to oppose Trump's federal policies. Wait, I could be wrong, but aren't we, the taxpayers, also paying for the federal government to litigate against idiot Becerra's lawsuits?
As Seasoned Observer noted, I see higher bridge tolls in our future, along with toll highways, higher sales taxes and more fees. Wait, don't forget about all of those new parcel taxes to supposedly support the kids, but in reality, are used to shore up pension payments and unfunded liabilities.
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(2) comments
What's the problem? In a few years the MTC will ask us to increase bridge tolls (again) and the coffers will be refilled. Life is good when you own a money machine.
Yes, and don't forget about the wasted billions (unless you're a union worker working on this lifetime job) on the high (but not that high) speed rail. And the billion dollar partial Bay Bridge replacement. And the wasted millions with our idiot AG Becerra suing everything under the sun to oppose Trump's federal policies. Wait, I could be wrong, but aren't we, the taxpayers, also paying for the federal government to litigate against idiot Becerra's lawsuits?
As Seasoned Observer noted, I see higher bridge tolls in our future, along with toll highways, higher sales taxes and more fees. Wait, don't forget about all of those new parcel taxes to supposedly support the kids, but in reality, are used to shore up pension payments and unfunded liabilities.
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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.