11/02/2003 Entry: ""
Posted by Maynard @ 08:30 PM MST
It's that time of year again
Voting day this year is this Tuesday. Here in Tucson we have 4 offices and 3 propositions on the ballot. Read on to see how I'm voting and why I'm voting that way. This post will stay at the top of the page until Wednesday morning.
Mayor
Maynard Votes for: Bob Walkup
I think he's done a good job. Besides, I do not trust someone running for office that identifies with the Democrat party platform.
Wards 1,2, and 4
Republicans
Maynard Votes for: Ward 1: Armando Rios. Ward 2: Write-in. Ward 4: Mike Jenkins.
Why? See above argument about political parties. Besides, the Democrats for these wards all support Propositions 200 & 201, explained below.
Prop 100
Public Service Compensation
Maynard Votes: Yes
This proposition raises the salary of the Mayor to $55k and city council members to $32k annually, Why? I think they've done a good job and also that full-time jobs should not be paid at part-time wages.
Prop 200
Raise Sales Tax for Public Transportation Improvements
Maynard Votes: No
This proposition raises the sales tax from 2% to 2.3% (construction contracting tax is raised to 6%) with the increase going towards a transportation fund. The majority of the funds (68 cents/dollar) would be used for public transit, with other amounts for various improvements in roads, buses, and bike paths. Namely, the public transportation funds are to be used for installing a 13-mile light rail system down Broadway, one of 3 main arteries of traffic in Tucson. It is not a good idea, in my opinion. First, funds generated by increased taxes are always overestimated because planners fail to take into account the amount of revenue lost because taxes are increased. Second, adding a light rail system to the center of a main traffic line does nothing to relieve traffic because it gives no incentive for people to leave their cars at home and take the rail instead. In other words you get a large obstruction down the main turn lane on Broadway with no incentive to use it, thus adding to the frustration caused by the obstruction. Finally, lets suppose the negative impact on businesses caused by construction of the line is absorbed quickly but traffic congestion does not abate, but gets worse (as is the case in several East Coast cities with light rail). The quickest way to alleviate that problem would be to widen the road, which would cause eminent domain issues. The ability of the government to seize property without compensation has always been a sticking point for me, I just don't like it. For me there are too many problems with this proposition to win my support.
Prop 201
Raise Sales Tax for Public Transportation Improvements
Maynard Votes: No
This proposition is almost word-for-word identical to prop 200, except it does not specify in its summary that the funds are to be broken out into various amounts for various transportation purposes. However, it does establish a City-level Department of Transportation responsible for maintaining and developing the "full range of transportation choices". So 201 gives us what prop 200 does, along with a conveniently packaged, new and improved, bureaucracy! Yay! Break out the party favors and noisemakers!
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